In this Between the Seasons episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee are joined by Executive Producer Bree Bartos to try a new format: reading and reacting to real Reddit posts about work.

The episode centers on a Reddit story from an IT professional who was laid off and then asked to train their replacement. As the conversation unfolds, Pinaki, Chris, and Bree dig into the emotional weight of layoffs, including anger, grief, humiliation, and the sense of being discarded after years of contribution.

Bree brings her own recent layoff experience into the discussion, reflecting on how raw these moments can feel and how difficult it is to separate identity from work when income, stability, and self-worth are suddenly disrupted. Together, they examine why layoffs often feel personal, even when organizations insist they are not.

The conversation also turns toward leadership and organizations. What responsibility do companies have once someone is laid off? How can layoffs be handled with more empathy and care? And what does it look like to offboard people in ways that acknowledge both the business reality and the human impact?

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why layoffs are emotionally disruptive and often traumatic
• Being asked to train your replacement after being laid off
• Power, choice, and negotiation during offboarding
• Why “not taking it personally” is unrealistic in moments like this
• The emotional gap between organizational decisions and employee experience
• What more compassionate layoff and offboarding practices could look like

This episode offers an honest look at a reality many people are facing right now and a reminder that how organizations handle endings leaves a lasting impression.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons

00:40 – Introducing the Reddit reaction format

01:10 – Reading the layoff and replacement training story

02:20 – Emotional reactions to the post

03:45 – Power and negotiation after a layoff

05:15 – Bree reflects on her own layoff experience

07:30 – Why layoffs feel personal and humiliating

09:40 – Leadership blind spots during layoffs

11:30 – Rethinking offboarding and support

13:30 – What more human leadership could look like

14:50 – Closing reflections

Connect with Us

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

Bree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Special thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible.

If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.

We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.

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