bad luck

[leoslove730]

This doesn''t really have to do with engagements so much, but I am so upset because I got laid off yesterday. I work in the mortgage business and our company has been downsizing over the past year. Well, yesterday afternoon was my turn to go because the division I work in lost their biggest client, and I was set free.

So, I applied for unemployment this morning, and I am heading over to my mom''s in a little bit to work on updating my new resume. My boyfriend is a corporate recruiter, so he''s already helping me out by emailing me job listings he thinks I would be interested in. Thank God for him - he really is my support.

Well, once the unemployment kicks in, I''m gonna be taking a huge pay cut until I get back on my feet, so bf is going to be paying much more on our bills than I do (we split everything evenly right now). I''m grateful that I have him to help, but I just realized that means he probably won''t be saving up for the e-ring for a while. Bummer. Oh well, first things first, right?

I really don''t wanna sound like a brat, but I lost my job, and now our engagement is most definitely going to be post-poned. But, like I said, at least we have each other and it''s times like this that makes you stronger as a couple. Here''s to bad times!

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Keep your chin up girl and your thoughts positive!

I was laid off a little bit ago and it did it NOT impeed on our bills as much as I thought it would (I'm not sure where you live but I know in MA they restructured the unemployment benefits and although I was making less it wasn't as hard of a hit as I had anticipated).

Now, I'm working at a much better job and am 100% happier!

Sometimes what seems like a setback actually propells you forward.

 

[leoslove730]

Thank you for the encouragement!

I am so freaking out because I haven''t not had a job in nearly 4 years now. It''s scary to get out there again. My boyfriend seems all excited for me. I think that he could tell that my last position was taking a toll on me, both mentally and physically. I am exciting about finding something new too, but still scared about how long it will take to get there. But, I figure that''s normal.

 

[TravelingGal]

I''m so sorry to hear about your bad luck Leoslove. But I really feel that when this happens, the majority of folk end up in something SO much better. That was definitely the case for me! I got laid off the day after I came back from vacation in Australia...we had just gotten TGuy''s VISA approved and I was faced with no income when I was about to support TWO of us. I got a my current job shortly thereafter where I got to work from home, which worked out so awesome with TGuy moving over.

But for insurance, I''ll throw some PS fairydust your way! Hang in there!

 

[leoslove730]

Thank you, TGal!

 

[Delster]

Leoslove I'm so sorry this happened to you.

A few years ago I missed out on two jobs I really really really wanted. Both times the job was given to another woman who for many reasons didn't deserve it (she was up to all sorts of unethical stuff). I questioned myself constantly. I wondered why TWO places chose her over me. I raged at the injustice of it and bawled my eyes out because I was left feeling so inadequate. In the end I was offered one of the jobs (my second choice) after she turned it down. I swallowed my pride, took it, and it was the best thing I ever did. It completely opened my eyes to whole new horizons. I realised that my first choice was a backwater and nowhere near where the action was, and that I didn't really like my type of work so well any more. It lit a fire in me to seek out the best places to be in my field and gave me the courage to make a slight career change which is proving to be so much more rewarding than what I did before. I was heading into a rut and I didn't even realise it. Three years later I have another degree, I'm handing in my doctorate in six months, and I've gained a raft of really valuable experience. That other woman is still where she was before, when I see her she says she's lonely and bored, and from things I've heard others say about her it seems that now karma is gnawing at her reputation...

This is a tough time but it may just prove to be a wonderful opportunity. Good luck, we're rooting for you!

ETA: ***sprinkling PS fairydust***

 

[Pandora II]

In the US, can they just say - okay we don''t want you anymore?

Do they not have to give you notice, redundancy payments and prove why they need to let you go?

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Date: 8/31/2007 12:13:06 PM
Author: Pandora II
In the US, can they just say - okay we don''t want you anymore?

Do they not have to give you notice, redundancy payments and prove why they need to let you go?

In the US when you are laid off from a job, you are entitled to collect unemployment and the percentage/length of time you are allowed to collect is determined by the circumstances surrounding your dismissal/voluntary leave and length of time employed by the company you are entering a claim against.

Typically, if you quit you will not receive unemployment benefits. If you are laid off you are ENTITLED to these benefits. A company is not allowed to reject an unemployment claim when the individual has been laid off. Whereas if a person voluntarily resigned they are not entitled to unemployment and their claim could be rejected. Some businesses will not reject and unemployment claim even if you resigned from the position.

Many times when a person is let go they will receive what is known as a severance package. What this package contains is more or less up to the company. Usually these packages contain an agreement for health insurance coverage (known as COBRA here in the states) and occasionally you may be paid for an additional number of weeks and/or be paid for vacation time accrued. Usually severance packages are only given in situations where the company has no concrete legal grounds to terminate your employment but wants to cut you loose. It''s a way for them to protect themselves from a wrongful termination lawsuit.

 

[Anastasia]

leoslove,

I am so sorry to hear this. I know how tough it is to be laid off. My husband and I have both been laid off at different times in the past.

My husband is in the mortgage business also, and I know how stressful things are right now. He still has a job, and we''re hoping there are no layoffs coming, but we are preparing for the worst. He works on commission, and his earnings have been reduced dramatically.

Something good will come out of this! I know it is hard on the old ego, but I can honestly say that most people I know have been laid off at LEAST once in their career, it is just how corporate America works. Try not to take it personally, and look for an opportunity that really excites you.

Let us know how things go.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 8/31/2007 12:13:06 PM
Author: Pandora II
In the US, can they just say - okay we don''t want you anymore?

Do they not have to give you notice, redundancy payments and prove why they need to let you go?

An HR person can correct me, but they do not have to give you notice UNLESS they are letting go of a certain percentage of their sales force. If the layoffs exceed that percentage, that have to have a certain amount of notice. If they don''t give the required notice, I believe it has to be factored into their severance payout.

 

[Livinthedream]

I''m sorry to hear that. When one door closes, another one opens! Stay positive, and keep being thankful for your BF, and all the great things you do have! Best of luck finding a new job!!

 

[Pandora II]

Wow, that seems very tough. I hope you find a new job soon leoslove!

Here you have a 3 month probation period when you start a job during which either side can terminate the contract with no problem, after that if YOU want to leave you have to give 6 weeks notice. If THEY want you to leave it is very complicated and expensive and they risk a court case. Normally they will offer you a big cheque and help finding a new job to get you to resign. Obviously if you steal, or assault someone or something really bad it's different but still complex.

If a load of people are laid off, you would probably get at least 3-6 months salary, but it takes a long time to happen as government agencies get involved, so you have a lot of notice.

You automatically get unemployment and housing benefit from the government until you find another job (It's about $120 a week for the unemployment benefit I think).

 

[TravelingGal]

Pandora, we can leave a job with 2 weeks notice. Some people don''t even give that, although it is considered a bit rude to do so.

You get unemployment based on how much you made in your last job, and there is a cap. So not everyone gets the max. You can get it for 6 months, and after that time you can file for an extension I believe (but I have never done that).

Most companies only give you 2 weeks salary for every year you are there for severance. But this is not mandatory. They can lay you off and give you squat.

 

[rockzilla]

Unless there is a contract signed between employer and employee, most employment in the US is considered "at-will" which means you can a)quit whenever you want or b) be laid off whenever the employer wants with ZERO notice. Obviously this is a very flexible system, with drawbacks and benefits. Drawbacks mainly being instability for employees, benefits being that employers are (theoretically) more likely to hire more people if they know they don''t have to jump through hoops or pay out the big bucks if the person is a dud or if they fall on tough financial times. I''ve heard this as an explanation of the high youth unemployment rate in France...due to the high labor cost of both salary and hiring/firing employees, young people are "too expensive" to hire. In France I believe your unemployment benefits are ~60% of salary for up to 2 years...so people are more likely to wait around and collect until they find a job that is a "great fit" than take a job more quickly so they can pay the bills. Nice gig, if you can get it

Of coruse, professional and executive positions in the US often have notice and severence provisions negotiated into the contract, which is why you often hear about big execs getting hundreds of millions even if they are fired.

Also, public employees and other union employees often require significantly more notice/reason for termination.

 

[Pandora II]

Thanks for explaining guys, it''s really interesting to learn this kind of thing.

I thought the US was more like the UK, having worked in Italy for 8 years where basically once you have a job you have it for life. It''s become a big problem recently as they have cottoned on to the idea of internships and now young people and new graduates are finding it impossible to get anything other than a series of one year intern contracts. Ultimately it''s better for the economy - and for companies, as staff are more motivated and work to rule less - but tougher on the individual.

I guess with your system being laid off doesn''t carry the same stigma and implications that it would in europe and won''t be a big barrier to getting another job.

 

[cl2ysta1]

Date: 8/31/2007 6:00:57 PM
Author: Pandora II
Thanks for explaining guys, it''s really interesting to learn this kind of thing.


I thought the US was more like the UK, having worked in Italy for 8 years where basically once you have a job you have it for life. It''s become a big problem recently as they have cottoned on to the idea of internships and now young people and new graduates are finding it impossible to get anything other than a series of one year intern contracts. Ultimately it''s better for the economy - and for companies, as staff are more motivated and work to rule less - but tougher on the individual.


I guess with your system being laid off doesn''t carry the same stigma and implications that it would in europe and won''t be a big barrier to getting another job.

welcome to the US.. one day you have a job. the next they tell you not to come back

 

[leoslove730]

I honestly had NO idea the lay off was coming. We had been so so busy the past few months. It was almost the end of the day on Thursday and my boss calls me into his office and when I walk in there, our HR director was there and I knew right away what was going on. They just told me it was my last day and that I would get paid for my vacation time I had left over and that I could collect unemployment and that HR had written a really nice reference letter for me.

I almost felt betrayed because they knew all day and acted like nothing was wrong until the moment they let me go. Then I wonder how long they knew that was going to be my last day for. It's like, they could've given me a warning that it was coming instead of just saying, "we have to let you go." Grrr...

I sent out 12 resumes today, so hopefully I'll have some callbacks next week! *fingers crossed*

I guess I am now a LIW in 2 aspects! LOL

 

[partgypsy]

The laws also depend on the state. In all states companies (above a certain employee number) do need to pay for their portion for unemployment, but again as Traveling Gal states, that is for a limited amount of time (6 months) and only a percentage of your salary. Other laws protecting employees vary by state. I live in a "right to work" state (whatever that means) which means that your employer can fire you for any or no reason, without notice. Also unless your employer is kind your health insurance terminates along with your job. You are eligible for COBRA health insurance, but that usually costs around $600-800 a month, which is pretty hard to cover if one is unemployed, so you are SOL. As you might be able to tell I''m in favor of universal heath coverage for Americans.

 

[partgypsy]

oops I think it''s called work "at will" laws.

 

[gwendolyn]

Oh, honey, I''m so sorry to hear about this! I''m sure you''ll be able to use this to get yourself a job that you really love, that''s a better match with you--it sounds like it''ll be healthy for you to start somewhere else since your last job was so hard on you. Stay positive--I think this''ll end up being a good change for you! *hugs*

Pandora II: Thanks for the insights into the job market in the UK! I''m moving there in less than two weeks to start grad school, and then, after I graduate in June, plan to apply for work! It''s very useful for me to learn the differences beforehand, instead of learning them as I go, so thank you.

 

[lsyama]

Leoslove - I''m so sorry about the layoff!
I went through one several years ago, and I have to agree with what others have said - things turned out better in the end!
Best wishes for your job search!