What I Learned After Being Laid Off ✨

October 28, 2022, I was 13 days postpartum and had just watched my son’s costume strut for Halloween when I got the call that my job was being terminated due to financial issues at my job. I was dumbstruck. The last year has been a whirlwind of grief: job searching with a newborn, losing my maternity leave, struggling with discrimination as a mom. But I’ve learned 2 big lessons:

1) STOP TRUSTING COMPANY CULTURE. they are lying. They might not know they are, but they’re lying. When it comes down to it, your job isn’t going to protect or care about you… even if they’ve always pretended that they will. Have I become cynical? Absolutely. I’m jaded. But I know to protect myself now.

2) PROTECT YOURSELF FIRST and always apply for FMLA. Be selfish… your company sure is! Balance your life with your work. No late nights. No weekends. Nothing. Draw the boundary because they don’t care how hard you worked when it comes down to it.