What to Do If You Are Laid Off From Work

What to Do If You Are Laid Off From WorkWhat to Do If You Are Laid Off From WorkWhat should you do when you receive a lay-offnotice? Whats the best way of surviving a layoff? How should you handle being unemployed? If youve lost your job, youre not alone. There are always companies that are cutting jobs or restructuring operations. Its a normal part of conducting business in todays economy. Even when unemployment is low, organizations continue to streamline their workforcethere are industriesthatare losing jobs, andindustries with wage stagnation that are in decline. How can you tell if its going to happen to your job? Before the official notification, rumors ofdownsizingoften andrang rampant through an office,so that employees might be somewhat prepared for a lay-off announcement. In other cases, the news is a surprise- youre shocked, unpleasantly astonished, and not at all sure whattodo next now that youre unemployed. How to Handle a Lay-Off How should you handle it if youre t he recipient of a lay-off notice or if youlose your job without prior notice? First and foremost, you should check with your company on the benefits youmightbe entitled to when you leave. Its important to be informed about youremployee rights,so you are clear on where you stand when you lose your job. Then, its important tofile for unemployment insuranceand to make sure you have all the bases covered so that you can start a job search. You may, however, be able to turn a layoff into a new career. Heres how to handle unemployment, start a job search, and mora advice on what to do when you lose your job. Check Your Benefits If you do have an inkling that theres going to be bad news,be prepared to ask whatbenefits terminated employeesare eligible for. If youve already been laid off and havent been informed aboutthebenefits, call thehumanresources department at your formercompanyor your manager to request information on the status of your benefits Ask aboutseverance pay, accrued vac ation,overtime and sick pay, pension benefits, and eligibility forunemployment insurance. If you lose your job through no fault of your own, and you meettheeligibility requirements, you should be entitled to receive unemployment compensation.Severance packagesmightbe negotiable. You have nothing to lose by asking for more than whats offered.Request information onthecontinuance of health and life insurance benefits.Ifyour employerhasmorethan20 employees,theyaremandated by law to offer health insurance coverage throughCOBRA to terminated employees for at least 18 months. However, it is worth asking if youwouldbe covered for a certain period of time at no cost to you. Health insurance is also available through the governments health insurance marketplaces. Heres information onCOBRA vs. Marketplace (Obamacare) Insurance.Check on options forhandling your 401(k)orcompany pension plan.Ask about outplacement resources- some companies provide job search assistance.Request areference letter f or your files. Take Care of the Basics An important task for those unemployed, and for all job seekers, is toplan your job search. Before you can implement the plan, however, you need to take care of the basics. The most critical issue, in most cases, is income. Contact yourstate unemployment officeas soon as you can to determine if you are eligible for unemployment benefits. If you cant make ends meet- and many of us cant- on an unemployment check,considerfreelancing,taking atemporary position, orlining up some gigsto supplement your income. Get Help Dont be proud. Your temporarily reduced circumstancesmightentitle you to food stamps or other government benefits. Remember,you paid for those benefits out of every paycheck youveearned. Your states social services department can inform you what assistance you qualify for. If you are a member of a church, ask if there is any help available. Community organizations often have resources to help the unemployed with food baskets, d onations, and babysitting. Community resources are also availableto help with the mechanics of your job search. Many state employment services and public libraries have internet access as well as access to software and printers tohelpyouproducearesume. They mayalsohave counselors who can provideassistance with writingaresume and cover letter andfindingajob. Heres how toutilize your local librarywhen youre job searching. Assess Your Goals Refocus your energy and use this unexpected windfall of time as an opportunity toreassess your career goalsand to get on trackandfind a new position. Many job seekers have turned aterminationinto a positive experience. A forced departure from a job has often opened a path to a new, more satisfying, and better-paying career that wouldnt have been considered under other circumstances. Start Your Job Search Review these ten steps to find a new job, including where to look for jobs, the top job sites, how to use your connections, how to ace the interview, and how to follow up. How Long it Will Take to Get Hired How long will it take to line up a new position? There isnt an easy answer. If youve got in-demand skills, itmighthappen very quickly. If not, itmight take longer to find a new position. If its taking more time than you thought,dontbediscouraged. There arestrategies you can use to turn your job search aroundeven when nothing seems to be working. Finding the right job can take time, but it will happen. Do yourbest to keep it positivewhile youre looking for the next step on your career path.