Ever Worried About Being Laid Off? Read This.
In addition to writing about jobs he has lost, Mr. Jaffe has been reading the layoff stories of others in Laid Off, a new Substack newsletter. 'A support group like this for laid-off people has always been needed,' he said.
Melanie Ehrenkranz, 35, started Laid Off last August, about a year after she lost her job at a financial technology company that has since closed. After being laid off, she said, 'I didn't really feel like I had access to a community or to stories of layoffs outside of a group chat with two of my former colleagues.' By the time she introduced the newsletter, Ms. Ehrenkranz, who lives in Los Angeles, had started working for Business Class, an online entrepreneurship course created by the '#Girlboss' author Sophia Amoruso, where Ms. Ehrenkranz is still employed.
Within two months of debuting, Laid Off had about 5,000 subscribers. It now has about 9,000, with more than 150 paying $5 a month or $50 a year for full subscriptions that include additional resources like access to private group chats. Many subscribers work in layoff-prone industries like media, marketing and advertising, Ms. Ehrenkranz said, adding that she had recently noticed an uptick in subscribers with careers in government and technology.
Laid Off's audience is a fraction of the size of more established Substack business publications like Feed Me. Its growth in readership comes at a time when posting about work online has become commonplace, whether it be 'LinkedIn-fluencers' sharing hot takes on corporate trends or people making TikTok videos about office outfits. And at a time when there have been growing concerns about a recession and a rise in unemployment.
Some of those featured in the newsletter reached out to Ms. Ehrenkranz after losing jobs; others were chosen after completing a survey that she had posted on LinkedIn, which 'received hundreds of responses right away,' she said. More women have been featured than men, Ms. Ehrenkranz added, because more women have approached her about participating.
Among the layoff stories the newsletter has told are those of a former Wall Street Journal editor, a former recruiter for Meta, a former content manager at Tesla and a former financial analyst at Disney who was with the company for nearly a decade.
Laid Off's Q&A interviews touch on topics people sometimes avoid when talking about unemployment. Ms. Ehrenkranz's go-to questions for subjects include 'What were the reasons given for your layoff?' and 'What was the first thing you did after getting laid off?' She said the newsletter's tone was meant to be edgy and fun; a tagline on its website reads: 'The coolest place on the internet to talk about being laid off.'
'It's definitely that vibe,' Ms. Ehrenkranz said. 'The whole point of Laid Off is to show that it's not a personal failure.'
Anu Lingala, 33, spoke to Ms. Ehrenkranz about losing her job at Nordstrom in a feature published in March. 'Her interviews are so humanizing,' said Ms. Lingala, who lives in Brooklyn and now works in marketing at a jewelry company. 'They unpack the shame around being laid off.'
The newsletter has a confessional-like quality that Lindsey Stanberry, a former editor of the Money Diaries column on the website Refinery29, appreciates. 'There's a voyeuristic element to it,' said Ms. Stanberry, 44, who now writes The Purse, a Substack newsletter about women and money. 'It's like, it could happen to me, or it has happened to me, and, like, I want to feel this camaraderie.'
Maya Joseph-Goteiner, 41, was among Laid Off's first subjects: Her interview about losing her user-experience job at Google ran in the newsletter last August. In it, Ms. Joseph-Goteiner recalled going bowling with her family the day she was laid off and how the experience pushed her in new professional directions. Participating was an opportunity to offer a 'counter narrative' to the desperation and shame that can bubble up when talking about losing a job, she said.
'My story felt like one of resilience, and I want there to be more stories like that,' said Ms. Joseph-Goteiner, who lives in Santa Fe, N.M., and now runs her own research and design agency called Velocity Ave.
Ochuko Akpovbovbo, the writer of As Seen On, a Substack newsletter about business trends that is geared toward her fellow Gen Z-ers, said some in that cohort had shown less interest in careers in media and technology than members of older generations. Laid Off's interviews with people who have lost jobs in those industries have helped contribute to 'the end of Big Tech and journalism worship,' added Ms. Akpovbovbo, 26, whose newsletter was introduced last May and has about 22,000 subscribers.
For Joya Patel, Laid Off is a platform to remind people of the importance of certain careers. She pitched herself to Ms. Ehrenkranz after losing her job as the director of communications and external affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services in February. Ms. Patel, 34, who also subscribed to the newsletter around that time, said she had been motivated to share her story after reading another Laid Off interview with a former communications specialist at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
'I really wanted people to understand, OK, what does working at H.H.S. mean?' said Ms. Patel, referring to the federal health agency. 'The American people don't know what each agency does for them and what we sit in there to do.'
Ms. Patel, who is now consulting and whose Laid Off feature was published in April, likes how the newsletter lets readers 'hear from the people,' she added. 'I'm tired of companies being able to direct us and lead stories. As humans, we have that power, and I like to hear from people like, 'Hey, I walked in, it was awkward. Things were awkward that day. This is why they told me they're doing it.' Because no company is ever going to say that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Bodegas are the new ‘It' restaurants as dining out costs spiral: ‘It's not just mozzarella sticks anymore'
NYC's corner markets are cornering the market — on haute cuisine. As the cost of dining out in the Big Apple spirals higher, eating well without breaking the bank could be as simple as visiting your nearest bodega. The city's humble bazaars are increasingly perceived as epicurean pioneers — with gourmands and social media influencers clamoring for a bite. The craze comes as the price of eating out in the five boroughs has been said to soar by nearly 30%, according to a 2024 City Comptroller's Office report — with even a sad Midtown desk lunch of salad or fast food often costing a minimum of $15 nowadays. 16 A worker prepares a shrimp and octopus cocktail at La Esquina Del Camarón Mexicano, a Mexican seafood depot at the back of an Indian bodega in Jackson Heights, Queens. Tamara Beckwith/ By contrast, determined diners willing to look past the toilet paper rolls and bricks of Cafe Bustelo can fill their belly at a wave of unlikely grocery gastro-hubs for a fraction of the price — without degrading their palate. 'I go to my bodega every day, and the halal food is better than the food truck next door and cheaper — and they can do it all,' Karissa Dumbacher, an NYC foodfluencer with over 5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, told The Post. 'I mean, it's not just mozzarella sticks anymore.' Here's the dish on six tasty, cutting-edge supping spots. Java, no jive 16 IndoJava Chef Anastasia Dewi Tjahjadi and owner Elvi Goliat display a bowl of lontong mie. Tamara Beckwith/ There's no menu at IndoJava, a bite-sized bodega in Elmhurst, Queens — but behind the selection of sambals and other Indonesian staples, intrepid diners will find one of the toughest tables in town. Javanese chef Anastasia Dewi Tjahjadi, one of two haute-hash slingers (Thursdays, a chef from Jakarta takes over the stove), recently served just one dish: lontong mie ($15), a fragrant specialty from her hometown of Surabaya. The piquant combo of noodles, bean curd, bean cake wedges, compressed rice cakes, garlic crackers, prawns and clam skewers packed a punch — in a brawny broth infused with pungent shrimp paste and served with weapons-grade chili peppers. 16 Diners can eat at a squat yellow table at the back of the bodega. Tamara Beckwith/ And don't bother asking the chef to turn the heat down. 'I don't want the people to come here and be, like, 'Oh, I'm sorry, I don't like spicy' — because my food … is spicy,' the griddle gourmet proudly told The Post. 'I can't make it not spicy.' Opened back in 2008, IndoJava has become a bona fide sensation. In a viral video, influencer Dumbacher labeled the offerings the closest thing to 'actual authentic Indonesian food in New York City.' IndoJava's food pop-ups are available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. while supplies last; daily specials are announced on Instagram. 'We do very traditional, very authentic,' owner Elvi Goliat told The Post. 'We need to make something interesting so they will come every week.' IndoJava, 8512 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst Mart of the deal 16 A variety of Guatemalan specialties are displayed at the Karen Deli. Stefano Giovannini for In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the tiny Karen Deli has an ace up its sleeve — a speakeasy-like Guatemalan canteen located incongruously at the back, near a Central American mural. The crown jewel drawing in-the-know types is the Pepian De Pollo ($13), a rich, spice-inflected stew studded with pumpkin seeds, best paired with a chuchito ($3), a miniature Guatemalan tamale, and washed down with a regional soda from the cooler. This hearty combo costs a fraction of what you'd pay for one entrée at a sit-down spot in nearby trendy neighborhoods. 16 It is one of many bodegas serving unique dishes. Stefano Giovannini for According to legendary NYC restaurant critic Robert Sietsema, unexpected finds like these show how bodegas are evolving. 'For decades, [the bodega] was a province of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans and African-Americans, hence the term bodega, which is just Spanish for store,' the Village Voice alum told The Post. 'This is indicative of other groups taking over the bodegas, having a much broader selection,' he said. Karen Deli, 6116 5th Ave., Brooklyn Prawn stars 16 A cocktail of shrimp and octopus at La Esquina Del Camaron. Tamara Beckwith/ Jackson Heights, Queens, has always been the Big Apple's multicultural bouillabaisse. Head to Roosevelt Avenue — where diners will find an Indian mini mart in the front and a Mexican seafood restaurant in the back. Dubbed La Esquina Del Camaron Mexicano, the tiny, cash-only sit-down serves shrimp and octopus cocktails with cilantro, avocado and a 'secret' cocktail sauce ($15 for a small portion). 16 Indian bodega La Esquina Del Camaron features a bustling Mexican seafood restaurant. Tamara Beckwith/ 16 Diners can check out a mini mart in the front — and the seafood paradise in the back Tamara Beckwith 16 The Jackson Heights go-to also offers Coctel de Camarones y Pulpo, and fish and tacos. Tamara Beckwith/ It's perhaps one of the few places in town you'd want to tuck into a plate of shellfish while pondering a wall of e-cigarettes and playing your scratch-off tickets. La Esquina Del Camaron Mexicano, 8002 Roosevelt Ave. The hero we deserve 16 The hand-scrawled hero menu frames a kitchen worker at Sunny & Annie's Deli. Tamara Beckwith/ Sunny & Annie's Deli in Manhattan's East Village is much more than a bacon-egg-and-cheese broker, offering a 24-hour smorgasbord of inventive, submarine-sized, Asian-inflected heroes, which the Korean owners list on handscrawled notecards. Wacky fare includes the Obama (grilled chicken and eggplant), the Bernie Sanders (teriyaki chicken and shiitake mushrooms), and other sandwiches whose ingredients appear to be charmingly unrelated to their celeb namesake. Check out the Pho #1 ($10.99 cash, $11.97 using a card), which, like its eponymous soup, features beef, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, sriracha and a slathering of hoisin. The dining depot is a standby for food critic Sietsema, who described the noshes as 'just plain weird in a good sort of way.' 16 A pho-inspired sandwich from Sunny & Annie's Deli. Tamara Beckwith/ 'There's no place that makes sandwiches that uses the odd combination of semi-healthy ingredients with good bread,' the pro told The Post. 'And people that go in there for the first time, they're dumbstruck by the menu.' Sunny & Annie's Deli, 94 Avenue B Way to plant 16 The Clinton Fruit Market on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan is one of 50 bodegas where customers can find Plantega. Tamara Beckwith/ Bodegas haven't historically been bastions of vegetarian-friendly fare, Plantega is changing that — offering a '100% plant-based menu' that 'reimagines New York's iconic deli sandwiches,' ranging from the steak, egg and cheese burrito to the chopped cheese (both $12). 'In a way, bodegas are the city's original test kitchens,' Plantega Founder and CEO Nil Zacharias told The Post. The concept, launched in 2022, is available at 50 bodegas. It reflects the corner store's legacy for innovation, where a 'Dominican-owned grill meets halal ingredients, or a classic bacon, egg, and cheese gets a twist that reflects the neighborhood,' he said. 'Too often, 'better food' is framed as something exclusive,' he told The Post of grub which is often 'packaged for a certain demographic.' 16 A vegan chopped cheese, courtesy of Plantega. Tamara Beckwith/ 'Instead of asking people to change their habits, we chose to meet them where they already eat,' he added. 'That meant starting with the bodega, one of the most trusted, culturally rooted spaces in New York City.' Plantega features a Chopped Cheese with Beyond Meat, Stockheld cultured cheddar and Fabalish vegan mayo — a combo that's tasty and healthier than oft-dubious deli protein. 'The food is hot, satisfying and made to order, just without the meat sweats or the 3 p.m. crash that makes you question your life choices,' Zacharias quipped. Plantega, various locations Ock-ed and loaded 16 'For years, I [saw] people get the same sandwiches and order all of these things on the side,' said Rahim Mohamed, owner of Red Hook Food Corp. Stephen Yang Probably the only bodega in remote Red Hook, Brooklyn, to have lured celebs like Ed Sheeran and Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Rahim Mohamed's Red Hook Food Corp has become a viral sensation. Better known online as General Ock — derived from Americanized Arabic slang for 'akhi,' meaning 'brother' — the savvy seller has created a cutting-edge meal mecca, amassing over 5.5 million TikTok followers by sharing videos of him whipping up some of NYC's wildest vittles. 16 A sandwich hits the griddle before heading to a hungry customer. Stephen Yang 16 A stuffed sandwich at Red Hook Food Corp. Stephen Yang And no ingredient is too outlandish. Here, chopped cheese sandwiches are piled high with Pop-Tarts, mozzarella sticks, cotton candy, Rice Krispies Treats and more — in a method dubbed the Ocky Way. 'For years, I [saw] people get the same sandwiches and order all of these things on the side. I thought, 'Why can't I mix it all together?'' he told The Post in 2021. Red Hook Food Corp, 603 Clinton St., Brooklyn
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
World's Largest Building Site Eyes Thousands of Layoffs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Saudi Arabia's Neom megaproject, home to the world's largest construction site, could soon layoff thousands of workers. Consulting firms were brought in by the Public Investment Fund to assess the project's feasibility as officials grappled with economic headwinds that may force significant downsizing at the site. Newsweek contacted the Public Investment Fund and Neom for comment by email. Why It Matters The Neom project, particularly its centerpiece "the Line"—a planned 105-mile linear city—has served as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda. Designed to house 9 million people in an ultramodern, zero-emission environment, the project was intended to reduce the kingdom's reliance on oil. However, escalating costs, reduced oil revenues and slower-than-expected construction progress have put the project's scale in jeopardy. The review process initiated by the Public Investment Fund could affect not only Neom's workforce but also the ambitions of Saudi Arabia to reinvent its economy and global image. What To Know In July, the kingdom's Public Investment Fund, which manages all Vision 2030 projects, engaged external consulting firms to assess the Neom's feasibility. Semafor later reported that sources inside Neom were considering cutting its workforce and relocating more than 1,000 employees to Riyadh to control costs. Currently, workers live on the construction site, where custom-built accommodation has been placed to make sure employees don't have to commute daily into the desert. As of April, about 2,800 workers were housed at the site, Neom's website said. An image of the building site of the Line in Saudi Arabia. An image of the building site of the Line in Saudi Arabia. NEOM In response to the report, Neom spokesperson Sahar Al-Anbar wrote on LinkedIn: "Change can be challenging, but firstly, let us establish that Neom is more than just a development project, it represents an ambitious national vision that is a key part of Saudi Arabia's development strategy. "It's natural for a project of this scale to go through periods of review and adjustment. These actions are actually reassuring and reflect responsible management. By reassessing resource allocation, Neom takes a proactive approach to stay in line with its ambitious long-term objectives." Neom has been plagued by allegations of worker mistreatment. In October, an ITV documentary said that about 21,000 foreign workers had died and 100,000 more had gone missing since 2017 while working on several projects as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative. What People Are Saying Sahar Al-Anbar, a spokesperson for Neom, wrote on LinkedIn: "Handling challenges in large-scale projects require flexibility and a readiness to adapt. The ability to make strategic adjustments is a critical aspect of successful project delivery. It's encouraging to see Neom prioritize thoughtful planning and responsiveness, which are essential in bringing this visionary concept to life! "Lastly, it's important to note that meals, schools, housekeeping service, etc, are provided as part of the remote-site allowance policy and are not standard benefits. Employees will still receive their current pay packages when moving to Riyadh." What Happens Next The ongoing review by consulting firms is set to guide the Saudi Public Investment Fund's final decisions regarding Neom's scale, workforce and timeline. The results are expected to determine whether the city will come close to its original 2030 completion goal or face further restructuring and delays.
The Hill
6 hours ago
- The Hill
These are the habits that are killing your promotion chances
Career advice abounds on what to do to get a promotion. For many American workers, especially given the difficulty of the current labor market, staying in their current organisation and moving up the ladder is an appealing prospect. It's true that you're more likely to get a bigger pay bump if you move to a new company. Salary increases for employees who switch jobs can be around 20 percent more than their old salary. If you have particularly sought-after skills, you could expect a bump of 20-30 percent, though figures vary widely. By contrast, an internal promotion may net you about 10 percent more money. It's not as much; but you won't have to move companies, or get used to a whole new culture and way of working, all of which can mean looking internally first is a highly appealing prospect. Want a fresh start? Discover 4 jobs currently available This year, U.S. employers expect to promote approximately 10 percent of their workforce according to a Mercer survey of over 800 employers. If you want one of those to be you, what should you be doing? Promotion strategies Experts will tell you to 'grow your personal brand', for example. In practice, this often involves giving your LinkedIn profile a zhuzh, posting your workplace wins and thoughts, or getting some new personal headshots. You may also be advised to showcase your unique value within your team or organization. If the management track is what appeals, then you should aim to demonstrate strategic leadership by taking initiative on important projects, or by increasing cross-functional collaboration, for example. Learning and development is another important facet of moving on up. By developing specialized skills or a niche expertise aligned with emerging business opportunities such as AI, you mark yourself out. Not only are you showing you're keen to learn, but you demonstrate that you actively want to contribute to your company's future success. That'll look and sound good to those in decision-making roles. When it comes to networking, seeking out and cultivating influential relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders is often advised. However, facetime with leadership may not be possible in practice, especially if you work in a company that is very large, or one with a particularly hierarchical structure. Instead, think about how you can boost your visibility. Meetings are one way to start. If you're a firm camera off person, turn it on. A Korn Ferry survey found that respondents felt a lack of camera usage has an impact on careers, with 76 percent saying they believe those who leave cameras off are looked upon negatively. Another 60 percent say choosing not to be on camera during meetings is a 'career minimizing move.' Letting your line manager know about your ambitions is also crucial. Make sure you communicate clearly about your career goals and progress. Saying it isn't enough: you should match that by delivering high performance and measurable results. Those are some of the things you can put in place to help boost your career and chances of advancement. But what shouldn't you be doing? What not to do when you want a promotion According to Jason Morris, a business expert at Profit Engine, a heads-down work culture should be avoided. 'High performers often unknowingly adopt behaviours that keep them invisible to decision-makers,' he says. 'They focus solely on task completion while missing the strategic elements that drive promotions.' If you're sitting around waiting to be recognised, and wondering why other, less capable colleagues are getting ahead, this could be the reason. And it happens all the time. 'I see this constantly in business environments,' Morris says. 'People believe that if they just work harder, produce better results, and stay focused on their tasks, recognition will naturally follow. But leadership operates differently. They promote based on what they can see, measure, and predict about your future potential.' If you are adopting a heads-down approach, there are several career-limiting behaviors to watch out for. Consistently declining meeting invitations to focus on 'real work', avoiding cross-departmental collaboration, rarely speaking up in team discussions, and completing projects without communicating the strategic thinking behind them can all be red flags. The good news is that this isn't an insurmountable problem. By communicating strategic ideas and successes, becoming more visible and building out your workplace relationships, you can set yourself on a path to a promotion.
