I'm going to be let go--now what?
May 28, 2010 9:16 AM Subscribe
I've recently found out that I'm probably going to be let go from my job in the next week or two. Now what?
I've seen this question, but my circumstances are different.
One of the owners of my company has recently decided to take more of an interest in the company itself. As such, he's started restructuring--so far, in my company of about 40 people, all but three of us have had private meetings with him and then been assigned more/different jobs.
Today, my boss (not, confusingly, my supervisor) let it slip that I should be prepared to "defend [my] job" to the owner.
My supervisor and I have a long history in which she hates me (this is documented and something that the CEO of the company has noticed and is aware of). If she's asked to defend the necessity of my position, she will not do so--she's made it quite clear that she'd like nothing more than to fire me, but she hasn't been able to find a reason to.
Today, the other coworkers and I (the ones who've not had meetings with the owner) phoned our ombudsman--the person we're supposed to go to with any sort of conflicts or problems we feel we can't discuss elsewhere. On this phone call, she admitted that she doesn't think that this is going to end well and suggested, off the record, that we start looking for new jobs.
This isn't performance related--so far as I can tell, it's just being decided that these three positions aren't necessary and are going to be phased out.
What should I do to prepare for this? I've cleaned most of my personal stuff out of my desk, just in case, and I've backed up my files (just, obviously, the ones that aren't proprietary). What else should I do, workwise?
Also, what should I do personally? I know that unemployment is really stressful, and once I lose this job, I'll also be losing my health care, which covers about $1000 a month in medication for a chronic health condition. There's about $500 in the bank, but we've been living mostly hand to mouth since my partner was laid off a year ago. She's found part-time work, but it doesn't have any benefits, and it's only twenty hours a week. Any suggestions on how to brace ourselves for the psychological and medical fallout?
(COBRA coverage won't be an option--the cost is prohibitive.)
Throwaway email: firednowwhat.mefi@gmail.com
I've seen this question, but my circumstances are different.
One of the owners of my company has recently decided to take more of an interest in the company itself. As such, he's started restructuring--so far, in my company of about 40 people, all but three of us have had private meetings with him and then been assigned more/different jobs.
Today, my boss (not, confusingly, my supervisor) let it slip that I should be prepared to "defend [my] job" to the owner.
My supervisor and I have a long history in which she hates me (this is documented and something that the CEO of the company has noticed and is aware of). If she's asked to defend the necessity of my position, she will not do so--she's made it quite clear that she'd like nothing more than to fire me, but she hasn't been able to find a reason to.
Today, the other coworkers and I (the ones who've not had meetings with the owner) phoned our ombudsman--the person we're supposed to go to with any sort of conflicts or problems we feel we can't discuss elsewhere. On this phone call, she admitted that she doesn't think that this is going to end well and suggested, off the record, that we start looking for new jobs.
This isn't performance related--so far as I can tell, it's just being decided that these three positions aren't necessary and are going to be phased out.
What should I do to prepare for this? I've cleaned most of my personal stuff out of my desk, just in case, and I've backed up my files (just, obviously, the ones that aren't proprietary). What else should I do, workwise?
Also, what should I do personally? I know that unemployment is really stressful, and once I lose this job, I'll also be losing my health care, which covers about $1000 a month in medication for a chronic health condition. There's about $500 in the bank, but we've been living mostly hand to mouth since my partner was laid off a year ago. She's found part-time work, but it doesn't have any benefits, and it's only twenty hours a week. Any suggestions on how to brace ourselves for the psychological and medical fallout?
(COBRA coverage won't be an option--the cost is prohibitive.)
Throwaway email: firednowwhat.mefi@gmail.com
have you (or your partner) ever filed for unemployment insurance? do that the instant you are laid off (it takes a few weeks for the first check to arrive). It's not Welfare. It's not charity. It's not a hand-out. You paid for it...it's one of those little deductions from your paycheck they've been making off with every week. Your partner might even be elegible, being under-employed. The maximum you can get is usually half your salary (or average weekly wage) up to a maximum of about $450-500 a week (depends on what state you are in). it may not cover all your expenses, but it will at least cover something until you can find another job.
posted by sexyrobot at 9:30 AM on May 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by sexyrobot at 9:30 AM on May 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
You've been given a gift that you know this is coming. No matter what the ombudsman says, or what your supervisor says, you should try to defend your job. It will help you update your resume. Don't accept this as a fait accompli.
Additionally, in case it does come true, right now, find someone in the company who will be willing to give you a reference later when it is needed. It doesn't have to be your manager. As long as the person was not a peer, it doesn't have to be your direct manager. If you can get them to write a letter of recommendation, even better.
I know COBRA is normally prohibitive, but the COBRA subsidy may be extended. Keep a close eye on that. When I was laid off last year and the subsidy was in effect, I paid $135 a month for COBRA. So it may be more affordable than you think. I would Google "low cost health care [name of state]" see what is available.
Here's what you need to do:
1) Make a list of all of your monthly expenses. Maybe you have that already, but update it. Cable, internet, gym, Netflix, rent, all of it. Have the list ready. If you do lose your job, you start going down the list and cancelling things or seeing if you can put them on hold for a couple of months (my gym lets you put the membership on hold for 3 months and ended up giving free memberships if you were unemployed, for example). See if you can get payments reduced or deferred for things that you owe and can't cancel. Be positive and upfront that you don't intend to become a deadbeat but it's not manageable, what can they do? Everyone can do SOMETHING no matter what they tell you the first time and would rather have you pay them $10 a month for a year than not pay it at all. So would you.
2) Don't "take a break". You need to come up from this with both guns blazing. Update your resume. Update your cover letter. Find a Meetup for other recently unemployed people in your area. If there isn't one, start one. Every day you should get up and get dressed like you are going to work.
3) You will need a phone. If you don't have a landline, consider Skype and only use your cell phone when you are out and it's unavoidable. This will save you a ton of money.
4) Exercise is important. Even if all you do is go out and walk around the block 10 times, it is key to keeping a positive mindset.
5) Tell everyone you know that you've lost your job. Don't send a resume, but tell them that you have been laid off and are looking for new employment in X field or in X position and would appreciate any advice or good thoughts. Odd leads can come from the most unlikely places.
6) It's a numbers game. Don't just reply to what you see on Craigslist or the local paper and think "okay I'm done". Contact companies that are like your old company, contact companies who are hiring for other positions that might indicate that some day they might be in need of someone like you, get creative and look for leads. Most jobs never get posted.
Hang in there.
posted by micawber at 9:45 AM on May 28, 2010 [11 favorites]
Additionally, in case it does come true, right now, find someone in the company who will be willing to give you a reference later when it is needed. It doesn't have to be your manager. As long as the person was not a peer, it doesn't have to be your direct manager. If you can get them to write a letter of recommendation, even better.
I know COBRA is normally prohibitive, but the COBRA subsidy may be extended. Keep a close eye on that. When I was laid off last year and the subsidy was in effect, I paid $135 a month for COBRA. So it may be more affordable than you think. I would Google "low cost health care [name of state]" see what is available.
Here's what you need to do:
1) Make a list of all of your monthly expenses. Maybe you have that already, but update it. Cable, internet, gym, Netflix, rent, all of it. Have the list ready. If you do lose your job, you start going down the list and cancelling things or seeing if you can put them on hold for a couple of months (my gym lets you put the membership on hold for 3 months and ended up giving free memberships if you were unemployed, for example). See if you can get payments reduced or deferred for things that you owe and can't cancel. Be positive and upfront that you don't intend to become a deadbeat but it's not manageable, what can they do? Everyone can do SOMETHING no matter what they tell you the first time and would rather have you pay them $10 a month for a year than not pay it at all. So would you.
2) Don't "take a break". You need to come up from this with both guns blazing. Update your resume. Update your cover letter. Find a Meetup for other recently unemployed people in your area. If there isn't one, start one. Every day you should get up and get dressed like you are going to work.
3) You will need a phone. If you don't have a landline, consider Skype and only use your cell phone when you are out and it's unavoidable. This will save you a ton of money.
4) Exercise is important. Even if all you do is go out and walk around the block 10 times, it is key to keeping a positive mindset.
5) Tell everyone you know that you've lost your job. Don't send a resume, but tell them that you have been laid off and are looking for new employment in X field or in X position and would appreciate any advice or good thoughts. Odd leads can come from the most unlikely places.
6) It's a numbers game. Don't just reply to what you see on Craigslist or the local paper and think "okay I'm done". Contact companies that are like your old company, contact companies who are hiring for other positions that might indicate that some day they might be in need of someone like you, get creative and look for leads. Most jobs never get posted.
Hang in there.
posted by micawber at 9:45 AM on May 28, 2010 [11 favorites]
Make sure that you have refills of your necessary medications to handle a month post-employment. Even if you take COBRA, there is a gap between when you get laid off and when it retroactively kicks in to cover that gap - if you try to see a doctor or fill a prescription during that period, you'll show up as 'uninsured' and will be billed accordingly. Doctor's offices can merely re-bill; but for a prescription you'd have to pay ahead, submit it to the insurance company, and get reimbursed.
Also, talk to your doctors now. They may be able to get you set up on assistance programs for your medications, and/or have you qualify for reduced cost medical visits.
My condolences.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:55 AM on May 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also, talk to your doctors now. They may be able to get you set up on assistance programs for your medications, and/or have you qualify for reduced cost medical visits.
My condolences.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:55 AM on May 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
nthing what sexyrobot said. Unemployment benefits are exactly what this situation is for. Don't let pride get in the way.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:02 AM on May 28, 2010
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:02 AM on May 28, 2010
I agree with the advice above, don't assume this is set in stone. Craft your argument defending your job. List all the things you currently do, any obstacles you have overcome to be successful (such as the supervisor thing), plus have some ideas for expanded/alternate roles you could take. Make sure those ideas include reporting to someone else. Present this as an exciting opportunity for the company - you have always seen these gaps, and would love to take point in addressing them.
COBRA coverage won't be an option--the cost is prohibitive
If you do get laid off, ask for a severance package, and when they offer one, counter offer (it is a negotiation) for them to cover the cost of your COBRA for 6 months or so. Companies pay severance to make you go away quietly, and to avoid lawsuits, and them paying your health care for a few months is a small cost.
posted by I am the Walrus at 10:11 AM on May 28, 2010
COBRA coverage won't be an option--the cost is prohibitive
If you do get laid off, ask for a severance package, and when they offer one, counter offer (it is a negotiation) for them to cover the cost of your COBRA for 6 months or so. Companies pay severance to make you go away quietly, and to avoid lawsuits, and them paying your health care for a few months is a small cost.
posted by I am the Walrus at 10:11 AM on May 28, 2010
Before you say the cost of COBRA is prohibitive, the federal government has been subsidizing that cost. Find out if they still are.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:12 AM on May 28, 2010
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:12 AM on May 28, 2010
If you don't like your job, this could be a blessing in disguise. I went through a very similar situation about 6 years ago. In exchange for going quietly away, I got 3 months salary, Cobra benefits (can't remember how much or how long) and they offered me free employment counseling from an offsite HR firm. On the day I got "let go" I went home and cried for about an hour. Then, I realized how relieved I was. That job, even though it paid great, had been sucking the soul out of me.
Get your resume polished and ready to go. Have an unbiased friend or colleague take a look at it for you and make suggestions. Make it a goal to apply for a bunch of jobs every week. There are people in my field currently who have applied for +100 jobs before getting hired.
I second the suggestion that you should ask to get your prescriptions filled up as far in advance as you can, even a 90 day refill will buy you some time.
Good luck. Everything is going to be ok.
posted by pluckysparrow at 11:12 AM on May 28, 2010
Get your resume polished and ready to go. Have an unbiased friend or colleague take a look at it for you and make suggestions. Make it a goal to apply for a bunch of jobs every week. There are people in my field currently who have applied for +100 jobs before getting hired.
I second the suggestion that you should ask to get your prescriptions filled up as far in advance as you can, even a 90 day refill will buy you some time.
Good luck. Everything is going to be ok.
posted by pluckysparrow at 11:12 AM on May 28, 2010
Make sure that you have refills of your necessary medications to handle a month post-employment
This is great advice.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:27 AM on May 28, 2010
This is great advice.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:27 AM on May 28, 2010
...talk to your doctors now. They may be able to get you set up on assistance programs for your medications
Your doctor may be able to hand you some samples of medications. And there may also be programs beyond what he knows of to help you with prescription coverage. In New York, you can access a database of these programs as a patient, just searching for the drug name -- or even filling out a form with your basic information. Your pharmacist may know of resources that your doctor does not.
Do you have friends in your area in your field or at companies that have departments like your organization? Let them know that you're looking. I've seen a number of un- and unhappily- employed people in my area network fish for positions via Twitter. And sometimes individuals, not even acting in a corporate capacity, post job openings on Twitter. Networking happens in funny ways.
posted by knile at 11:43 AM on May 28, 2010
Your doctor may be able to hand you some samples of medications. And there may also be programs beyond what he knows of to help you with prescription coverage. In New York, you can access a database of these programs as a patient, just searching for the drug name -- or even filling out a form with your basic information. Your pharmacist may know of resources that your doctor does not.
Do you have friends in your area in your field or at companies that have departments like your organization? Let them know that you're looking. I've seen a number of un- and unhappily- employed people in my area network fish for positions via Twitter. And sometimes individuals, not even acting in a corporate capacity, post job openings on Twitter. Networking happens in funny ways.
posted by knile at 11:43 AM on May 28, 2010
This is great advice.
Thanks.
I'm getting laid off myself in a month, and I also take medications - so I'm in the process of doing this now. Getting my daily maintenance medications refilled, which I did last week, and just today I called in my refills for the medications I only take once in a while, but which would suck to be out of without insurance.
And micawber is right that it's a gift that you know this in advance. I go through this every so often, as I do yearly contract work. But they also have some great advice. As well as sorting my meds out, I also throw my cell phone $200 so I don't have to worry about that for a couple of months at least while job searching and waiting for UI to start.
One last thing: I do not know what your chronic condition is, but if it is considered a disability, and if you take public transportation, you may qualify for some sort of Disabled Reduced-Fare permit for transit riding. Your doctor would have to sign off on it, but if you're unemployed and money is tight, this may help.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:38 PM on May 28, 2010
Thanks.
I'm getting laid off myself in a month, and I also take medications - so I'm in the process of doing this now. Getting my daily maintenance medications refilled, which I did last week, and just today I called in my refills for the medications I only take once in a while, but which would suck to be out of without insurance.
And micawber is right that it's a gift that you know this in advance. I go through this every so often, as I do yearly contract work. But they also have some great advice. As well as sorting my meds out, I also throw my cell phone $200 so I don't have to worry about that for a couple of months at least while job searching and waiting for UI to start.
One last thing: I do not know what your chronic condition is, but if it is considered a disability, and if you take public transportation, you may qualify for some sort of Disabled Reduced-Fare permit for transit riding. Your doctor would have to sign off on it, but if you're unemployed and money is tight, this may help.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:38 PM on May 28, 2010
You paid for it...it's one of those little deductions from your paycheck they've been making off with every week.
WRONG
Unemployment insurance premiums are paid by your employer based on a formula that is driven largely by the number and frequency of previous claims. Your eligibility for unemployment benefits will be determined by a variety of factors in play at the time your job ends. It is not welfare, charity or a hand-out. And, yes, you should definitely apply.
Know thy facts, however!
posted by John Borrowman at 1:45 PM on May 28, 2010
WRONG
Unemployment insurance premiums are paid by your employer based on a formula that is driven largely by the number and frequency of previous claims. Your eligibility for unemployment benefits will be determined by a variety of factors in play at the time your job ends. It is not welfare, charity or a hand-out. And, yes, you should definitely apply.
Know thy facts, however!
posted by John Borrowman at 1:45 PM on May 28, 2010
Make sure that you have refills of your necessary medications to handle a month post-employment
Adding to this really great idea, if your employer uses a Prescription Benefit Manager like Express Scripts, you may be able to order three months worth of each medication at one time.
posted by contrariwise at 3:20 PM on May 28, 2010
Adding to this really great idea, if your employer uses a Prescription Benefit Manager like Express Scripts, you may be able to order three months worth of each medication at one time.
posted by contrariwise at 3:20 PM on May 28, 2010
I would Google "low cost health care [name of state]" see what is available.
Do that first, I would think.
Be well. I believe there is good advice in this thread.
posted by Neofelis at 4:10 PM on May 28, 2010
Do that first, I would think.
Be well. I believe there is good advice in this thread.
posted by Neofelis at 4:10 PM on May 28, 2010
Borrowman, if the employer pays it in form, the employee pays it in reality, even if it does not show up as a deduction. Fact of life.
posted by yclipse at 4:34 PM on May 28, 2010
posted by yclipse at 4:34 PM on May 28, 2010
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posted by lucy.jakobs at 9:29 AM on May 28, 2010 [1 favorite]