Anonymous
02/16/2026 17:46
Subject: Contact from colleagues after layoff
Anonymous wrote:That's a lot of outreach.
My corporate job was eliminated during a legal FMLA leave. So they couldn't lay me off until I reactivated.
I was told to appear at my job location on the first day my FMLA ended. Although I was planning to use vacation for two more weeks.
So I went into the office, started greeting and chatting with people, did the required check-in with the medical unit (because maternity is a disability), then went out to lunch with coworkers.
Then after lunch, I got called into a conference room to meet with HR and got laid off. Needless to say, people were shocked because it wasn't one of the mass layoff days.
So...my workgroup had a nice dinner at a restaurant for me a few weeks later. Other than that, 2 people who were true friends stayed in touch. And I asked 2 people if I could use them as references and they said okay.
I went back to work at the same company 2.5 years later. Because it pays the most in my profession in my metro area.
I think OP sounds ahead of the game.
I'll also note that many big corporations prohibit their management from commenting on the performance of former staff for liability reasons. They will only allow employment verification of dates and salaries. Usually through a contracted service like "The Work Number".
Thanks. I’m curious, was it weird to go back? I was at my job for two years, but it’s one of the better places of employment in my area for my field.
They’re not hiring much right now, but I could see coming back in five years in a different department. It was a small layoff, like 4% of staff impacted, so I think my manager had a big role in deciding who got let go.
Anonymous
02/16/2026 16:25
Subject: Re:Contact from colleagues after layoff
Depends on the climate and how long you were there/how close you were to your colleagues. I was laid off from a small marketing firm years ago after less than a year. No contact with anyone. Laid off from another a few years later after being there for four years and laid off alongside a colleague I knew well. We're still in touch 10+ years later.
Anonymous
02/16/2026 16:14
Subject: Contact from colleagues after layoff
3 people out of a team of 8 reached out after layoff.
Anonymous
02/16/2026 16:14
Subject: Contact from colleagues after layoff
That's a lot of outreach.
My corporate job was eliminated during a legal FMLA leave. So they couldn't lay me off until I reactivated.
I was told to appear at my job location on the first day my FMLA ended. Although I was planning to use vacation for two more weeks.
So I went into the office, started greeting and chatting with people, did the required check-in with the medical unit (because maternity is a disability), then went out to lunch with coworkers.
Then after lunch, I got called into a conference room to meet with HR and got laid off. Needless to say, people were shocked because it wasn't one of the mass layoff days.
So...my workgroup had a nice dinner at a restaurant for me a few weeks later. Other than that, 2 people who were true friends stayed in touch. And I asked 2 people if I could use them as references and they said okay.
I went back to work at the same company 2.5 years later. Because it pays the most in my profession in my metro area.
I think OP sounds ahead of the game.
I'll also note that many big corporations prohibit their management from commenting on the performance of former staff for liability reasons. They will only allow employment verification of dates and salaries. Usually through a contracted service like "The Work Number".
My corporate job was eliminated during a legal FMLA leave. So they couldn't lay me off until I reactivated.
I was told to appear at my job location on the first day my FMLA ended. Although I was planning to use vacation for two more weeks.
So I went into the office, started greeting and chatting with people, did the required check-in with the medical unit (because maternity is a disability), then went out to lunch with coworkers.
Then after lunch, I got called into a conference room to meet with HR and got laid off. Needless to say, people were shocked because it wasn't one of the mass layoff days.
So...my workgroup had a nice dinner at a restaurant for me a few weeks later. Other than that, 2 people who were true friends stayed in touch. And I asked 2 people if I could use them as references and they said okay.
I went back to work at the same company 2.5 years later. Because it pays the most in my profession in my metro area.
I think OP sounds ahead of the game.
I'll also note that many big corporations prohibit their management from commenting on the performance of former staff for liability reasons. They will only allow employment verification of dates and salaries. Usually through a contracted service like "The Work Number".
Anonymous
02/16/2026 16:07
Subject: Contact from colleagues after layoff
Lucky you. DH was contacted by two colleagues, I think. Very surprising and disappointing.
Anonymous
02/16/2026 16:03
Subject: Contact from colleagues after layoff
Few of them immediately after but, the way most people were acting, I thought they assumed lay off was a contagious disease
Anonymous
02/16/2026 15:55
Subject: Contact from colleagues after layoff
Curious, for those laid off, how many colleagues reached out to you? I had 17 people reach out including six people preemptively offering a reference. That was a huge help since I didn’t feel comfortable asking my former boss for one and she never reached out. Didn’t post on LinkedIn - not sure if that makes a difference.