Employee was excited for an appraisal, but left jobless instead: 'News was a knife in chest...'

A young professional recently shared a deeply personal experience on the subreddit Indian Workplace. His account reflected the sudden and painful reality of layoffs in today’s corporate environment. He explained that his regular workday began like any other. After returning from the gym, he refreshed himself and logged into his system around 7 in the evening. He was preparing for his scheduled one-on-one meeting with his manager at 7:30 p.m., particularly excited because it was appraisal season and he was hopeful about positive outcomes.

However, the call quickly took a turn he never anticipated. After the initial greetings, a representative from the People and Culture team joined the discussion. Curious, he immediately checked Slack to identify the person’s department and purpose. Before he could ask any questions, his manager delivered the shocking news—his role had been eliminated due to changes in business operations. The announcement felt like a piercing wound, leaving him shaken and overwhelmed.

Four Years Cut Short

He recalled how his body reacted almost instantly to the stress. His palms grew clammy, his leg trembled involuntarily, and a wave of disbelief consumed him. The explanation provided was that his position was being moved offshore to the United States. After dedicating four years and one month of service to the company, he was suddenly told his journey had ended. What struck him most was the abruptness—the fact that everything was decided within minutes, leaving him with little time to process.

"This hit like knife in the chest..." he wrote.

A Small Consolation

While the layoff was undeniably painful, he did find some comfort in knowing that he would receive a severance package. The payout would help him manage expenses for the next few months and provide some breathing space while looking for new opportunities. Still, he admitted that the emotional shock was harder to deal with than the financial implications. For years, he had heard stories of friends and acquaintances losing their jobs, but he never thought he would become part of that narrative.

A Restless Mind in the Aftermath

Friends and family encouraged him to relax, take a break, and use the time to recharge. But deep down, he confessed that his thoughts were constantly racing. His mind was occupied with the pressure of sending out job applications, cold messaging contacts on LinkedIn, requesting referrals, and reconnecting with old colleagues. Even though he tried to put on a brave front, the uncertainty ahead weighed heavily on him. Sharing his story online, he thanked the community in advance for their support and assured them he was determined to stay strong.

Community Support on Reddit

The responses from fellow Redditors were filled with empathy and encouragement. One user advised him not to let fear of unemployment dominate his thoughts, suggesting he focus instead on moving forward with determination. Another pointed out the advantage he held as an experienced professional who could join a company immediately, cautioning that while employers might use this in negotiations, multiple offers would eventually place him in control.

Others recommended giving himself space to grieve. They suggested taking a few days or even a week to vent frustration, process emotions, and come to terms with the loss before shifting into “execution mode.” From there, the focus would need to turn toward interview preparation and applying systematically to new roles.

Staying Strong Through Uncertainty

Though the employee’s journey has taken an abrupt and difficult turn, the support from strangers highlighted a valuable lesson: in moments of personal crisis, collective compassion can help ease the burden. With severance to cushion the immediate impact and a network of well-wishers cheering him on, he now faces the challenging but hopeful path of rebuilding his career.