Eat Your Cubicle
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– Brian Dean
Losing your job doesn’t mean you have to lose your sense of humor. After the initial shock, you may find that humor really is the best medicine.
The weeks leading up to a corporate layoff are some of the most stress-filled days of your life. If anyone attempts humor, it is usually the gallows type — no one is really laughing. When IT happens, we all experience the normal stages of loss:
Denial — “But…I was Employee of the Month.”
Anger — “I’ll be back — as soon as I can find a gun shop.”
Bargaining — “Take the new guy instead.”
Depression – “Must find chocolate.”
Sooner or later, you will come to Acceptance. It’s over, and it’s time to move on.
At this point, it helps to remember that you just left a very stressful situation, with conditions that were largely out of your control. Remember, the 21st-century corporation is a crazy-making institution. Take some time to celebrate the fact that you’re out of that institution. Maybe you’ll be institutionalized again, and maybe not. In the meantime, lighten up.
Didn’t get a retirement party? No plaque? Make your own! If the organization didn’t recognize your contributions, create your own celebration. Remind yourself that it wasn’t all stress and loss. You worked hard and some people appreciated it, even if they didn’t find good ways to tell you.
When my sister was strong-armed into early retirement, my wife and I designed a “cubicle cake” for the party. We glued sugar-cookie walls together with frosting and installed a desk, complete with edible computer. The result wasn’t professional, but the process of breaking down “her” cube and having her friends eat it was a ritual that actually helped my sister accept her retirement.
Now that you have spare time again, spend some of that time laughing. Rent DVDs of standup comics, or rediscover Monty Python. You really do need something completely different, something silly.
If you think you’re ready, check out a Dilbert collection at the bookstore. If you’re laughing, buy the book. If you’re grinding your teeth, move on to Dave Barry.
Humor should create stress-relieving endorphins, not bitterness. If watching The Office amuses you, keep watching. If Dunder-Mifflin reminds you of your old office, change the channel.
Every day, you have ways to improve your mood. Humor is the safest and most satisfying. Now, put on that goofy shirt you couldn’t wear to work, silly-walk down to the video store, and find something funny.
Visit Brian Dean’s site for some wickedly funny faux corporate memos at
December 17th, 2006 at 10:49 am
I understand the spirit in which this is written and thank you for the effort.
Perhaps one way to reach out and organize effectively would be to create a sitcom TV show about the issue. Perhaps also there can be a weekly TV drama series, on the order of West Wing, to portray what is happening in the United States. America is more or less glued to their TV sets, except for those who can no longer afford to replace one. Too bad we don’t manufacture them anymore.
January 4th, 2007 at 12:19 am
Manufacturing? That’s a Mandarin word, isn’t it?
February 12th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Bush and the Republicans were not protecting us on 9-11, and we aren’t a lot safer now. We may be more afraid due to george bush, but are we safer? Being fearful does not necessarily make one safer. Fear can cause people to hide and cower. What do you think? Why has bush turned our country from a country of hope and prosperity to a country of belligerence and fear.
Our country is in debt until forever, we don’t have jobs, and we live in fear. We have invaded a country and been responsible for thousands of deaths.
We have lost friends and influenced no one. No wonder most of the world thinks we suck. Thanks to what george bush has done to our country during the past three years, we do!