An email during my vacation was all it took to unravel my plans and sense of security. Forty-eight hours—that’s the notice I was given to process my termination, pack my life, and face an uncertain future. For others, the timeline was slightly longer, but the outcome was no less harsh. Adequate severance? Barely enough to get by. Payments still owed? A frustration we were left to chase. Job placement or assistance? Nonexistent. We were left stranded, our contributions dismissed as if they held no weight.
Though my time at the company was short, its sudden end had a severe impact on my livelihood. It disrupted my financial stability and, more urgently, put my legal residency at risk. After waiting over two years for my AIMA appointment to secure my visa in Lisbon, losing my job without warning has left me scrambling to find solutions while facing mounting uncertainty. The silence from leadership was deafening, and the promises of fairness and respect felt entirely broken.”
A Plea for Dignity and Accountability 
This experience is not mine alone. It reflects the struggles of countless colleagues whose lives have been upended by inadequate severance, outstanding payments, and the lack of meaningful support or job placement. For an organization to sever ties without extending assistance or providing a pathway to recovery is not just a failure of responsibility—it is a breach of trust.
I urge leadership to act with integrity and take the following steps:
1. Fulfill Outstanding Payments: Address unpaid dues swiftly and with full transparency.
2. Provide Fair Severance: Ensure compensation reflects not just tenure but the challenges sudden unemployment creates.
3. Secure Job Placements: Guarantee proactive job placement efforts to help affected employees rebuild their livelihoods.
4. Clarify Termination Practices: Commit to equitable communication, ensuring fair treatment for all employees, including those on leave or vacation.
5. Offer Career Transition Support: Extend robust assistance, such as training and counseling, to help employees regain stability.
These actions aren’t just about restoring fairness; they’re about honoring the dignity of those whose lives were upended. Leadership must meet us with the accountability and respect we deserve.
