Every company has a Business Continuity Plan - we have contributed it or we had participated in it. But hardly there is one for “You Inc.,”. Yes, we don’t prepare a business continuity plan for us.
One of my colleagues with whom I worked shared this wisdom - that if you’ve not been laid off - you’re lucky. But at the same time in our profession - getting redundant, getting laid off are somethings that you can’t avoid. It’s part of the cycle - it’s part of the deal, it’s part of the process.
So, here I try and lay out a BCP for “You Inc.,” the only corporation or institution that’s need this the most. Because when shit hits the fan - you and your family are going to struggle no one else. So, yeah - have a plan and hope you don’t need it.
Meet Vikram.
Early 40s, one kid in primary school and the other in child care, works in a mid-level project management role in a tech firm. Reliable, hard-working, the kind of guy who brings the food with smile for the Agile Ceremonies and Sprint Planning. A quiet achiever who rarely puts himself out there - because he’s been too busy delivering, showing up, and giving his best.
The year 2025 started for him just like every other year - holidays, time with the family and then back to work in Jan with renewed enthusiasm to look forward to the year ahead.
Day 1 went on with catching up with colleagues and trying to recollect everything that happened 3 weeks before including his passwords. Lucky he wrote that down - so he had it for him to be able to access.
Day 2 was the beginning of - okay - here we are now let’s get the pace up and start. In the afternoon he received a email. That calendar invite with “Catch up with Vikram” lands in his inbox. After a few hours later - the invite gets added with few more people and the subject line gets changed as “Catch up about Vikram”
Now he is puzzled - not knowing what’s coming and with his anxious mind taking him all places - he expressed about this to his trustworthy colleagues to see if they could spill a bean. All mentioned - that’s very unusual and also mentioned that it’s a very poor way of communication. While that wasn’t enough of comfort - his mind doing 100 miles an hour with all permutation and combinations and he was somewhere thinking that the inevitable is coming. He was so curious that he reached out to his line manager asking - what was that meeting about in teams. And the response he received was bland - “we will talk about that during the discussion”. DAMN! That’s when he realised something big is brewing!
He wasn’t sure what he is being summoned for - did he do something wrong?, is he going to be let go? Is there something else that he could’ve done to which he is now being summoned. This is a bit worse than the occasional “silent treatment” we all have experienced at home. Because me and Mrs. are that stage of the life that even with “silent treatments” - with time it’ll be back to normalcy and we will go on with our lives after a hug. But here there are no hugs, just showing the door only! :)
And, yes the inevitable happened - 30 mins of a conversation that was scheduled got completed in less than 20 mins - in thanking Vikram for his work - but due to budget constraints - Vikram had to be let go.
Again, it’s a corporate world you know - can’t be emotional, sentimental, show your real self - you still have to brave this situation and smile and thank the other side for their support all along and though you’ve been kicked in the tummy - you show up like “it didn’t hurt” and continue to move on with chin up.
But the reality hits post meeting, especially at 3 AM in the bed - the human mind processes these in varying degrees. It has these emotional cycles Denial, Anger, Negotiating, Depression and Acceptance.
And how much time one needs in each of these stages its up to individuals. And not necessary that one will experience all of it and in the same sequence either.
We’ve all heard about it, read about it, or feared it. For Vikram, it became real.
He was let go.
He broke the news to his partner that night. She was calm, reassuring, but he could feel the quiet panic behind her eyes too.
That night dinner table was somber - his kids were asking - “oh what will happen to us, our home if Daddy can’t earn money?”
Though he internally has these questions - he can’t show up with his kids and he did the best to brush it off and ask them if they wanted more of rice, fruits or some desserts.
The first few days: When reality hits
The moment the call ended, it was like the air was sucked out of the room.
He was recollecting all the good work that he had done, how much his team members values his contributions. Just because he was a number on a spreadsheet that was exceeding to the number that they could find for - he was let go.
Trust me - we all are a number in spreadsheets! In other words cost!
Not because he didn’t see the signs - there had been whispers of restructures and budgets tightening - but because it still felt personal. Like his value had been erased in a spreadsheet.
He always associated his self worth to the ability in being able to keep his role and perform to the best of his abilities.
Step 1: Let yourself feel it
Layoffs, Let go, Redundancy can feel like rejection. And if you're like me - someone who connects identity and worth to work - it can be emotionally brutal.
This is when we lean on our support systems. A chat with a trusted friend. A coffee with an ex-colleague. A quiet journal entry. Or, if it gets too overwhelming, professional counselling.
You don’t have to go through it alone.
Step 2: Review what you’ve got (and what you don’t)
Vikram pulled up a spreadsheet he hadn’t touched in a while. His net worth, his emergency savings, his offset balance.
Turns out — they had 3 months’ worth of buffer. Not bad. Not great either. But it gave them breathing space.
💬 “If we didn’t have that buffer, we would be forced to take the first job that came our way - whether we liked it or not. That panic is real.”
This is exactly why - if you’re in a new job or an existing job for a while - start building that emergency fund for future curveballs.
You never know when you’d need it. But the safety that provides is worth the weight in gold.
Step 3: Know your entitlements
The severance payout bought him some time. But that wasn’t all.
After a quick Centrelink consultation, they discovered they were eligible for:
JobSeeker payments
Childcare subsidy increase due to reduced household income
May be rent assistance (if you’re renting)
🔎 Tip: Even if you're not sure you're eligible - check. Especially if you're supporting young kids.
Step 4: Reassess your expenses & investments
They slashed all non-essentials.
Streaming subscriptions: gone.
Dining out: paused.
New upgrades: postponed.
LinkedIn Premium: YES! (This is the time you’d need it the most)
But they also looked at underperforming assets. There was a loss-making stock they were holding onto for “some day.”
This was the time to sell - not just to tidy up the portfolio, but also because capital losses would offset other tax liabilities (especially useful in a low-income year).
Step 5: Reconnect with the Community (Yes, Including the School)
With more time on his hands, Vikram started volunteering at the kids’ school.
Not only did it help him stay mentally engaged, but surprisingly - it led to a conversation with another parent about a contract role in their company.
Opportunities will come from unexpected places. Showing up and staying confident is important.
Step 6: Upskill - But be Strategic
He didn’t just sign up for random courses. He picked:
A certification relevant to his industry
A short course in communication for leadership
And a few webinars on AI in project management
The point wasn’t to overstuff his CV — it was to show momentum and confidence.
Also, note that in this day and age - there is a course for everything - don’t spend a lot of money on the courses alone - just try and find whatever information that you can via free sources. YouTube is pretty useful here.
Step 7: Keep the Job hunt going — With Intention
There were weeks where he applied for 30 roles.
There were weeks he heard nothing.
One role looked promising - 4 rounds in, HR loved him, manager said, “Just final signoff needed…”
Then silence.
🧠 “It was brutal. He kept refreshing my inbox. Checking my phone. Then finally, nothing.”
Here’s what we remind ourselves:
Corporates move slow — don’t take it personally
Don’t appear desperate — show curiosity and calm confidence
Always follow up — but keep it professional
Reframe and Restart
After 4 months, Vikram landed a role that paid similar dollars, but gave him more autonomy, better work-life balance, and space to grow.
💬 “He was happy and He would’ve never even seen this job if I hadn’t been laid off.”
Most importantly - now he has the experience to back himself up if it happens for him into the future.
Your BCP Playbook (3Ms)
Mindset
Take time to process the shock
Ask for emotional support
Don’t tie your identity to a title
Money
Review severance and government entitlements (Centrelink)
Audit your emergency fund and cut non-essentials
Rebalance your assets or sell underperformers
Momentum
Update your resume and LinkedIn (Get Premium Subscription)
Start small — even a single volunteering gig can open doors
Upskill purposefully
Be intentional, not impulsive with your next job
If you’ve recently lost your job - remember, it’s not the end of the story. It’s the start of a new chapter.
Don’t jump into something out of fear. Use the space to think clearly, build a stronger foundation, and align your next move with your values.
And next time, build that buffer like your peace depends on it - because it truly does.
Need a Net Worth Tracker?
Grab my free tool to get your full financial picture in one place - including a “what-if buffer” calculator.
Or if you’d just like to chat - reach out. We’re here for the people who want to rebuild, not just react.
Let’s play the long game - with Clarity, Confidence and Control.
Layoff Survival & Rebuild Checklist
🧠 Mindset & Emotional Support
Take time to process the shock - allow space to feel
Share the news with close friends/family you trust
Seek emotional support (partner, friend, counsellor)
Remind yourself: This doesn’t define me
💵 Financial First-Aid
Review severance package and entitlements
Contact Centrelink - check for JobSeeker & childcare support
Calculate current monthly burn rate (expenses vs savings)
Pause all non-essential spending
Review & reduce subscriptions and recurring charges
Update or create your emergency fund strategy
📊 Audit & Optimise Your Finances
List all assets: Cash, Property, Super, Shares, Crypto, etc.
Review underperforming assets - consider selling (tax planning)
Use a Net Worth Tracker to get a single-view snapshot
Rebalance asset allocation if too concentrated
🧑🏽💻 Career & Skill Strategy
Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
Write down key accomplishments in your last role
Identify 1–2 skills to strengthen (via online learning)
Consider volunteering to stay engaged & network
Explore casual / contract work for cash flow and confidence
📬 Job Search Strategy
Apply to jobs that align with your values and growth
Follow up with HRs professionally (1x per week)
Track all applications in a spreadsheet
Set realistic weekly job search goals (e.g. 5–10 quality applications)
Don’t be lazy to create cover letters and tailor your profile to suit the job application.
🧾 Admin & Paperwork
File for Centrelink support if eligible
Notify school/childcare if there are changes
Review health insurance & utility bills for cost savings
Keep a log of your job search (some services require this)
🛡 Future-Proofing
Rebuild or top up your emergency fund when re-employed and now if you’re still employed
Set up automated savings & investment goals
Consider income protection insurance
Talk to your partner about a financial “Plan B” in case of future events
🧭 Reflection
Journal about what matters to you in your next role
Clarify your ideal lifestyle and work/life balance
Ask: “Am I chasing alignment or just another paycheque?”