# What do you say to a work friend who got axed when you just barely missed the blade?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 9, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970 "2003-12-09T18:00:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/1 "2003-12-09T18:00:18Z")
“You’re better off,” some trite bullsh\*t like that?
I’m still stunned.
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### Author:  [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/2 "2003-12-09T18:06:31Z")
Best to be empathetic. This will be very easy to do if you consider that there may be _another_ round of layoffs coming. . .
I’d acknowledge the suckiness of the situation for your friend. Don’t mention your own relief, or feelings of guilt that you may have; if he mentions your good luck, be honest about your relief, and about any concerns you may have about the future.
Then get right back to validating his grief and anger, so he can get past it and move on.
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### Author:  [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/3 "2003-12-09T18:06:47Z")
Maybe just a simple, “I’m sorry. You’ll be miseed.”?
The difference between trite and polite is sincerity, imo.
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### Author:  [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)
#### Post date: [December 9, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/4 "2003-12-09T18:37:47Z")
How about, “Shit happens” and then take the person out for a drunkard of a time.
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### Author:  [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/5 "2003-12-10T15:18:24Z")
Thanks for your replies, Dopers.
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### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/6 "2003-12-10T15:47:53Z")
Ask to take a copy of his or her resume, and offer to keep your ear to the ground. If you’re comfortable with it, and you think highly of their work, Tell them to feel free to consider you part of that person’s professional network. Tell them to keep you informed of their target companies, in case you know somebody there.
If they still have some time left before their last day, DON’T treat them like they don’t exist.
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/7 "2003-12-10T16:18:00Z")
**bup’s** advice is all excellent. You might also consider taking the person out to lunch in a few weeks to talk about the above topics and generally commiserate. Job hunting is lonely work.
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### Author:  [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/8 "2003-12-10T18:08:41Z")
Agree with others here. Definitely try to keep in touch and offer to be used as a work reference, if you think well of your friend’s work. Maybe send a greeting card for the holidays saying you miss the person (if you do). You never know about that blade coming around again. Aside: I lost a job on one occasion, and it was interesting how many former co-workers contacted me _after_ I started my own business, with hints like, “Maybe I could work for you.” :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/9 "2003-12-11T14:48:46Z")
“I’ve got this great plan. Ever see _Superman III_?”
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### Author:  [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-a-work-friend-who-got-axed-when-you-just-barely-missed-the-blade/217970/10 "2003-12-11T18:26:28Z")
What **bup** said. Or, at the very least, make it clear that you will be a very good reference when needed.