How about a little empathy?

anonymous

Guest
I have worked here for years. There are people on my team who have been counterparts for years. I have consistently and repeatedly been kind to every single person in my region.

I got laid off on Tuesday. There are nine people in my region. Do you know how many have reached out to me after 3 days? Two. Two have reached out to me.

I get it. You do not know what to say. Maybe you feel guilty that you got to keep your job and someone else lost theirs. Pick up the phone. Call your coworker. Text them. Email them. You could say something like, "I'm sorry this has happened to you. Would you be okay if I forward open positions to you to help you in your job search. You can use me up as a reference."
 






I kept my job while my territory counterpart was laid off. I have texted several times and have gotten no response. I know they are shocked but not to respond at all?
 






I have worked here for years. There are people on my team who have been counterparts for years. I have consistently and repeatedly been kind to every single person in my region.

I got laid off on Tuesday. There are nine people in my region. Do you know how many have reached out to me after 3 days? Two. Two have reached out to me.

I get it. You do not know what to say. Maybe you feel guilty that you got to keep your job and someone else lost theirs. Pick up the phone. Call your coworker. Text them. Email them. You could say something like, "I'm sorry this has happened to you. Would you be okay if I forward open positions to you to help you in your job search. You can use me up as a reference."
Here's some empathy. Fuck you. Get off your dead fucking ass and look for a new job. Grow a set of fucking balls while your at it.
 






I have worked here for years. There are people on my team who have been counterparts for years. I have consistently and repeatedly been kind to every single person in my region.

I got laid off on Tuesday. There are nine people in my region. Do you know how many have reached out to me after 3 days? Two. Two have reached out to me.

I get it. You do not know what to say. Maybe you feel guilty that you got to keep your job and someone else lost theirs. Pick up the phone. Call your coworker. Text them. Email them. You could say something like, "I'm sorry this has happened to you. Would you be okay if I forward open positions to you to help you in your job search. You can use me up as a reference."
I hope that everything works out for you. I’m so sorry this has happened.
 






Unfortunately, the lack of response from former coworkers is very common. Many are just too wrapped up in their own lives and don't really care about others or have empathy towards the very people they used to call a friend. They only see the world as how impacts their own life, not how it affects their coworkers. I would venture a guess that these vanishing coworkers that you haven't heard squat from are the same ones who bitterly complained about how unfair the quotas were for them.
 






Unfortunately, the lack of response from former coworkers is very common. Many are just too wrapped up in their own lives and don't really care about others or have empathy towards the very people they used to call a friend. They only see the world as how impacts their own life, not how it affects their coworkers. I would venture a guess that these vanishing coworkers that you haven't heard squat from are the same ones who bitterly complained about how unfair the quotas were for them.
Better you than me, BTW, what kinda a sales car were you driving? I may want to request to fleet for a swap, thanks and happy trails.
 






I don't work for your company, but saw your post as I was scrolling.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I believe my company is about to go through layoffs, and I believe I'll be one. I'm bracing....almost 20 years in, and I see writing on the wall.

We had layoffs a couple of years ago, and I called people I hadn't even worked with very often, just to express my thoughts and let them know I was thinking of them.

Most were very kind and appreciative. One unfriended me on Facebook. In that case, she kept several work friends, but I believe she felt like disconnecting because we were no longer "work friends". She had also been ranked much higher than me in that particular year, so technically, I should have been let go instead, but for geographical reasons, she was let go.

Many told me that they, too, were shocked at how few people reached out. It was like others were fearful that it was contagious.
 












I have worked here for years. There are people on my team who have been counterparts for years. I have consistently and repeatedly been kind to every single person in my region.

I got laid off on Tuesday. There are nine people in my region. Do you know how many have reached out to me after 3 days? Two. Two have reached out to me.

I get it. You do not know what to say. Maybe you feel guilty that you got to keep your job and someone else lost theirs. Pick up the phone. Call your coworker. Text them. Email them. You could say something like, "I'm sorry this has happened to you. Would you be okay if I forward open positions to you to help you in your job search. You can use me up as a reference."
My personal rule is - always say something rather than nothing at all.
Same rule goes for those experiencing the death of a loved one or other tragic events.

I am so sorry you’re experiencing this. I have faith that good will come from this.
 












Astellas like many companies look at you as nothing more than a number. Doesn’t matter what you produce. They always say they care when they don’t. Your counterparts? They’ll screw you to get ahead. Happened twice at Astellas. One for a training spot - never in the field, the other stayed home and depended on me to cover their specialty accounts.

The only person that will take care of you is yourself. Remember that at your next position.
 






I have worked here for years. There are people on my team who have been counterparts for years. I have consistently and repeatedly been kind to every single person in my region.

I got laid off on Tuesday. There are nine people in my region. Do you know how many have reached out to me after 3 days? Two. Two have reached out to me.

I get it. You do not know what to say. Maybe you feel guilty that you got to keep your job and someone else lost theirs. Pick up the phone. Call your coworker. Text them. Email them. You could say something like, "I'm sorry this has happened to you. Would you be okay if I forward open positions to you to help you in your job search. You can use me up as a reference."
Also laid off and hearing nothing. Really family? I donated to your son’s 8th trip to DC fundraiser. And I gave money to buy you a wedding shower gift AND a baby shower gift. Enjoy staying employed. The silence is deafening
 












Also laid off and hearing nothing. Really family? I donated to your son’s 8th trip to DC fundraiser. And I gave money to buy you a wedding shower gift AND a baby shower gift. Enjoy staying employed. The silence is deafening
Did you “give” with the expectation that someday someone would give back to you? Not to be crass but look out for yourself first all day every day and expect little to nothing in return, it is what it is
 






Did you “give” with the expectation that someday someone would give back to you? Not to be crass but look out for yourself first all day every day and expect little to nothing in return, it is what it is
I am the OP. I never gave with any expectation. But, I respected my teammates. I genuinely cared about their wellbeing. You know what I think about your post -- I'm pretty confident that you are one of the humans that chose to not even reach out to someone on your team or in your area that lost their job. And, this is how you let yourself off the hook. You tell yourself, "Well, they should expect nothing."
 






I am the OP. I never gave with any expectation. But, I respected my teammates. I genuinely cared about their wellbeing. You know what I think about your post -- I'm pretty confident that you are one of the humans that chose to not even reach out to someone on your team or in your area that lost their job. And, this is how you let yourself off the hook. You tell yourself, "Well, they should expect nothing."
Sometimes people are just selfish at the core. I’m sorry this happened to you and please up us that you found something better. Astellas is a ghost of what it use to be and these are literally Dead Reps Walking. You got the prize by getting out getting a package and most likely a higher paying job that will appreciate you. The micromanagement will exemplify and they will squeeze every ounce of life from the reps. Next round of layoffs will continue. Veozah will never be a Billion dollar drug.
 






Agree with both sentiments. Character exists within each person, so there’s no excuse for not sending at least a sympathy text to a laid off colleague- thats the bare minimum. But Astellas culture encourages behavior that’s fear based- likely newer reps are scared to reach out- everything is a compliance violation here. This is what happens when you train people to be robots and not consultants.
 












Agree with both sentiments. Character exists within each person, so there’s no excuse for not sending at least a sympathy text to a laid off colleague- thats the bare minimum. But Astellas culture encourages behavior that’s fear based- likely newer reps are scared to reach out- everything is a compliance violation here. This is what happens when you train people to be robots and not consultants.
Consultants?!? Pharma reps are nothing but food delivery clowns. Grow a backbone and get out of this industry.
 






Agree with both sentiments. Character exists within each person, so there’s no excuse for not sending at least a sympathy text to a laid off colleague- thats the bare minimum. But Astellas culture encourages behavior that’s fear based- likely newer reps are scared to reach out- everything is a compliance violation here. This is what happens when you train people to be robots and not consultants.
and when you hire attorneys to lead up compliance and lead with fear. Cannot sell anything with compliance consistently breathing down your neck and watching you every move. If they want robots, just get AI to start making calls on your behalf at least they only follow one script. No deviation.
With respect to reaching out- its really said and seems to be an industry standard these days, Unfortunately there are many companies who have been laying off some more frequent than others and their leaders have even snubbed them which is so uncredibly sad. To think that people are that narrow minded to think that they might find them in a similar position and not to realize how you treated people in their worst moment can and will come back to haunt you.

If that is the path of our future everyone in Pharma is doomed.