Laid Off: A Marketing Coordinator at Paramount

"It was hurtful that family members were sending me links as they found out before I could even tell them."

Last year, Paramount shut down its MTV News division after 36 years on air.

Danielle, 25, was part of this companywide layoff, which impacted 25% of staff in the midst of the writer’s strike. She was a consumer marketing coordinator on the MTV team.

She received a companywide email the morning of, followed by a text from her VP saying that she shouldn’t come in. That’s when she knew her position was affected.

Danielle said she saw the writing on the wall about a month beforehand since there were rumors. “Once they slashed the entire Showtime team the week before I knew it might be coming.”

Rumors aside, she says some signs layoffs might be on the horizon are ominous meetings and a lighter workload.

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What reasoning did they give for laying you off?

They were making budget cuts and said the economy had affected the entertainment business too much. I didn’t believe them as myself and everyone else knew they were dumping all of their budget into their streaming service, Paramount+.

How does it feel to see your company layoffs make headlines?

Seeing headlines immediately after gave me mixed feelings. I felt comforted knowing that there was written proof, that it wasn't just me, I wasn't alone, and that it wasn't my fault - there was nothing I could've done. There was a sort of camaraderie afterwards from everyone laid off. It was us against the company.

On the other hand, it was hurtful that family members were sending me links as they found out before I could even tell them. 

Did they offer severance?

Yes, they did. It depended on the amount of time you were at the company, so I was there for a little over a year and received two months of severance. I’m inclined to believe people who were there for two years received four months of severance and so on.

Where were you when you found out?

I was at home. They called me via Zoom.

Was this the first time you were laid off?

Yes. This particular position was my second position out of college.

What did you do about health insurance?

I’m lucky enough to live in Connecticut which offers Husky insurance if you are unemployed.

Who was the first person you told after getting laid off?

I told my other coworkers immediately. They had sent some people home for the day and others were in the office, so we were all scattered. I texted them and then some called.

Did you share the news publicly afterward?

I posted on LinkedIn and it was received very well. I was positive and explained that I was ending on a high note as the show I was working on had record breaking ratings. I ended the post saying I was grateful for the experience and was looking for something new.

What was the first thing you did after receiving the news?

I cried for a bit, then I realized it was a time for me to really figure out what I want out of my next position. I also had always been a workaholic and was somewhat relieved I had time to spend with my family and friends. It was stressful at first but I took it as a blessing.

Has being laid off changed how you view your relationship to work?

100%. I gave my everything to Paramount and they couldn’t care less. It’s made me realize that a job is a job, and nothing more.

If you could give an executive a piece of advice on how they can handle layoffs in a more ethical and empathetic way, what would it be?

Plan out the year. The executives at Paramount seem clueless when it comes to budgeting and long term plans, mostly because they don't have them. I remember when my position was eliminated and more than half my team was laid off, I saw a job posting for my role only 3 months after.

The executives at Paramount are so far removed from the work the teams really do on a day to day basis. I never saw them in the office, they were never in smaller meetings, they had no clue. Executives need to be active and involved to understand how their company truly runs.

What do you wish you knew then that you know now?

I wish someone told me it would be okay and it doesn’t pertain to anything you did. You couldn’t have avoided it.

What's something nice a person can do when their friend or peer gets laid off?

I wish people would be more open to helping others laid off. One of my friends just got laid off and I’ve offered to tailor her resume, I’ve been sending her jobs that I think she’d be a great fit for via LinkedIn, and I’ve also referred her to positions at my current company. Anything helps.

What do you wish people would STOP saying or doing after someone gets laid off?

The unsolicited advice killed me! “You should look here..” “maybe you should go back to school.” No one asked what I was thinking or feeling.

What's something cool you've worked on since the lay-off? Share something you're proud of.

I now write for an entertainment blog on the side, Pop Culture Planet. I joined to see if it was truly something I’m passionate about, and it is. I’ve interviewed Jennifer Connelly, Joe Edgerton, Walton Goggins, Nick Kroll, and the list goes on. I wouldn’t have had the time or opportunity if it weren’t for the layoff.

What's something you're doing to protect your mental health and stay committed to a routine that doesn't center around a 9-5? 

I now work in a completely different industry that's stable and requires no overtime, so there are no lingering thoughts of layoffs in the back of my head. That alone has been tremendously helpful.

I've also committed to myself, and given that I have more time now, have started doing things that I love again such as running and gardening. It's important to remember, and I remind myself of this often, that a job is a job and it does not define you, nor should it take up any space in your head once your workday is complete. 

Do you have a tip on a recent or looming layoff? Hit reply.

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If you have advice for executives on how they can handle layoffs in a more ethical and empathetic way, drop it in the comments.