Surviving the Fear of Layoffs, A Working Dad’s Reflection

The past month has been one of the most stressful periods of my career.

At work, there was a pooling exercise. A process where the company decides who stays and who goes. Roles are reviewed. Teams are reshaped. And suddenly everyone is quietly wondering about their future.

For an entire month, that uncertainty hung in the air.

Every meeting felt different. Conversations in the office were quieter. You could feel that everyone was thinking the same thing but no one wanted to say it out loud.

What will happen to us?

When you are a parent, especially living abroad, news like this hits differently. Your job is not only your career. It’s your family’s stability. It’s the mortgage or rent. It’s the groceries. It’s the future you are building for your children.

During that month of waiting, the stress was heavy.

You try to stay focused on your work, but your mind keeps drifting. You start thinking about what could happen if your name is on the list. You start preparing yourself emotionally for something you cannot control.

It is a strange feeling. You are still working every day, still attending meetings, still delivering results. But at the same time, you are wondering if the role you are doing will still exist next month.

Recently the decision finally came.

I am staying.

Hearing that brought relief. A huge weight lifted from my shoulders. But the feeling was not only relief.

There was also sadness.

Some of the colleagues I worked with are leaving. People I collaborated with, people I learned from, people who shared the same long hours and challenges. Seeing them go is not easy.

Layoffs are never just numbers in a company announcement. Behind every role is a person, a family, and a story.

That reality makes moments like this complicated. You feel grateful that you can stay. But you also feel heavy knowing others must move on.

This experience reminded me how fragile job security can be.

One month you feel stable. The next month your role may be under review. It is a humbling reminder that careers are not always as predictable as we think.

What matters now is perspective.

The past month showed me how important preparation is. Financial readiness. Emotional resilience. Professional networks. All the things we sometimes ignore when life feels stable.

It also reminded me to value the present moment.

Right now, I still have my role. I still have the opportunity to provide for my family. And that is something I do not take for granted.

To my colleagues who are leaving, I truly wish them the best. Change is difficult, but sometimes it opens doors we cannot see yet.

For those who stayed, the experience will remain a reminder.

Nothing is permanent. But resilience, gratitude, and professionalism carry us through uncertain moments.

– Until then, love you bye! And that’s #Dadbuhay.