But if this is something that does not affect you directly, you seldom take the time to really think of what you would do in that situation.
Others like myself, may even think that this is a problem for oldies, and if that is the case, you are wrong.
At the age of 25 I found myself in this situation, where a company I had worked at for over a year, decided that they no longer needed our services.
This baffled me at the time, as I had never thought that I could possibly face retrenchment at such a young age.
At the time I was a newlywed, so I had new responsibilities to deal with.
And the scariest part of it all was I had found myself in debt, which I was unsure how I would pay off.
For a second the future really seemed uncertain.
To make matters worse, though I had a savings account my balance at the time stood at less than R50.
Thankfully with the support of my parents, family and friends, I was able to recover from the shock and fortunately the next month the company I had previously worked for took me back.
The point of this is that, retrenchment can be a very scary and nerve-racking time.
And mostly, because it creeps up unexpectedly and finds you unprepared.
Should you find yourself in this position, I suggest that you get a strong support system as you don’t want to find yourself stressed and all alone.
It is also imperative to confide in people you can trust so that you can let go of the pain and resentment you may feel.
Speak to the companies and financial institutions you owe money to so that you can make some form of arrangement on how and when you can pay them back.
Avoid blaming yourself as this may sink you into a pool of depression.
Remember that half the time, being retrenched is not about you and what you are capable of doing but a company decision.
Surround yourself with people who have your best interests at heart.
And if you feel like you are emotionally unstable, avoid spending too much time alone.
Instead maybe take up a new hobby that might help to get your mind off things.
Also, work on a strategy of how you are going to get through this time, mourn the loss of the job and then start looking for a new job.
Or better yet, work on a new business idea and become your own boss.
Most importantly, save as you never know what drama tomorrow may bring.
