Coffeesforclosers

Director Sales and Market Development

Notable Contributor

Celebrated Contributor

Covid Layoffs

I was laid off at the start of covid in 2020, luckily i got picked up quickly from a company i had been talking to for a bit. Others were not so fortunate and i feel you, happy to help any way i can ps.

Point of post, we at my new company now in December 2020 had a RIF and let 25% of the company go, which EBITDA concerns and looking at future fiscal notes made sense but still never easy. We then had a wave of second voluntary attrition end of Q1 after bonuses went out.

Question- Did anyone else go through this? My team went from 15 to 9, and the effects are still there and weighing on people. Does anyone have some magic motivation or words of encouragement they used in a similar situation? Did anyone have or in a similar situation?

Looking for some guidance on how to keep morale high with the remaining cast. Did raise all their pay, couple promotions, working on spiffs, but am i missing something easy? And yes im having open and honest conversations with them all still. Thanks in advance.

Were you and/or your team affected in the Vid Layoffs

Attached poll

Yep- made cuts or got cut Nope- business as usual Yes, and still a free agent SOS (ill add you to my portfolio and see if i can help)

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

💆‍♂ Mindset

🏙 Corporate Experiences

😤 Conflict Resolution

13

27 comments

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1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

3

Sales

Really can’t beat the open and honest convos. It’s a tough spot but letting them know they are supported and have the business behind them, to the best of your knowledge will matter.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

Agree whole heartedly but do they even believe me anymore, the worst part is right before the RIF we had an all hands on how well the business was doing, at least dont do that first. And as management with a team impacted i knew this shit was coming for a month. Gross, thanks for advice! Appreciated

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

1

Sales

All you can do is express exactly what you know, without any fluff. It’s an impossible situation. But it has to be: these are the facts, this is what I know, this is what I don’t know. I’ve been there and it’s not easy.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

I am super transparent and have earned some trust, problem is i have been remotely onboarded and never met any of my team in person, im fucking Oz behind the curtain, its a tough sled for sure. But they know im honest and as transparent as i can be and also communicate often.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

1

Sales

Then I think you need to take the discussion up the chain, or at a minimum to your peers to see if their teams feel the same way, and then move up the chain to discuss how you can gain organizational trust. Good luck!

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

Its being discussed this week as we had our QBRs and all 3 VPs brought it up and the ELT was like, why are people asking this, lol. Thanks for the luck wishes, onward we go.

sahil

Notable Contributor

3

Deepak Chopra of Sales

We were lucky to avoid COVID layoffs for our team, but saw many close by affected. Tough stuff friends.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

0

Director Sales and Market Development

That's awesome Sahil. I'm glad you didn't have to. Onward we go!

I am taking hindsight is always 2020 out of my list of sayings because 2020 was bullshit.

Salespreuner

Big Shot

0

Regional Sales Director

That's so true. Glad to know about your team 💯

YoungMoney

Good Citizen

2

Director of Sales

I was let go due to COVID, but it opened the door to some other opportunity, so I'm not personally too worried about it.

I agree with @1nbatopshotfan on open and honest conversations. You'd be lying to yourself if you don't think conversations are happening outside of office hours with individual contributors. My previous company has probably seen a 50% RIF/attrition and it's a toxic conversation outside of management's eye.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

Yes! That is exactly why i want to be ahead of it, i know its happening i refuse to pretend. Glad you found a good opp and quickly in a trying time, kudos!

funcoupons

WR Officer

2

👑

I got laid off from my recruiting gig in March 2020, took that as an opportunity to apply for a different role and started at my company in summer 2020. I'm actually thankful for the layoff. I wasn't happy at my old company and was thinking of leaving soon anyway, but the layoff sped up the process. My current company has not laid anyone off due to covid.

Having open, honest conversations with existing staff is key. Management has to make tough business decisions and most employees will understand IF the communication has been honest from the get go. IE - Don't tell people their job is 100% secure when you know the company is talking layoffs.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

Right, that last sentence is life!!

I was also unhappy and leaving anyways at the layoff spot, i was thrilled to get cut as i was very unhappy, ended up banking some severance too!

TheQueenofDiamonds

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Oh, this is a tough one.. not sure how to help with motivation, it's so personal. Did you try team only discussions? Or maybe an annonimus poll? Good luck 🍀🍀🍀

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

0

Director Sales and Market Development

Yeah we've done the team discussions and one on one discussions. Seems ok, though my direct report who oversees the team still thinks there are flight risks. Its a bummer and I get it. We are on the path to wellness I think. Thanks for post!

BlueJays2591

Politicker

1

Federal Business Dev Director

I moved from Omaha to Denver in February of 2020 for a new role and got laid off in March. company cut down roughly 50-60% of headcount. thankfully I got picked up by another company 3 days after and have loved every second of being here. so it worked out, but moving to a new, and expensive, city and getting laid off immediately was rough.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

Yikes, that is insane but glad you made it work. Scary times, but you are happy and thats all that matters. Keep crushing it!

Hotlead

Politicker

1

Producer

Two SDRs were fired literally yesterday they are trimming the fat if they are not producing

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

0

Director Sales and Market Development

I mean, that is one way to move on from poor performers and have an "excuse". Unethical but i get it too. Protects from lawsuits to trim some poor perfromance

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

1

MDR

We were lucky to avoid COVID layoffs for our team, but saw many close by affected.

ounceoz

WR Officer

0

US Sales Director

Got RIFd in July and did my own thing (consulting/biz advisory) Now just started a new gig. The company that let me go just closed its doors.

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

Blessing in disguise, glad you landed on your feet! Congrats on the new role!

ounceoz

WR Officer

0

US Sales Director

Thanks!

DonDraper

Politicker

0

National Sales Manager

I was a Sales Leader of 9, team got cut to 4 after COVID hit here in Australia. The company reacted very quickly, but did begin to hire back those let go after a few months. But none of which were in the Sales team.... go figure

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

0

Director Sales and Market Development

That's odd. They still bringing people back?

Salespreuner

Big Shot

0

Regional Sales Director

Luckily, not yet! Hope not!

sellingsellssold

Politicker

0

SDR

Luckily our business did not lay off anyone but the hiring process froze and we did lose several accounts. Covid worked in a weird way actually helping several of our accounts to be more successful. However, there were many that struggled to make it.

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