It began with a single email, delivered during my vacation, shattering the stability I had built over months. Forty-eight hours—that’s all the notice I was given to process the news, pack my life, and face the unknown. For others, the timeline was longer, but the outcome was just as unkind. Adequate severance? A distant promise. Payments still owed? A burden left for us to address ourselves. And as for help securing a new role? There was none—no guidance, no placement, no assurance that we wouldn’t face this transition alone.
Adding to the strain, I had to take the initiative to confirm the collection of company equipment, as the logistics system failed to register it properly. Beyond this, I also had to request the legally mandated training certificate—a document essential for future job opportunities. Without proactive action on my part, neither the certificate nor payment for training hours would have been addressed. Although I was eventually told payment would be made by the end of the month, the company failed to clarify the amount owed. After following up, I was simply told it would be processed by month’s end, with no specific figure provided. The lack of transparency and delay left me frustrated and uncertain.
For someone like me, this wasn’t just a job—it was a lifeline. It anchored me in Lisbon, where I’ve waited over two years for my AIMA appointment, hoping to secure my residency. Losing it with so little notice didn’t just upend my livelihood; it jeopardized my legal status in a country I’ve called home. I was left with questions and uncertainties, while the organization moved forward as if we were just names on a list, erased without consequence. 
A Call for Dignity and Accountability
This experience isn’t mine alone. It echoes across the lives of those who were impacted—lives disrupted by inadequate severance, unpaid dues, delays in issuing legally required certificates, and the absence of meaningful support. For an organization to cut ties without extending assistance or ensuring a smooth transition is not just a lapse in responsibility; it is a betrayal of trust.
I call on leadership to step up and take accountability:
– Address all outstanding payments swiftly and transparently, including specifying amounts and timelines for payment.
– Ensure severance packages are fair and reflective of the service and tenure of employees.
– Actively secure job placements for affected employees to help them regain their footing.
– Issue legally required training certificates to all eligible employees without delays or contradictions.
– Provide clear communication and equitable treatment, regardless of an employee’s status or location.
These are not just demands for fairness—they are a plea for dignity in a process that has left so many feeling forgotten in the shadows.
