By one estimate, 40 percent of American workers get laid off at least once in their careers. And when that happens, companies will often say, "It's not personal. It has nothing to do with you or your performance. We're just changing priorities, making a strategic shift." It's like the business version of: "It's not you, it's me." And just like a breakup, it feels terrible. This happened to a man we're calling V, who was working at the same company as his husband when he got laid off. And for V, the experience felt shocking. It left him and his husband with a lot of unresolved questions. On today's show, the story of that layoff. And we help that couple get some answers by taking their questions to an HR expert who gives the low-down on lay-offs. This story is adapted from a 3-part series on layoffs produced by Yowei Shaw for her show, Proxy. The layoff series was edited by John DeLore with research and reporting help from Kim Nederveen Pieterse. You can listen to the full layoff series from Proxy wherever you get your podcasts, and you can support the show and find out more by going to patreon.com/proxypodcast. And you can check out her original song "Gold Star" on Spotify and YouTube. Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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At some point in our work lives, theres this experience that a lot of us will have, well get laid off.
By one estimate, 40% of american workers get laid off at least once in their careers.
And when that happens, there is this thing that companies often say.
Its not personal, nothing to do with you or your performance.
Were just changing priorities, making a strategic shift.
Its the business version of its not you, its me.
And just like a breakup, it feels terrible and it can leave you with a lot of unresolved questions.
Hello, and welcome to Planet Money.
I'm Amanda Aronczyk.
Today on the show, we are collaborating with a new podcast.
It's called Proxy, and it's from our friend Yoei Shaw, who's formerly of NPR's Invisibilia.
Yoe has been documenting how a layoff affected one couple and left them searching for answers.