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I had 10 months to prepare for my retrenchment – and I still wasn’t ready
🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

I had 10 months to prepare for my retrenchment – and I still wasn’t ready

From CNA · (10m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The author received a rare 10-month notice period before their role was made redundant due to operations relocating overseas.
  • Despite seeing the redundancy coming, the author experienced grief and a sense of loss, especially as colleagues departed.
  • The author reflects on their final months, training a remote replacement and ultimately being one of the last employees to leave the Singapore office.

The announcement of retrenchment often conjures images of abrupt dismissals, but for this writer, the reality was a prolonged, drawn-out farewell. Ten months' notice, a rare gift in today's corporate world, offered a unique perspective on the process of leaving. It allowed for a period of 'in-between,' where the writer was still part of the company but emotionally detached, guiding new hires and witnessing the gradual emptying of the office.

I had 10 months to prepare for my retrenchment – and I still wasn’t ready

— the authorHeadline of the article

This extended period, however, did not negate the emotional toll. The article poignantly captures the grief and the struggle to 'outrun a loss,' even when anticipated. The writer's dedication to training a remote team and staying on for a replacement's maternity leave speaks to a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to prove their leadership capabilities. Yet, the loneliness of a shrinking team and the eventual finality of being one of the last to leave underscore the profound human impact of such corporate decisions.

As it turns out, you can’t outrun a loss even when you see it coming a mile away.

— the authorReflecting on the emotional impact of the impending redundancy.

The final day itself is depicted with raw emotion. The physical symptoms of anxiety – a dry mouth, a tightness in the chest – and the struggle to maintain composure highlight the difficulty of saying goodbye. The act of returning a laptop and access card, a mundane task, becomes a moment of profound sadness, amplified by a chance encounter with a colleague who offers a moment of human connection. This narrative offers a deeply personal and relatable account of a professional transition, emphasizing that even with ample warning, the emotional reality of redundancy can be overwhelming.

Those of us left behind in Singapore tried to finish well, encouraging one another even as the desks around us emptied at different speeds.

— the authorDescribing the atmosphere in the office during the retrenchment period.
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Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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