Natalie’s redundancy was gut-wrenching. Her story is becoming more common

When Natalie MacDonald read an email from head office explaining her role had been made redundant, it felt like her heart, stomach and financial security collectively dropped out of her body.

“The thing about being made redundant as a then-36-year-old mum of two, only six weeks after returning from parental leave, is that it’s not just about you. It’s also about your two children sleeping soundly in the shared bedroom next door,” she recalls.

The content strategist had been working for LinkedIn for seven years when she received an email telling her she was being let go. Now, nine months later, she reflects what the experience was like.

“At 3am, I was sitting on the floor of my children’s bedroom mentally doing the maths on the apartment we were renting and deciding then that we would likely need to move back into our old place – even though it meant being outside the catchment area for the school we had spent years planning around for our son,” MacDonald says.

She researched redundancy legislation, trying to estimate what her payout would be and get ahead of any questions she would need to ask in the meeting with her boss the next morning.

“In what would become days, weeks and frankly months of shock, I repeatedly came back to controlling what I could – a response mechanism I’m sure many people can relate to,” she says.

Last year, 268,000 Australians were retrenched, marking the highest number since the post-pandemic rebound.

“People say that losing a job closely mirrors the five stages of grief. But interestingly, I largely skipped the bargaining and guilt phase.”

Like so many others experiencing redundancy, she decided to post about her experience on LinkedIn, despite it being the employer that had axed her role.

It’s not something anyone likes to think about, but redundancy is possible for anyone in a working role, particularly given that the far more challenging economic conditions this year.

No longer a last resort reserved for business restructures, instead, it’s a regular feature of the employment landscape as businesses deal with economic pressure and structural shifts in consumer demand.

Last year, 268,000 Australians were retrenched, marking the highest number since the post-pandemic rebound.

This year, workers already struggling with the cost of living are also being laid off as employers grapple with cost creep, artificial intelligence adoption and broader cost-cutting strategies across a number of sectors.

Major banks and technology and corporate services companies have also announced recent redundancies. Football Australia just announced it would slash 20 per cent of its workforce amid massive financial loss, triggering internal restructuring.

WiseTech Global is also deciding about widespread redundancies following the loss of one of its biggest customers.

But being told that your role no longer exists can be a particularly crippling experience for high performers who have been loyal to their organisations, according to Sophea Heng, director of recruitment firm, Heng & Hurst.

She has seen hundreds of people work through redundancy over the years, admitting it can be a heartbreaking experience to go through.

“The market moves quickly, and many senior candidates have progressed through referrals, meaning the last time they formally applied for a role may have been years ago. Things have changed, so manage your expectations,” Heng says.

“The more senior you are, the fewer roles there are, so allow up to six months to find a new role.”

MacDonald’s advice to others is to move and be outdoors as much as possible.

“It can be tempting to hide away and lick your wounds. And honestly, you probably do need a little time to process it all. But eventually, you have to re-enter the world,” she says.

Read content from leaders you admire and start thinking about it all through the lens of your own experience and expertise. Share what you’re learning and start reinvesting in your own personal brand and network, she says.

“If you’re able to, attend events or workshops, tap into online resources or simply stay across the conversations happening in your industry – or even the sectors you might be thinking of pivoting into.”