You’re Laid off what next
Being out of work is traumatizing. It is a shattering blow, especially if it happened without notice. Possibly the employer, with no forewarning, suddenly announces some of the employees are terminated. As of that moment, they must clean out their office and leave. Is that fair?
Of course it isn't fair, but what can an employee do? Where can they go for advice? First, of course, they must settle down, leisurely move out, and if possible, do so with no grumbling and no backtalk. Any angry backlashes, done irrationally and with no purpose other than to vent emotions that immediately rush to the forefront of one's thoughts when the unexpected happens, could be used against the fired or laid off worker, should there be a court trial.After a day of rest and calm thinking, plan the next moves carefully. Find out what rights have been violated and what actions can be taken to see that there will at least be sustenance money coming in. Be truthful. Was the layoff friendly and in no way a personal issue, and did it stem from the employer's lack of money to meet the payroll? Knowing this is important and will have much to do with how sudden unemployment is dealt with.Don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself. Get your paperwork taken care of, apply for unemployment insurance, and get back into the job market. After thinking through being terminated, and if you know your work was creditable, ask for a letter of accommodation from your former employer. This may go a long way in helping you secure employment elsewhere. Any business owner who must let go employees often feels deeply about such a move, and will be glad to help those out of work find work elsewhere. A letter telling of your excellent work and an explanation of why you were let go will be the least they can do.Next, job search. Concentrate on the same kind of work, but don't limit your possibilities, branch out if necessary. Start budgeting. Cut out all expenses and stretch available money as far as it will stretch. So that apathy and negativity don't creep in, create a job atmosphere where you put in at least a forty hour week looking for work, claiming all the available back pay, and what ever else is yours, budgeting, finally getting around to that garage sale, and finding odds and ends jobs on your off time.Off time meaning the hours outside of the forty hours each week deducted for job hunting and knocking on doors and pounding the pavement looking for work. Don't hole up in the home office and look for work only on the computer. Do that too, but first check out places in their own setting and fill in as many employment forms offered.Be creative in your efforts and attempt to enjoy this unexpected turn in your life. How do you know whether or not it was a bad thing to have been let go? Maybe the next job will be better. At least strive for that kind of an attitude.
