The Layoff Cooties-It's Them, Not You: From Rejection to Redirection and Finding Your Ripple Effect Again

by Laura Krauss

Have you ever arrived at work one morning, confident in your success, only to have everything taken away in a five-minute meeting? Are you grappling with the sudden silence of colleagues who once filled your daily life? You’re not alone. Layoffs don’t just cost a paycheck; they upend our sense of purpose and belonging, leaving behind sleepless nights, a loss of identity, and the mysterious “layoff cooties”—that strange, isolating phenomenon when former colleagues pull away as if rejection were contagious. Whether you’re facing the fear of losing your job or recovering from a layoff, this book is for you.

As a former Regional VP of Sales and a top performer at a global software company, I never imagined staring at an email with the subject line “Your role is impacted.” Yet, one November morning in 2023 turned my world upside down. Suddenly, the people I thought would reach out—friends and peers—went silent. Reaching out on LinkedIn became my lifeline, and as my posts went viral, I discovered a community of thousands across industries who were feeling the same job loss, confusion and need for answers. The Layoff Cooties-It’s Them, Not You is my journey from that moment of shock to a new beginning—and it’s here to help you navigate yours.

This book goes beyond telling my layoff story; it’s a guide for rebuilding your confidence after a layoff. You’ll find insights into coping with job loss and processing the grief of job loss anxiety. Through practical exercises like “Alphabet Soup” for reaffirming who you are, you’ll learn how to reframe your story, rebuild your confidence, and explore “Possible Life Pathways” to create a future full of possibility.

In The Layoff Cooties-It’s Them, Not You, you’ll gain:
Tools to understand and process the grief of job loss;
Practical steps to transition your career and reshape your identity; and
Insights into reconnecting with others and rediscovering your “ripple effect” in the workforce.

This isn’t just a career guide—it’s a companion through transformation. Together, we’ll turn this layoff from an ending into a powerful beginning. Turn the page and take the first steps toward your comeback. Your journey from a corporate setback to a life filled with possibility starts now, one page at a time.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2024

About the author

Sometimes, life has a funny way of redirecting your path, even after twenty-five years of crushing it in sales.

Those years building success across hospitality, pharmaceutical, medical publishing, and software sales weren't just about hitting quotas. For Laura Krauss, consistently performing at the top was preparation for something bigger: helping others navigate their own sales journeys through Ripple Effect Sales Advisory LLC. Now, she virtually coaches quota-carrying reps and first-time sales leaders, watching their confidence grow with every session.

But a shocking tech industry layoff taught her something else—we need each other. That's why she created "The Layoff Cooties Couch," an online community that's become precisely what so many need during their journey: a safe space to heal, share stories, and find strength together. It's a place where layoffs' emotional impact is understood, coaching meets counseling, and every story matters.

Laura actively shares insights about layoffs and life through daily LinkedIn posts while building meaningful connections with her growing network. Based in Maryland with her husband Erik and their children Ben and Kelsie, she balances her professional pursuits with creative passions. Her love for creating delicious charcuterie boards and her entrepreneurial spirit shine through her unique side hustle of rebuilding and reselling unfinished LEGO sets on eBay. Because life after layoff? It's full of possibilities you never imagined.

Ready to start your transformation? Laura welcomes connections through social media. After all, every great transformation starts with a single ripple effect...why not start yours today?

Visit Ripple Effect Sales website to learn more about coaching services and discover how you can begin your journey towards greater success.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful book! Laura shares her heart-wrenching tale in such a relatable way. She also offers thoughtful exercises for the reader to reflect on their own experiences. Incredibly helpful! If you, or someone you know, has been impacted by layoffs, I highly recommend you read this book!

[Lynn Heatherly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Layoff Cooties—It's Them, Not You: From Rejection to Redirection and Finding Your Ripple Effect Again by Laura Krauss was a cathartic and deeply relatable experience. While our roles differed—she was a sales leader, and I was a product leader—so much of her journey resonated with me. From navigating company politics and egos to the bittersweet realization about "work friends" (where are they now?), and finally, to the dreaded calendar invite that changed everything—I felt like I was reliving my own layoff. Krauss’ vivid descriptions of anger, fear, and sadness struck a chord, but what makes this book stand out is its refusal to leave you stuck in those emotions.

Krauss provides a roadmap for reclaiming control, reassessing priorities, and rediscovering your strengths to forge a path toward your next adventure—whatever that may look like. Her insights are empowering and reassuring: a layoff doesn’t define you, and the opinions of those who made the decision don’t dictate your worth.

I highly recommend this book to anyone navigating the aftermath of a layoff, but it’s equally valuable for others. For those fortunate enough to have avoided a layoff, it offers a better understanding of what someone goes through during such a vulnerable time. It’s also a call to action for employers to lead with integrity and compassion and for colleagues to support one another more thoughtfully. This book is a gift—a reminder that rejection can ultimately lead to redirection, growth, and a ripple effect you might not see yet.

[Kathleen Krauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Krauss writes from the heart when she chronicles the tale of a job loss that blind sided her. This is a well written and heartfelt journey from loss and devastation -back to wholeness.

[Dima Timofeev · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging book that explores the experience of being laid off, going beyond just the financial impact to also address personal emotions, the feelings of loved ones, former colleagues, and how to move forward.

If you or your partner has gone through a layoff, this book will help you process your emotions and get back on track. If a former colleague has been laid off, you'll gain insight into what they’re feeling and how you can offer support if you truly care.

It's the only book that focuses on the psychological aspects of layoffs, so if you're generally interested in this topic, I recommend checking it out.

[A.Y. Berthiaume · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply raw and vulnerable business parable meets memoir about the very real grief that comes from a layoff, the way so many of us attach our identity to our careers, and how we can pivot and find purpose again. For anyone who has ever been let go, laid off, or forced to resign because the writing was on the wall....or for anyone who knows they were targeted at a place they loved for speaking up for what was right...You'll find a home here. You're not alone in your loss, your anger, your confusion, your uncertainty and by the time you're done reading you will have hope again along with some approaches to consider in finding your own ripple effect again.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s the first time I’ve ever known anyone to talk openly about this elephant in the room. But if you’ve ever been laid off or lost a job through no fault of your own, you’ve felt the same sadness and void that happens when those you thought were your friends suddenly disappear. It’s never made sense to me, but Laura Krauss describes the phenomenon perfectly and takes it a step further by sharing the hurt she felt and how she pushed her way through her grief. The book is inspirational, motivational, and reminds readers that grief after job loss is not only normal, it’s essential to healing. Cheers, Laura Krauss! And thank you.

[Sara Krauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read.

It’s a vulnerable story about relationships, unfairness in the workplace, trusting your faith, finding hope, and rebuilding your sense of purpose and self after years of defining yourself by your success in the workplace.

I haven’t experienced the “layoff cooties” firsthand, but this book was powerful on so many other levels; as a woman, a friend, a family member, and a neighbor. It’s possible I even treated someone like they had “cooties” because I simply didn’t know what else to do.
It’s funny, heartbreaking, and empowering.

[Dennis Geelen]

Through her candid storytelling, Laura captures the heartache and the profound loss that comes with being let go from a job. Her honest reflections and practical advice for navigating this challenging experience make this book a must-read for anyone facing similar circumstances.

I know, I went through it myself as well. The book brought it all back to the forefront for me.

It's a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is a path forward. A beautifully written journey of resilience and hope.

- Dennis Geelen, Author of 'The Accidental Solopreneur'

[Beth Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura’s generous story is laid here, raw and vulnerable. It will help so many that have been, may be, or will be laid off. It will help those supporting people affected by layoffs. As humans, we seek validation of our feelings. Laura has gifted so much of that here. And she leaves us with hope. Gift yourself or others this book.

[Dana Stallard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow – I feel seen! This is a must read for anyone who was laid off or in the job market pounding the application and resume game.

I was laid off at the end of 2022 after a family tragedy and immediately mentioning a federal jury duty summons to my manager. I still haven’t found a suitable income since then. Being in my XXs and in the height of my career, I couldn’t believe what was happening considering just a year before I had multiple job offers. Laura’s 7 steps of grief was like she was also writing my book and experience with previous co-workers I recently supported suddenly disappearing, along with any referrals into potential job opportunities.

Being a female in software sales just like Laura, I also experienced the silencing when speaking up, the gaslighting, the good ol’ boys network and the feeling of ‘cooties’ when things don’t go your way. Similarly, I was always the one to help others before myself and to unselfishly share with the team rather than hoarding my tools and ideas.

I did all the therapy (truly) and the purging, volunteering, completing unfinished projects, more classes and certifications and dealing with recent family challenges. I finally had the opportunity to be there for friends and family, freely traveling, learning improv and even attending sound bowl healing and happiness workshops. I was a new person now with nowhere to go, so just like Laura I also started a sales consultancy. This was incredibly rewarding and helpful to the 10 companies I supported, but not financially fruitful.

Laura’s journey also helped me squash the feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome (along with re-reading my 125+ LinkedIn and other recommendations). In her book, she suggested exercises to look inward and look forward. I had taken an intensive career discovery workshop, but this dug deeper into my overall life plan and desired life going forward.

The book was an easy read with tidbits I can take and immediately use. It was raw, real and healing. I see my journey in hers and her hope has inspired me as well.

[Laura Altieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura sent me this book when I posted about my own layoff and I appreciated it, as there are not a lot of books on this subject written from the point of view of someone who has just gone thru it. I enjoyed that she shared some of the same reactions and feelings about her lay off that I did. It was nice to see that some aspects of getting kicked to the curb are universal, or at least shared. I felt the book was a little too focused on her experience however and not as generally applicable as I would have liked. Had she talked to other people who had experienced layoffs, maybe it wouldn't have felt as specific to her experience. But overall a comforting read for someone navigating this change.

[Melissa Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted a copy of The Layoff Cooties while unemployed, expecting a quick pep talk. Instead, I found myself nodding along to Laura’s story and working through her exercises that helped me reframe how I saw myself outside of a job title. Her warmth, humor, and real-life perspective made me feel understood and a lot less alone.

The book offers practical ways to shift your mindset, rebuild your confidence, and start looking forward again. I finished it feeling more focused and the best part, maybe it’s a coincidence, but shortly after reading it, I landed a new job! Is this book a good luck charm?

If you’ve been laid off and need something that feels like a supportive friend, this is the book you want by your side.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read if you have been laid off, think you could get laid off or if you're on the other side of the desk and have to implement layoffs. Laura is a courageous story teller, she shares her lowest moments but also paints a beautiful and inspiring portrait of recovery. I have been lucky enough to meet Laura while dealing with my own layoff story. She has been a tremendous help to me as I navigate my next chapter. If you are dealing with your own layoff cooties, read this book, you will not regret it!!!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t just a layoff survival guide - it’s a reminder that your worth isn’t tied to a job title. Laura combines empathy with actionable tools that help you reframe your story and rediscover your spark. She tells the truth about layoffs—the shock, the silence, and the self-doubt - and then shows you how to move forward. This book feels like a conversation with a wise friend who’s been there, and it leaves you with hope and practical steps to rebuild.

[Karina Bensko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Layoff Cooties is a blend of humor, realism and particle steps to process a layoff. The what-ifs, anger, depression and final acceptance is the rollercoaster we all experience when losing a job. Laura is a great storyteller sharing her journey and doing so in a way that makes you feel you are there. More importantly, her book moves beyond the layoff and helps readers redefine themselves as people and finding their redirection. Highly recommend!

[Erika Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura strikes a chord about how it feels and what it’s like to be a have-not in the post-Covid job market. If you think you’re immune to being laid off: so did I. I thought I was marketable, smart, and would have no problem finding another job. What I didn’t expect was so much push back, ghosting, and worst of all: cooties. It’s true, I’m the unwanted bottom of the barrel. Good times.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was just her channeling her anger and bitterness for what she experienced. It was not helpful at all, just all about the people who did her wrong. I can’t believe the ratings were as high as they were, I was deceived.

[Laura Krauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathartic release of a life altering event I was not fully prepared for when it happened. I hope this book gives a voice to the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by layoffs!

[John Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've been laid off, you'll want The Layoff Cooties now!

If you've never been laid off, you'll need The Layoff Cooties to have empathy for your friends.

Either way, Laura Krauss pulls back the curtain on what happens and how it makes you feel.

Perfect gift to give to others or yourself!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very heartfelt story that is very relevant and relatable. Although dealing with a sad and serious situation, humorous aspects of the author’s writing style serve to make it more entertaining and engaging. This book should be required reading for leadership training and coaching, human resource professionals and for anyone planning to enter the business workforce, especially in sales. Even for those who have not been through something as difficult as a layoff, this book can help you find ways to deal with other work and life related challenges, setbacks and difficulties. The book also illustrates the servant leadership model as well as the benefits of mentoring.