Pink Slip due to Pandemic: Prefered candidate as Inclusion Policy

Employment scenario in India has undergone a change in full circle, which is a known fact. The myth needs to be cleared, that the impact is on few and not everyone got affected. If we consider the current situation in the organizations, the job roles have changed dramatically to respond to the business needs. They are also trying to accommodate the bunch of people who are part of the company as existing team, and some are grafting the composition of new and old set of people. It is surely, no longer the news that many industries are almost at a shut down stage and many employees are getting #laidoff to right size the business houses.

The question that we need to ask ourselves is whether we should wait for some miracle to happen or keep thinking that some angel will appear in our lives, to invite us to join their world of possibilities or when "luck" will be in our favor. Such thoughts can paralyze a person who lives in a glasshouse that can be broken to pieces any moment, just by a gush of wind.

The best scenario should be to accept the situation, which is now being termed as #NewNorm. Let's shed the "New" part of it and see the current scenario as normalcy, and expect life will not go back to the old casket. Consider the life of our grandparents, who were in the era when India was not a free country; our parents had to start back from basics, since partition changed their life completely. Our generation could build it further by being grateful to the foundation that were getting reshaped, and could give the next generation a solid ground. Possibly, this process did not allow anyone to plan or act when things would fall back to basics again or may have to start from scratch, without a solid ground at all.

The most important element of our life now is the "Spirit", a steady mind and above all capability to instill "innovation" as a #lifeskill. Being #innovative is not longer a trait of a handful of people who bring change to the world following 80:20 principles. The table has to turn now, and 80% people need to impact the 20% to create a transformed world, provided they believe in their own capability and power. 

The state of mind post receiving a "#PinkSlip" is "Why me?" "Now what" "How will I manage my expense" "Who will help me to find my next job" "How will I tell people-feel so ashamed" "Am I so useless that my company fired me?" Most of such thoughts are related to self-pity, beating up yourself with thoughts around, if something could be undone in the past to avoid this scenario. Another set of rumination happens towards "My boss never liked me and did not protect me" "I have done so much for the company and this is price they payback" "Some people did politics against me or victimized me" and so on. 

The mind is lost between a dilemma whether to push to move ahead and try a new path or going back to the old comfort world to find ways & means to return to past state of life. The chaos, the imbalance is the utmost factor which needs real handling which is possible only by "Acceptance" of the fact that "Life has changed" and we all need to act to respond to future needs. It’s easier said than done but does anyone have any "Choice"? 

Actions to be taken are very basic and simple, which is similar to a fresher who completes their studies and guns for a career with loads of #dream to win, exploring possibilities for build career, doing continuous research of job requirement, acquire skills to fit the job demand, connect with the right people in the industry who are hiring and build network to stay connected with the business ensuring flow of information to enhance knowledge.

A change in society is required too, to accept that we will have people around us who are without employment, who should not feel awkward to share their employment status. The ecosystem needs to be supportive by sharing opportunities, where candidates could learn about their employment options. The most encouraging scenario would be if organizations include in #JobDescriptions that "Preference will be given to candidates laid off due to #Covid-19", which will revolutionize the policies as a part of an "Inclusion" drive to encourage our people. 

Let's ensure we practice some of this and assist people, organization and society to sail through and handle the tide quickly and successfully.