Dealing with Redundancy

By Anne Ueberbach
Assistant Director / Registered Counsellor

Dealing with Redundancy

Singapore has long been a hub for expats seeking new professional opportunities and experiences. However, just like other countries, Singapore is not immune to economic fluctuations and the restructuring or downsizing of companies. For expats facing redundancy, this can be extremely challenging for various reasons. Counselling and psychotherapy can provide invaluable support to affected individuals to get them back on track with their career goals and mental wellbeing.

Redundancy Challenges in Singapore

In Singapore, the annual number of redundancies has been increasing steadily since 2010 across all industries. Most redundancies occurred in professional services (14%), fabricated metal production (12%), and financial services (12%), with the most common reasons for redundancies being business restructuring and reorganization. Expats in Singapore experienced a higher number of redundancy with 9.5 layoffs per 1,000 employees, while locals experienced 8.6 layoffs per 1,000 employees in 2016.

 
Redundancies may occur for various reasons, such as:

-Downsizing or closure of business
-Restructuring / reorganization
-Relocation
-Introduction of new technology
-Industry downturn
-Increased operation costs

For expats especially, redundancies pose unique challenges due to Singapore’s distinct cultural and employment landscape. Many expats often move to Singapore for specific job opportunities, having invested large amounts of time, effort and finances into moving across the world and to establish a new life, not to mention being reliant on a work visa to maintain their resident status.

Impact on Your Mental Health

Regardless of the reasons for redundancy, majority of affected people will respond by going through the 5 stages of grief:
1. Shock and denial -You may experience shock and disbelief about your situation
2. Anger – As the shock wears off, feelings of frustration, anger and resentment may surface. You may start to question the fairness of the decision, or feel angry towards
3. Bargaining – You may struggle to find meaning, contemplate what you could have done differently, or wish for a miracle.
4. Depression – In this stage you may feel intense sadness and grief, as well as helplessness and low moods.
5. Acceptance – Over time, with the right coping strategies and support, you will be able to move towards accepting your new reality and adjust to the new circumstances. This includes making future plans, exploring new career paths and seeking out personal growth.

But even those who were not made redundant may experience an emotional impact called survivor syndrome. “Survivors” may experience feelings of guilt, job insecurity, and anger towards their employer for creating a psychologically unsafe work environment. Others may instead experience feelings of relief and content for not having been made redundant.

How Counselling and Psychotherapy can Help

Regardless of why you have been made redundant, the overall experience can be quite traumatizing and intimidating.For those who need a little bit of extra support, psychotherapy and counselling are a valuable resource for anyone facing redundancy.

Whether in-person or online therapy, the therapeutic approach can assist with:

Emotional support
You may experience a range of intense emotions, including anger, anxiety, grief, depression and self-doubt. Counselling can provide a safe space for your to express and process these feelings, while learning relevant healthy coping strategies.

Stress management
Combining job loss with being in an unfamiliar culture can be inherently stressful and overwhelming. Psychotherapy can equip you with stress management techniques and healthy coping strategies to cope with the pressure of job loss.

Anxiety management
Job loss brings up often buried worries and fears, making us feel anxious and not in  control of our own thoughts. Therapy can help identify your triggers, fears and worries, and help you better manage your fight or flight response to help you focus on grieving your job loss and accepting your new reality.

 
Career transition
Once you have accepted your new reality, you will need to explore a new career option. Career counsellors / career coaches can guide you through the process of career counselling / coaching to polish up your job search skills. They can also assist in identifying transferable skills and provide valuable insights into the local job market.

Cultural adjustment
Counselling can help expatriates gain a deeper understanding of cultural differences, build local support networks and manage cross-cultural stressors. It can also help you identify how to incorporate and maintain your own cultural norms, values and traditions.

Being home to a diverse blend of cultures and ethnicities, Singapore’s counselling scene is equipped to cater to the needs of anyone. Whether it’s individual counselling or couple’s/marriage counselling, a wide range of therapy services are available to address your specific needs.

Here are some other useful next steps for you to consider:

·     Know your rights.
Did you know, Singapore law does not mandate redundancy payouts for employees with less than 2 years of
service?

·     Allow yourself to grief
You can’t rush grieving. Instead, give yourself the time you need to grief the loss of your job and to go through
the 5 stages of acceptance at your own pace.

·     Engage in self-care
Ensure your basic needs are met and engage in activities you enjoy.

·     Manage your finances
Plan ahead for the future. It may take up to 6 months to find new employment.

·     Seek support from family & friends
Talk to your family and friends and tell them how they can best support you through this time.

·     Seek professional help
Professional counselling services or legal support can assist you on your journey.

·     Start looking for new opportunities
Utilize your existing network for leads, or reach out to others on LinkedIn.

·     Skill development
Use your period of unemployment to polish existing or learn new skills, both professionally relevant and for
personal interest.

Redundancy is a challenging experience for anyone, even more so for expatriates due to the added complexity of Singapore’s highly competitive job market and cultural differences, which may intensify stress and anxiety associated with losing a job. Fortunately, psychotherapy and counselling services are available to provide additional support to help anyone affected navigate these challenges.

To receive professional counselling support, book an appointment with The Counselling Place’s team of counsellors, psychologists, and therapists.