Fired. Discontinued. Let go. Dehired. Right-sized.
Whether you think you might be in danger of losing your job or you’ve already gotten the ax, this guide will help you put the WHOLE thing in your rearview mirror.
You might think you’re special because you received the “let’s talk” speech or received a pink slip from HR. BTW, it’s not always pink!
But, I’m here to tell you that your firing isn’t all that special.
For example, there are economic and industry changes, mergers, and acquisitions — all of these can affect your job.
Unemployment by state ranged from 4% to 6% in October 2020 with the top unemployment rates going to Hawaii (14.3%), Nevada (12.0%), and Louisiana (9.4%), California (9.3%), and New York (9.6%).
It defines “separations” as employees “separated from the payroll” during a specified period.
This includes employees who left voluntarily (quit) as well as layoffs and discharges, retirements, transfers, deaths, or separations due to employee disability.
With workers changing jobs an average of every five years (according to the BLS), it’s not unusual for some of those changes to come from layoffs or being fired.
What if I Lose My Job? (Pre-Separation Advice)
Sometimes there are signals.
Some of these are strong signals — your company is bought or merged into another company. (Another red flag is if there is a lot of duplication in job titles or functions within both companies. In this case, generally, the acquiring company’s employees will be the ones to stay.)
Or your company loses a major client or the industry as a whole faces a crisis.
An economic downturn may make you wonder if your job is safe. And don’t ignore the company grapevine. Anytime you hear rumors of layoffs, there is often a grain of truth to the tale.
Or maybe you’re having a clash of personalities with your boss.
On a related note, anytime you get a new boss, beware.
Other times, you may not have an inkling that there is trouble in the company.
The writing may not be on the wall, and you may be fired “out of the blue.” In hindsight, you realize you had started to be left out of key decisions or meetings. Or some of your workloads had been shifted to other employees.
The “curtains” are open now. Back then, you didn’t see them at the time.
6 Things to Guard Yourself From Being Fired
Be careful about doing too much all at once while you’re still employed. It looks suspicious if you go from a new LinkedIn profile to having 200 new connections in a week.
Be mindful of your privacy settings too.
Log into your LinkedIn profile and hover your cursor over your picture on the top/right navigation bar. Click Settings & Privacy from the drop-down and then click Privacy.
From there, adjust your profile settings.
The most important may be Manage Active Status and Sharing Profile Edits. Start with changing those to NO.
Guard your privacy elsewhere (e.g., Facebook) too.
Be especially mindful of your Facebook posts.
Labor Law attorney, Todd Wulffson, stated in a GlassDoor.com article that the National Labor Relations Act covers normal rants on social media. However, an issue can arise for separating/separated employees should they take normal complaints to the next level through a threat of violence, a release of company trade secrets, and so on.
Though, don’t be comforted by this.
You may be covered under the law, though, don’t overlook the cost of your defense to prove such.
Here are a few more steps to take to guard yourself against being fired:
Moving on …
Take some dynamite to your resume.
If you haven’t used your resume in a while, chances are it isn’t ATS compliant, and this is when a resume writer can help.
With resume ATS compliance hanging in the balance, you’re almost better starting from scratch rather than simply tweaking what you once used.
Start depersonalizing your office, but take things home gradually so that it’s not apparent that you’re removing items.
Also, collect the information you’ll need for your resume while you still have access to your company records. For example, dates and names of training, copies of performance evaluations, sales records, etc.
You should have these already at home; but, if you don’t, now is the time to acquire them.
Check out your company’s employee handbook and/or your employment agreement with the company to determine what’s owed to you.
What is the company policy on accrued — but unused — benefits?
Are you entitled to cash out unused vacation time, or is it “use it or lose it?”
Also, review the section that outlines what constitutes “termination for cause.”
Have you grown accustomed to spending a bit extra since you’ve been employed?
A sensitive subject with any looming/recent job separation.
Sorry to bring it up, but…
… are there expenses you can cut out for the time being?
Services you’re not using, subscriptions you didn’t realize you had, or extra features/benefits are a great place to start Edward Scissorhanding your financial commitments.
Once you’re done there, now is the time to stockpile an emergency fund for your living expenses, especially if you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Don’t wait until you actually lose your job to assess your financial situation.
Don’t wait for the ax before starting to look for a new job. It’s almost always easier to find a job when you have a job, so if you think your job really is in jeopardy, you might want to start looking for your next job now.
You’ve Been Fired (Post-Separation Advice)
What you do next can make the difference in the length of time you’re unemployed and how you fare financially.
Generally, you’ll be told of your termination in a face-to-face meeting. Your boss might lead the meeting, or it could be someone from human resources, depending on the company’s size.
[Related Article: 10 Questions to Prep For When Attending an Employee Exit Interview]
In your dismissal meeting, you will likely be given information about any benefits you will receive. For example, you may receive a severance package — although you aren’t guaranteed it unless your employment contract specifies it.
Fewer companies offer so-called “golden parachutes” for departing employees, and most are reserved for top-level executives.
Separation Benefits To Ask For
Decide on whether you want to resign or get fired. This may seem like an odd issue, but there are circumstances when you may wish to resign instead of being fired.
You may be eligible for unemployment compensation, benefits, and severance pay.
However, you may choose to resign rather than have the stigma of “getting fired” on your record. (You will need to disclose that you were fired if you are asked that specific question on a job application. If you resign, you can answer “no” to the question.)
In some instances, you may even be asked to resign rather than be fired. Make sure you carefully consider the pros and cons of each response before making your decision. For example, you may not be able to collect unemployment benefits if you resign.
What About Severance & Outplacement Assistance?
Now is the time to negotiate a severance and outplacement package, which are often reserved for long-time employees, managers, and executives. If you’re neither of these, this doesn’t mean you’re immediately disqualified.
When an employee is fired or laid off, the employer may ask you to sign an agreement, releasing the company from any liability or lawsuit.
Don’t be pressured to sign anything if you’re not ready.
Some employers won’t release your final paycheck until you sign a release, but that doesn’t mean you need to sign anything right away. Find out what’s available to you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for severance.
Ask how reference checks will be handled.
What will a prospective employer be told if they contact the company?
Will your supervisor provide you with a letter of recommendation?
Can he or she take calls for reference checks, or are those handled by the HR department?
What information will be released to the prospective employer?
Note: Some companies will only verify dates of employment, job title, and final salary and will not answer questions related to why you are no longer working for the company.
Additional Benefits You Should Be Aware Of
You may be entitled to accrued vacation, overtime, and/or sick pay.
Ask about these benefits and how they will be paid out.
The company should provide you with information about continuing your health insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) law.
If the company has more than 20 employees, your employer is required by law to offer health insurance coverage through COBRA to terminated employees for up to 18 months.
You’ll need to pay for this coverage yourself.
This is little comfort for one-income households.
However, this gives employees and their families the option to continue group health benefits provided by your health plan for a limited period of time.
However, keep in mind that the cost of COBRA coverage may be higher than the insurance you obtain for yourself; however, if you have a health condition, you may want to opt for COBRA coverage initially to keep your coverage in force. You can always cancel your COBRA coverage once you have new insurance in place.
Information on transferring your retirement account with the company if you have one. If you are enrolled in a 401(k), profit-sharing, or another type of defined contribution retirement plan, you may be eligible for a lump-sum distribution of your retirement money when you leave the company.
You need to be careful about handling this distribution so that you don’t incur tax penalties.
Retirement plan distributions have precise requirements, so you may wish to consult a financial advisor before doing anything.
Find out how — and when — you will receive your final paycheck from the company. (Again, you may be required to sign some paperwork before the final check is released.)
In most cases, you’ll be asked to leave the building immediately and will be escorted off the premises (especially in mid-size or larger companies). You may not get a chance to pack up your personal belongings yourself or even say goodbye to your colleagues.
While it may feel unfair, it’s a safety concern for the company.
Some fired employees have taken revenge on the company by destroying files or making a big scene, making employers wary of letting you pack up your own belongings.
If you are missing items or need access to the information after you’re let go, contact the HR office and/or your supervisor for resolution.
It can be difficult to do, but try to leave on good terms.
You may end up back at that company again at some point or be working with the same people in a future job.
Plus, your future employer may contact the company for a reference and/or you may want a recommendation from your most recent supervisor.
Should You Apply For Unemployment Insurance?
Don’t dilly-dally.
Check into unemployment insurance benefits.
If you are fired from a job, you are generally eligible for unemployment compensation unless your employer proves you left your job voluntarily (you quit or resigned) or were discharged for misconduct. And there is an appeals process even if your employer initially makes this claim.
The unemployment insurance system (UI) is a partnership of the federal government and state programs.
Created in 1935, contributions are paid into the system on behalf of workers, so they have an income if they lose their jobs.
The states’ basic UI program is managed, and the U.S. Department of Labor oversees the system.
States provide most of the funding and administer the benefit payments. Although states must follow federal requirements, they generally establish their own eligibility criteria and benefit levels.
UIB Restrictions
As of January 2013, regular unemployment insurance benefits — in most states — run for 26 weeks (plus one unpaid “waiting week”).
For people who have not yet found a job within that time frame, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits (EB) offer additional compensation. Each of these programs has a different deadline. Consequently, the number of weeks you are eligible for will depend on when you filed your original claim.
The permanent Extended Benefits (EB) program typically provides an additional 13 or 20 weeks of compensation to the unemployed who have exhausted their regular benefits in states where the unemployment situation has worsened dramatically.
Your unemployment payment depends on your weekly earnings before being laid off and the maximum amount of unemployment benefits available (this will vary by state). Unemployment benefits typically replace about half of your previous earnings, subject to a maximum benefit level.
The maximum state-provided weekly benefit in 2012 ranged from $235 in Mississippi to $653 ($979 with dependents) in Massachusetts. Some states offer higher benefits to jobseekers with dependents.
Because the benefit is subject to a cap, unemployment insurance benefits replace a smaller share of previous earnings for higher-wage workers than lower-wage workers.
The average unemployment benefit was about $300 per week in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
The unemployment insurance program provides benefits to people who:
- have enough employment to establish a claim
- have lost employment through no fault of their own
- Are ready, willing, and able to work
- Are actively seeking work
Check This List – For Eligibility of Unemployment Benefits
You MAY BE eligible for unemployment benefits if:
- Your job was eliminated
- Your employer fired you because you could not meet their performance or production standards, or their qualifications for the job
- You lost your job due to lack of work
- There was an involuntary reduction in force
- Your temporary or seasonal job ended
- The company downsized or shut down
- The company restructured or reorganized
You MAY NOT be eligible for benefits if:
- You were fired because you violated a company policy, rule, or procedure (including absenteeism or insubordination)
- You quit your job without good cause
- You are out of work because of a work stoppage (except for lockouts) that violated an existing collective bargaining agreement where you worked
If you wait to file, you may lose out on benefits. You must meet eligibility requirements, but you can determine these from your state’s unemployment office.
You may even be eligible for benefits (even partial benefits) if you work part-time. You may also be eligible to collect unemployment benefits while collecting severance or other benefits from your current job.
Getting paid for unused vacation time you accrued normally does not affect your eligibility. However, you will not be eligible for benefits if you continue to receive your full salary and benefits your employer paid while you were employed.
One thing you may not have realized is that unemployment benefits count as taxable income on your federal tax return. Unemployment compensation may or may not be taxable in your state.
Check with the Department of Labor in your state for information. Ensure you set aside part of the money for taxes if taxes are not withheld from your payment. (In many states, you must request that taxes be withheld from your payment.)
You may have to make quarterly estimated tax payments if you do not have taxes withheld from your unemployment benefit payments. Check with your tax advisor for advice.
Getting fired may also open a new door to self-employment. But if unemployment benefits require jobseekers to continue looking for traditional work full-time, someone pursuing self-employment may lose their unemployment benefits because they are not “actively seeking work.”
In 2012, the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Act authorized $35 million in funds to encourage states to enhance and promote Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) programs. SEA entitles unemployed individuals to claim jobless benefits while simultaneously gaining access to small business development assistance.
An individual with a “viable” business plan can continue to receive unemployment benefits as long as they work full-time to get a new company off the ground.
Under this program, individuals receive financial aid equal to their unemployment insurance benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks while they receive entrepreneurial training and other resources (including counseling and technical assistance) to help them launch a business.
However, note that you are not eligible to receive extended unemployment benefits if you participate in the SEA program — you are limited to 26 weeks of payments. Check with your state’s Department of Labor to see if they offer a SEA program.
There are also retraining and job support services available through the federal government.
The national system of local One-Stop Career Centers (established by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998) offers job search assistance, career counseling, job search workshops, labor market information, and other employment services.
You may access many of these services for free. Some programs provide funds for transitional training to individuals unable to obtain or retain employment.
Some of these services are authorized through the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) program to assist employees who lost their job due to international competition — for example, if their company shifted production or services offshore. TAA-eligible workers may also receive job retraining. The total period of unemployment benefits for a TAA-certified individual may last as long as 130 weeks.
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 also authorized programs for job training and vocational rehabilitation.
Each state administers these programs, so check with your state’s Department of Labor office for eligibility and access. In some states, you may receive one-on-one job counseling services (“intensive services”), including career testing, development of an individual employment plan, and group or individual counseling and career planning.
These services can be accessed in addition to your work with a professional resume writer.
You may also be eligible to receive occupational skills training, private sector training programs, entrepreneurial training, adult education programs, and customized training. However, some programs are only available to low-income individuals.
Take advantage of the programs available to you. Many of these are paid for through state and federal funds. This isn’t charity. These are programs paid by tax dollars, and the goal is to get you back working again.
What If I’m Part of a “Mass Layoff”
You may receive advance notice of your job loss if you are part of a “mass layoff” event, defined as layoffs that involve at least 50 employees from a single company within a five-week period. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in April 2013, there were 1,199 mass layoff actions that affected 116,849 workers.
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act applies to employers with 100 or more employees. WARN requires employers to provide 60 days notice in advance of plant closings and/or mass layoffs (unless the layoff resulted from the closure of a faltering company, unforeseeable business circumstances, or a natural disaster).
This provides some time to adjust to the prospective loss of employment. Employees entitled to notice under the WARN Act include managers and supervisors as well as hourly and salaried workers.
If you’re part of a mass layoff, consider working with other employees at the company to find new jobs.
Start a job search support group, or arrange a lunch-and-learn speaker series to bring in specialists from your state’s Department of Labor to provide information about state-offered services, unemployment compensation, and training opportunities.
Should You Sue?
You may feel that you were wrongfully terminated from your job. And you may be correct.
You CAN’T BE FIRED for being a whistle-blower (filing a complaint about a company’s illegal activities) or for not being willing to commit an illegal act for an employer. You can’t be fired for discriminatory actions — for example, because of your race, nationality, religion, gender, or age.
However, if you are an employee in an “at-will” employment state, you can be fired without the company having to provide a reason. (Except you cannot be fired for unlawful discrimination, such as if you’re pregnant.)
Some experts estimate that 250,000 workers are illegally or unjustly fired each year. If you successfully sue your previous employer, you may be able to recover lost wages or other damages. You may even get your old job back. But litigation can be costly, and even if you win your old job back, it may be an uncomfortable situation to come to work each day.
State-specific laws apply, so consult an employment attorney in your city or state for specific guidance. Many offer brief “no charge” consultations.
Get Your Finances In Order
One of the biggest mistakes many people make after losing their job is not making immediate adjustments to their finances. With the average (mean) unemployment lasting 36.5 weeks (BLS data, as of April 2013), and many workers living paycheck-to-paycheck, the first thing you should do is adjust your lifestyle to fit your new financial reality … at least temporarily.
Make a list of your current expenses (review your checkbook register, credit card statements, or online banking profile) and see what you can cut out. Determine which of your current monthly expenses must be maintained (mortgage and car payments, utilities, groceries) and which ones you can do without for now.
The sooner you make these adjustments, the better off you will be.
Once you know what you’ll have to live on (unemployment benefits and savings, for example), you can determine if you need to find other sources of income — for example, a part-time job. (But be aware of the impact this will have on your unemployment benefits.)
If your unemployment stretches on for a while, you may need to cut back to only making the minimum payments on your credit card bills and suspend contributions to your individual retirement account.
You may want to consider selling your car or your house to reduce your expenses. Look around your house and see if there is anything you can sell. Consider holding a garage sale. Try to avoid tapping into your retirement accounts because you will incur a substantial tax penalty.
However, if you have a cash-value life insurance policy, you may find that to be a source of emergency cash.
But you will have to pay interest on any loans you take out, and you’ll want to pay the loan back when you can.
When you are fired, you may experience a substantial loss in income. As a result, you may qualify for federal programs that determine eligibility based on income. For example, the Earned Income Tax Credit, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or Medicaid.
You may also be eligible for special programs for the unemployed.
For example, the “Home Affordable Unemployment Program” may reduce your mortgage payments or suspend them altogether for a period of time.
.Your credit card company may reduce your interest rate or lower your required minimum payment due to a job loss.
If you have involuntary unemployment credit card insurance, your credit card company may cover the minimum payment if you are laid off for a specific period of time. However, charges incurred after the layoff are excluded, and if you’re fired for cause, you may not be eligible to claim payment.
Don’t wait to explore your eligibility for these programs.
Don’t Wait
Also, do not wait to begin your job search. The longer you are unemployed, the harder it is to find a new job. Some job seekers feel they need a “break” before starting the job search. However, taking a vacation is the last thing you should be doing.
If you lose your job unexpectedly (with little or no warning), it can be difficult to move forward quickly with a new job search. You may still be mourning the loss of your old job.
It’s a cliché, but the adage of a window opening when a door closes applies here.
If you are completely honest with yourself, can you think of one or more positive things that may result from this?
Are there things you want to do in the next job that weren’t available to you in your previous job? Is there something you’ve always wanted to pursue but didn’t because you were comfortable in your old job?
Without a job to go to every day, your days may seem endless. It can be tempting to start working on some of those projects (either personal or things around the house) that you’ve put off because you’ve been so busy with work. Don’t.
You need to get started on your job search right away. It’s easier to find a job when you have a job.
Hiring managers instinctively wonder why you were let go, so if you can answer that question for them upfront, it may help you land the interview.
The longer you are out of work, the bigger this issue becomes. So don’t wait to start looking.
Even if you think you’re not ready to go back to work again, there are many things you can do in the early stages of the job search to move forward before you are ready to actually start applying for jobs.
These may include:
- Updating your LinkedIn profile
- Applying for unemployment benefits
- Working with your resume writer to update your resume and cover letter [Should you mention why you left your last employer in your cover letter? Find out here.]
- Conducting informational interviews with people in your field to identify opportunities
Putting your resume together can also provide a boost to your self-esteem as you work to gather your accomplishments.
One of the most important questions you can prepare for is, “Why did you leave your last job?”
It can be difficult not to carry the hurt and disappointment of being fired into your search for a new job, but negativity won’t get you far.
And make sure the reason you give for leaving agrees with what your previous employer will say in a reference check. (If you didn’t clarify this during the termination meeting, now is the time to follow up with your previous supervisor or the company’s human resources department and find out.)
The “Upside” of Being Fired
While it may be difficult to find the silver lining in being fired, there can be some positives.
One of the best things about searching for a new job while you’re unemployed is being open about your search.
You don’t have to worry about your current employer finding out that you’re looking for a new job — which is one of the biggest risks of job searching while you’re working.
You may also find that you receive more assistance, advice, and guidance from others in your job search if you were laid off than if you were conducting a job search while you are employed.
Being let go might also be the push that you needed to make a change. It’s easy to become complacent in your career.
When reflecting on this time in their life at a point in the future, many job seekers say they wish they hadn’t had to go through it, but they ended up in a better job as a result. That may be difficult to see now, but keep that in mind as you move forward.
This might be the motivation you needed to make significant changes in your life that were easy to put off when you had a job.
Tips for Success
Enlist the help of others.
Form a support group of like-minded people who are ready to tackle the next opportunity. Share leads, contacts, and advice with each other. Celebrate your successes when job offers are received.
Get help and support.
The older you are, the more fearful you may be. It can be beneficial to seek counseling or career coaching to help you during this time. Don’t be afraid to consult specialists to help you navigate the process — for example, an employment attorney if you feel you’re not being treated fairly by your previous employer.
Stay positive.
This is probably the most difficult thing to do after being fired, but it’s also the most important factor affecting your future success. It’s normal to feel sad, depressed, angry, or hurt when you’ve lost your job.
Acknowledge your loss, but move forward one step at a time.
Be sure to take care of yourself — eat right, exercise, don’t hole up at home.
Take advantage of the programs and services available to you, and position yourself to succeed in your next job.