Redundant, Not Replaceable: Why Job Cuts Don’t Define Your Value

Redundancy can feel like a slap in the face, especially if it was preceded by being iced out, sidelined from decisions, or subtly excluded from conversations. When the word “redundant” lands in your inbox or is said in a closed-door meeting, it’s hard not to internalise it as “unimportant” or “disposable.” But here’s the truth: being made redundant doesn’t mean you weren’t good at your job, and it definitely doesn’t mean you aren’t valuable.

Redundancy Is About Roles, Not Worth

Being made redundant isn’t the same as being fired for poor performance. It’s usually a business decision driven by:

• Restructures

• Budget cuts

• Mergers

• Technological changes

• Strategic shifts in direction

None of these reasons are a reflection on your talent, attitude, or capability. Businesses often eliminate roles that are essential one day and non-essential the next—not because the people in them lack value, but because the structure changes.

The Emotional Burn of Being Iced Out

What stings more than the redundancy itself is the lead-up—feeling excluded, having responsibilities quietly handed off, or being left out of key meetings. This “icing out” can feel like a slow erasure of your presence and contributions. And while it’s deeply personal in experience, it’s often the result of management avoiding difficult conversations or protecting internal politics.

You might be thinking: Why didn’t they just say something sooner? Or, I gave so much, why was I treated like I didn’t exist?

These feelings are valid. And while you can’t always control how organisations behave, you can control the narrative you carry forward.

You Still Matter

If you’re navigating redundancy, remind yourself:

• Your skills didn’t vanish with your job title.

• The impact you made in your role still exists.

• The problem was the position not the person.

Redundancy doesn’t erase your professional worth. In fact, many people go on to land more aligned, better-paying, or more fulfilling roles because of that unexpected career pause.

So many talented people, leaders, creatives, high performers, have been made redundant. It’s not a sign of failure. It’s a plot twist. And in many cases, it’s the thing that nudges people toward careers they were meant to grow into.