Posted on the PalletBoard.com by “Other Options”
Today I will be laying off 3 more employees. I have been holding off on this decision because, well frankly, it really bothers me to have to do this.
We have had enough work to keep everyone sort of busy but the plant is now as clean as it’s going to get and the orders are just drying up.
How are you (owners / managers / supervisors ) coping with the stress of making these tough decisions?
I would really appreciate hearing from others.
Thanks “Other Options” for bringing up a topic that has become all too common in the forest products industry over the last year or so. This post on the PalletBoard.com hits on a very timely and difficult topic. If you have a heart and employ people, right now is a hard time to run and own a small business. With layoffs, mandatory shut downs, scaling back production taking place all across the country, the recession is hurting more than just employees.
Bosses are certainly not immune from the pain caused by a major recession. You may be finding it difficult to sleep. You may feel as if you are powerless to resist economic forces beyond your control. You may wonder what you could have done to be better prepared. You may feel like you are having to lay off your family because your employees have become close friends through the years. Be reassured that these feelings are quite normal. And while you can’t afford to let these feelings immobilize your leadership, it is quite normal to take some time to grieve.
Through the years, I have had to lay off employees, shut down projects and take business steps that were very painful. We had to scuttle a new business venture in 2002 after the 9-11 attacks caused marketing dollars to plummet. I single handedly gave notice to about eight employees. After that day, I went home and wanted to puke my guts out.
One of the hardest things I faced was dealing with the sense of failure that comes when something doesn’t work. But I guess the one important lesson that I have learned is that you have to get up. The only way you really lose is if you lose heart and refuse to get up to take another swing.
Stress is becoming a more common challenge for employees and bosses alike. The American Psychological Association (APA) recently conducted a survey that found that 80% of Americans say the bad economy is a significant source of stress in their lives. Stress can hurt emotional and physical health. It can also feed negative habits that actually hurt productivity and your ability to respond to changes caused by the economy. How you handle these stresses is critical to getting the best outcome possible.
As the boss, you need to be emotionally healthy in order to be an effective leader. This means doing the right things to reduce stress. It starts with the basics, such as, eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep and whatever you do – don’t panic.
I meet with friends to discuss my concerns, pray and seek support. Having a business coach or group of outsider advisors can help you see things that could help spur growth and reduce layoffs. I have always found it fascinating how outsiders can see things that those stuck in a situation are too close to the problem to see.
Recently, I have started back on a fairly aggressive workout routine, which I find helps me think clearer and feel good. Exercise is a natural way to work out aggression and stress so that when I am in the office I can be focused on what I need to do.
It could be really easy for me to panic. Every day, my job involves reporting on the events of the day. And there has been a lot of negative news to report. My proof reader told me last week to stop bringing her this stuff. She said, “I refuse to read any more of your articles until you can write about something positive.” I quickly wrote a new product announcement and gave it to her to read.
My trick is to keep on doing what I do best, look for ways to improve our business and to keep on learning. I believe a professional never stops learning about his/her trade. We have to respond to fearful situations with calm deliberation rather than rash acts that may lead businesses into deeper trouble. Now is the time for your company to work as a team to find new business and improve existing operations.
I am also trying to find a balance between work and my personal life. Although I could do nothing but live in my office and work for 10 plus hours per day, that would not be healthy. I am continuing to pursue outside interests and community service projects that give the opportunity to do something positive for others. I have found in life that the more I give to others, the better I feel about my own problems.
If you just laid off a long-time employee, nothing that I have to say will probably be of much comfort. And I certainly don’t have any quick answers that will make everything better. And I don’t want a “trite” response to make things worse.
You may have every reason to be somewhat depressed. Yet, the best thing you can do for former employees is to help them find new jobs, provide good references, give as generous of a severance package as possible, etc. Doing what you can to listen to employees and to help them find assistance in their transition will go a long way in helping you feel better about the situation.
Once you have done all of that, then you should take a few minutes and find something to laugh about. I found this little cartoon and couldn’t stop laughing. I hope you enjoy!
