Not Again! EABL Lays Off 100 Employees. HR Responds On What To Do Next

By Jane Okoth
Anyone working in a company that is in the process of restructuring or cutting costs had better watch out because their job is on the line.

It is no longer news that a significant number of companies in the country are laying off their employees.

The  East African Breweries Limited EABL is also making headlines by letting go of hundreds of its employees.

An article on the business daily reported that” (EABL) has laid off more than 100 employees thereby cutting its staff costs by nearly Sh1 billion in the year ended June.”

According to the paper “Chief executive Charles Ireland said about 100 employees who were working at Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), a subsidiary of the regional brewer were sent home.

Fridah Abuyah, a Human Resource Consultant at virtual hr weighs in on the issue.

“Employees need to understand that it is not their fault that they are being sent home but rather it is the company’s policy,” she says.

She also adds that “Most firms use this technique as a way of cutting down costs and it is very understandable”

And will it ever affect your chances of getting a new job?

“I don’t think so. Though nowadays things have changed and in most cases the recruiter will call your boss in case of any clarification. If they find out about your being laid off it will not affect your chances at all,” she says.

She further adds that “What really matters is your attitude and how you will handle it because once you are laid off you tend to lose morale.”

“It is like a conflict of interest between the employer and the employee. While your boss wants to avoid losses by cutting costs including letting you go, you are only focused on having the job,” says Nelly Mwikamba, a host at a popular radio show in Mombasa.

“I really wish that employers would reconsider their decisions and find other ways of cutting on costs,” She adds.

I do not understand why these big companies are now resorting to laying off their employees,” says Martin Ayuma, a graduate at a public university.

“The government is always promising us jobs especially for the youth but what we are seeing is the shutdown of many companies.

Where are we all heading to?” he asks.

Fridah has a message to anyone who has been laid off.

Being laid off is nothing to be ashamed of so bouncing back into the job search instead of feeling sorry for yourself will do you a lot of good.

Have you ever been laid off and how did you bounce back into the job industry?

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