Employee gets laid off, but no coworkers texted him or accepted his LinkedIn invite - gets tough life lessons that go viral
Layoffs Reddit story: A Reddit post about the sting of workplace silence is resonating with thousands online, after a recently laid-off employee shared his personal experience of feeling abandoned by coworkers.
The Reddit user said, "Only one person not even on my team of a dozen people reached out," as per post shared on subreddit community, r/Layoffs.
He detailed how he had invested time and care into workplace relationships, mentoring colleagues, checking in on them when they were sick, offering condolences for family losses, and even bringing in breakfast. Yet after his layoff, his attempts to connect via LinkedIn went mostly ignored.
The former employee shared that, "I sent linkedin invites to everyone afterward and I had a fair number that just left it on pending," adding, "I had people accept my linkedin invite at the company I had never met and yet... those closest to me go quiet."
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He went on to say that, "If the accounting team just sees us as a number in an excel sheet then its cold but its not personal. But the silence of those we invested so much in, THAT hits different. Yes a lot of it is fear, yes no one owes us anything. But I am just shocked at the lack of basic decency."
The post resonated with other Reddit users who shared similar experiences. Many commented that long-term employees also received little to no communication after layoffs. Some noted that fear, uncertainty, or workplace culture might explain the silence, but the emotional impact was still profound.
The Reddit thread became a forum for others to share stories of workplace disappointment and the harsh reality that “work friends” sometimes only exist during employment.
Also read: South Korean crypto exchange accidentally sends $40 billion in Bitcoin (BTC), briefly making some users millionaires - here’s how Bithumb is compensating
Yes. Many employees feel shocked or disappointed when colleagues they trusted don’t reach out.
What can I do if I still want to connect with former colleagues?
You can send polite LinkedIn messages or emails, but be prepared that not everyone will respond.
Laid-Off Employee Feels Abandoned Despite Close Coworker Relationships
The user, who had been with his company for less than a year, was part of a round of layoffs. While the Reddit user expected the usual discomfort that comes with job loss, what surprised him most was how few coworkers reached out afterward.The Reddit user said, "Only one person not even on my team of a dozen people reached out," as per post shared on subreddit community, r/Layoffs.
He detailed how he had invested time and care into workplace relationships, mentoring colleagues, checking in on them when they were sick, offering condolences for family losses, and even bringing in breakfast. Yet after his layoff, his attempts to connect via LinkedIn went mostly ignored.
The former employee shared that, "I sent linkedin invites to everyone afterward and I had a fair number that just left it on pending," adding, "I had people accept my linkedin invite at the company I had never met and yet... those closest to me go quiet."
Also read: Word of the day: Rake
Emotional Toll: When Work Friends Don’t Reach Out
The user also pointed out, "It's not just me, talking with others that were laid off that had been there for many years, they also received almost total silence."He went on to say that, "If the accounting team just sees us as a number in an excel sheet then its cold but its not personal. But the silence of those we invested so much in, THAT hits different. Yes a lot of it is fear, yes no one owes us anything. But I am just shocked at the lack of basic decency."
The Reality of Work Friendships: Temporary or Genuine
The Reddit user concluded his post, saying, "I don't expect the corporation to care about us but seeing the people I treated so kindly treat me (and others) like this....that is so much more disheartening. So disappointing. If anyone else feels this, it's not just you. We all expected better."The post resonated with other Reddit users who shared similar experiences. Many commented that long-term employees also received little to no communication after layoffs. Some noted that fear, uncertainty, or workplace culture might explain the silence, but the emotional impact was still profound.
The Reddit thread became a forum for others to share stories of workplace disappointment and the harsh reality that “work friends” sometimes only exist during employment.
Also read: South Korean crypto exchange accidentally sends $40 billion in Bitcoin (BTC), briefly making some users millionaires - here’s how Bithumb is compensating
FAQs
Is it normal to feel betrayed by coworkers after a layoff?Yes. Many employees feel shocked or disappointed when colleagues they trusted don’t reach out.
What can I do if I still want to connect with former colleagues?
You can send polite LinkedIn messages or emails, but be prepared that not everyone will respond.