Reduction in Force notices are hard for us all. Please reach out respectfully to your peers and colleagues with these phrases that will strengthen your bond with them
Only a small part of this is about job loss. Our USAID friends and family have been called "fraudsters" and "criminals," "lazy" and "freeloaders" by the country they have served so loyally, and for which they have sacrificed so much. The sense of betrayal is enormous, and betrayal runs at a deeper level than simply the loss of a job, an income, benefits, or housing. In addition, our USAID families in the field know for certain than many people under their care will die. What words have we got to offer for that??
I have trouble even thinking about this aspect. I get unproductively angry when I hear these utterances from our political leadership. I am trying to focus on the positive and I truly believe that I only want, only will, work for people and companies who understand and value Federal service.
This is Ring Theory 101. Provide comfort to those experiencing a loss, and express your anger / dismay / fear to those in outer rings. Do not expect those grieving to manage your own fear or grief, or tell you what to do.
But there is no ring theory that addresses the experience of ten thousand people getting their passion and livelihood and life's work ripped away over the course of two months of constant setbacks and losses. This is a mass casualty event. *There is no single ring.*
So what do we do? We are all part of each other's rings. We provide comfort to each other.
I guess that is the thing that bothers me even more (besides the 1000s dying, starving, and getting diseases, of course). I worked helping people around the world since the Reagan Administration and spent countless hours on planes or in lonely hotel rooms or eating alone so I could do this. It is the gratuitous insult and getting kicked in the pants on the way out that, perhaps, bother me even more. Or maybe it all bothers me.
Only a small part of this is about job loss. Our USAID friends and family have been called "fraudsters" and "criminals," "lazy" and "freeloaders" by the country they have served so loyally, and for which they have sacrificed so much. The sense of betrayal is enormous, and betrayal runs at a deeper level than simply the loss of a job, an income, benefits, or housing. In addition, our USAID families in the field know for certain than many people under their care will die. What words have we got to offer for that??
I have trouble even thinking about this aspect. I get unproductively angry when I hear these utterances from our political leadership. I am trying to focus on the positive and I truly believe that I only want, only will, work for people and companies who understand and value Federal service.
This is Ring Theory 101. Provide comfort to those experiencing a loss, and express your anger / dismay / fear to those in outer rings. Do not expect those grieving to manage your own fear or grief, or tell you what to do.
But there is no ring theory that addresses the experience of ten thousand people getting their passion and livelihood and life's work ripped away over the course of two months of constant setbacks and losses. This is a mass casualty event. *There is no single ring.*
So what do we do? We are all part of each other's rings. We provide comfort to each other.
We take it one day at a time.
I guess that is the thing that bothers me even more (besides the 1000s dying, starving, and getting diseases, of course). I worked helping people around the world since the Reagan Administration and spent countless hours on planes or in lonely hotel rooms or eating alone so I could do this. It is the gratuitous insult and getting kicked in the pants on the way out that, perhaps, bother me even more. Or maybe it all bothers me.
Re the What Not To Say secrion, I totally agree! Be supportive and helpful instead!