Laid Off and Asked to Train a Replacement | Reddit at Work

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 traumaticBeing asked to train your replacement after being laid offPower, choice, and negotiation during offboardingWhy “not taking it personally” is unrealistic in moments like thisThe emotional gap between organizational decisions and employee experienceWhat more compassionate layoff and offboarding practices could look likeThis 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.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons00:40 – Introducing the Reddit reaction format01:10 – Reading the layoff and replacement training story02:20 – Emotional reactions to the post03:45 – Power and negotiation after a layoff05:15 – Bree reflects on her own layoff experience07:30 – Why layoffs feel personal and humiliating09:40 – Leadership blind spots during layoffs11:30 – Rethinking offboarding and support13:30 – What more human leadership could look like14:50 – Closing reflectionsConnect with UsPinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local WisdomChris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher CommunicationBree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.