In the final part of our Survivor’s Remorse series, The Daily Drum dives deep into the emotional weight federal workers carry as layoffs roll through government agencies. Our guest, "Dr. C," a current federal employee, shares her real-time experience navigating shrinking teams, budget cuts, and rising job pressure—all while managing guilt and anxiety for still being employed.

Host Molette Green is joined once again by Dr. Vanessa Weaver, an organizational psychologist with decades of experience helping employees and leadership manage emotional fallout during workplace transitions.

What We Cover:

• Survivor’s remorse: What it is and how to spot it
• How job cuts affect workload, morale, and mental health
• What conversations sound like after a Reduction in Force
• Quiet quitting, guilt, and how to protect your peace
• The role of leadership and HR during crises

As federal and government-related layoffs continue, those left behind aren’t necessarily feeling lucky. In Part 2 of our special series on Survivor’s Remorse. Exploring the emotional weight carried by federal workers still on the job, especially team leaders balancing survival with support.

Guests include Dr. Vanessa Weaver, a nationally recognized Organizational Psychologist, and Dr. Andrea Boudreaux, a pediatric psychologist and government contractor who shares her first-hand experience managing uncertainty and morale in the face of possible job loss.

Discussion Topics Include:

• Why staying employed doesn’t always feel like winning
• The emotional toll of leading teams through layoffs
• Survivor’s guilt: symptoms, coping strategies, and resources
• When is it okay to show vulnerability as a leader
• How repeated job insecurity impacts mental health

We begin a powerful three-part series: "Survivor’s Remorse: The Emotional Fallout of Federal Layoffs."

Across federal agencies, job cuts continue to shake departments to their core, but what happens to those who remain?

Clinical psychologist Dr. Vanessa Weaver joins us to unpack what survivor’s remorse looks like in the workplace and how it impacts mental health, morale, and job performance.

Topics Discussed:

• What is survivor’s remorse in the workplace?
• Why employees feel guilty after layoffs, even when they’re spared
• Signs that it’s affecting your mental health or performance
• Strategies to cope with grief and isolation
• How managers can support teams during turbulent times
• When to seek professional help

Join the conversation in the comments. Have you experienced survivor’s guilt at work? How did you cope? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for Parts 2 and 3 of this timely series.