Inside the mind of a firing manager: Guilt, shame and many questions

With investment taps turning dry and the global economy slowing, many companies in India have laid off people or declared their plans to do so. In all, 102 Indian start-ups have sacked some 27,100 people since the onset of the funding winter in 2022, with 9,781 of the people forced to look for work just this year, according to a report by tech media platform Inc42.

Therapists says those who had to fire someone narrated experiencing a sense of helplessness; some even had anxiety and trouble sleeping.

While everyone agrees that layoffs are traumatic for everyone involved, are managers equipped to deal with the feelings that it elicits?

“In most cases, they are not,” says Anshuman Das, co-founder and CEO at talent solutions provider Careernet and executive search firm LONGHOUSE Consulting. “This is an exceptional event and most organisations do not witness it regularly,” he says.

Moreover, managers are not a monolithic group, and individuals may have varying emotional responses based on their personality and experience, says Bengaluru-based Das.

“These emotions can be complex and conflicting, making it crucial for managers to seek support, reflect on their decisions, and learn from the experience to ensure fair and compassionate handling of such situations in the future,” he adds.

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