What do you say to someone who's lost their job?

Wink

One of my colleagues has been let go. He's going to be working out his notice for the next couple of weeks.

It's a very small company, I'm a junior member of staff ,I joined relatively recently and hence I suppose I'm cheaper. He's been really good to me since I started, showing me the ropes, answering any questions, taking me out for lunch etc. I'm really going to miss him when he goes.

Basically, my problem is that I don't know what to say, do you say sorry? good luck? Do I give him a card saying thanks for everything, good luck and I'll miss you? do I say nothing? Will it annoy my boss? I really don't want to come across as being anything other than sympathetic - I don't want to come across as being a wanker, to be honest, I don't think I'll be far behind him.

I'm sure that, unfortunately, lots of people have been in the same position as both me and him, any advice?

yellowcurl

I'm sure he'd appreciate you saying that you were grateful for all the help that he gave you and that you wish him the best of luck with everything. It can't be easy being let go and little acts of kindness can go a long way.

Poloman

If you can say it to his face. Thank him personally for all the nice things he has done for you and tell him with his attitude he wont be long in finding a new job.

Get him a card of your own as well and shake his hand. It will mean a lot to him that someone actually gives a crap.

Wink

Thanks guys, I appreciate your response, and you're both right about saying it, it'd be awful to let him go without having said it.

I just want to say thanks without coming across as being disengenuous, I'll have a think about when to say it and what to say.

It's all just so crap

LegacyUser

Stuff the card give him the RTE guide.. Only Messin!

As someone who has been made unemployed recently its hateful being there for the last few days and all the akward silences because nobody really knows what to say or do..Tell him that you really appricate all the help he gave you and that if ever he needs you for anything you'll be there.. Other than that No other advice or words in the world can make up for loosing your job..

LegacyUser

I've been on the opposite side of the fence recently, being made redundant with no alternative employment lined up. In these times losing your job is a truly demoralising experience because for alot of people there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel with the state the economy is in.

When I finished up in my job, most of my colleagues made a great effort wishing me luck, saying goodbye, little gifts etc. but a few didn't bother, it doesn't take rocket science to work out who I look back at more fondly does it! My closest mate in my former workplace, the one person who was being overly nice to me in my last weeks never said goodbye to me or made any contact with me since I finished. I found that hurtful and still do now because I feel that she wasn't genuine about it.

If you're going to miss a colleague who are close to, especially in these circumstances, then you should go to every effort to let them know you appreciated them, their work and their company. Don't BS about it though, they're losing their job and they are going to feel sh!t about it, try to find the right balance between being nice and being sympathetic. Also, it wouldn't do you or your colleague any harm at all to give them a quick buzz or text in the weeks after they finish, in tough times people do appreciate people who think of them after they leave.