Imaginary-Job-8333's journey

I recently had to lay off several members of my team, which has been an incredibly difficult experience for me as a manager. I had been aware for months that layoffs were coming, but I was left in the dark about the specifics until just a day before. On Thursday, I was informed that I would need to lay off team members the following day, and I was given a list of who would be affected. I was allowed to make changes, but ultimately, the decision weighed heavily on me. My team has always been amazing, and I found myself in tears both in front of my executives and my team. I fought hard to keep each member, but I had to make the tough call on who to retain. The guilt and responsibility of this decision are overwhelming, and I feel like I'm losing it. After the layoffs last week, I offered to write letters of recommendation for those affected, but I’m left wondering if there’s anything more I could have said or done to help them cope with this situation. I’ve been advised that there’s nothing more I can do now, and that I should also start preparing for my own future, as more layoffs are already being planned. It’s a tough spot to be in, and I’m still processing everything.