So far I’ve discussed how to avoid being laid off by being a great employee, how to recession-proof your career, and how to financially prepare just in case you are laid off. I’ll assume that you’ve already read those articles because they are important in the process of surviving a layoff. Even if you are the best employee possible in your specific job, factors outside of your control could result in you losing your job. What should you do should you get that pink slip? This list of Six Steps should help.
#1 Understand the terms of your layoff
Many companies will offer some sort of severance package depending on a variety of factors. Request a meeting or at least a brief call you’re your HR representative. Make sure you understand the severance package, how much money you receive, when you should expect the payment, and how long the company will continue health insurance, life insurance, and other benefits.
Another important point is to collect everything the company owes you. Submit outstanding expenses and “cash-in” your unused vacation and paid time-off. If you have vested stock options, learn how to exercise them and about any restrictions or penalties.
Here is a great article on how to negotiate with your company after a layoff.
#2 Apply for Unemployment
As soon as possible, apply for unemployment. Many hard working individuals shun at the thought of a free handout but you must swallow your pride and survive financially. Unemployment rules differ from state to state. Here is a brief overview as to how to apply and collect unemployment.
You want to apply immediately because it could take a few weeks before the checks start arriving.
#3 Get COBRA (maybe)
COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is simply a way to keep your health insurance between jobs. I’m not an expert on COBRA so you’ll need to check the Department of Labor for all the details. However, I can tell you that you have 60 days to decide if you need COBRA coverage.
Since COBRA is retroactive, I suggest that you do not elect for COBRA unless you need it or you are close to the 60 day time limit. For instance, if on day 30 without coverage you break your ankle, you can apply for COBRA on day 31 and that emergency room visit is covered. If you haven’t started a new job by day 55, however, I’d get COBRA, because on day 61 you cannot apply for COBRA and you are essentially uninsured.
The downside of COBRA is that it is expensive. You pay both your pay-period contributions as well as the contributions your employer made to cover you. If you pay $300 per month for health insurance, you could wind up paying $600 a month.
So, get COBRA only if you have a medical expenditure that is greater than the cost of COBRA (if you have a $100 doctor visit, don’t get COBRA) or if your 60 days are almost expired.
#4 Assess your finances
I already discussed this at length in my article, Six Steps…to Financially Surviving a Recession. Specifically, read steps 1 – 4 and take action!
#5 Send Thank you notes to your former employer
What? I know you’re thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me! Those $#%#@$ laid me off!” Yes, they did lay you off, but hear me out.
Business is about relationships. A clichéd phrase, but true. I suggest that you send a thank you note to your boss, your bosses boss, people you worked with (who are still with the company), HR department representatives and the senior most executives in your company. If you work for IBM, send a thank you note to CEO, Samuel J. Palmisano. Microsoft, send one to Steve Ballmer.
Your note should be positive. Thank the recipient for the opportunity to work for the organization. If you worked with the person, make it personal. Handwrite the note and be brief. Do not state anything such as, “If a position opens, please keep me in mind.” Others may disagree with me but the purpose is to show authentic gratitude. By ending a thank you note asking for a job shows your true motivation.
Why should you do this? First, it is a nice thing to do. Second, how many other people who were laid-off do you think wrote a thank you note? Likely none. This act of appreciation may help you in your job search. A position in the company might open. Someone might be so impressed, they may tell a colleague in another firm about you and your work and recommend you. This one act of appreciation could have huge positive consequences.
Don’t burn bridges; build them.
#6 Take care of yourself
Getting laid off can be a huge blow to your ego. This time in your life can be worrisome, frightening, anxious, and depressing. Try to use this time as a time to reflect. Eat right. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Be proactive in looking for a new job. Engage in activities that are enriching. Do things you could never do because you were at work. Volunteer. Help a neighbor. Journal. Pray. Meditate.
Keep your wits about you and take care of yourself; mind, body, and soul.
I haven’t touched on the job search side of a layoff because these are the first steps you should take IMMEDIATELY upon being laid off. I will be writing Six Steps…Job Searching after you’re laid off in the next few days.
译文:
六步骤，解决你遭解雇时的疑难
迄今为止，我已经论述过了如何通过成为一个优秀的员工来避免被解雇。如何稳固你的工作？万一你被解雇的时候，如何在财政上做好准备？我希望你已经阅读过了这些文章，因为这些文章在下岗自救方面（对你）十分有帮助。即使你在你的岗位上是最好的员工，那些你无法预料的外在因素也会导致你失去工作。当你被解雇时，你该怎么办？这里列出的六点也许可以给你点帮助。
1 清楚认识你解职的条款
很多公司会根据不同情况来提供一些补偿方案。你可以对此要求开个会（商讨）或者至少该打个电话给你的人事主管。你要确保对于补偿条款（方案）你都理解，例如，你可以估算下除去支出的费用，你还有多少钱进帐？还有估算下公司给你缴纳的医疗保险，人寿保险和其他福利会持续多久呢？
另一个要点是，把所有的公司亏欠你的资源都用掉。把那些巨额花费报下帐，起用你没舍得用的假期和带薪假期。如果你是新进股民，学学如何炒股，并要弄明白其中的限制和处罚的方面。
这篇如何在辞职后与你的公司谈判是篇不错的文章。
2 申请失业
尽可能快的申请失业。许多努力工作的人都难免感觉这样有些不劳而获，但你必须收起你的自尊心，为的是不至于陷入经济上的窘境。关于失业的规章（标准）在每个地方都是不一样的。关于如何申请和获得失业救助，这里仅仅给你个大概的介绍。
你应该立刻申请，因为在你获得补助前，（手续时间）会需要数个星期。
3 申请COBRA（可能的话）
COBRA是一种可以确保你在变更工作时依旧保有医疗保险的简便可行的方法。对于COBRA，我不是专家，所以你可以从劳动保障局获取所有相关的详细信息。然而，我可以告诉你的是，你有60天的时间可以决定是否你需要申请COBRA.
既然COBRA具有追溯力，我建议你还是别选择COBRA，除非你真需要他或者你离60天的截止日期不远了。比方说，如果在第30天那天你不是COBRA的受保人，而你却弄伤了你的脚踝，你可以在第31天申请COBRA并且可以获得紧急治疗的权利。如果在第55天你还没有找到新工作，然而，我就获得了COBRA，因为在第61天你就不能申请COBRA了，这就意味着你没有受到保护。
COBRA的缺点可能在于他那昂贵的费用。你不仅需要从自己的工资中支付，公司同样也需要为你支付。如果你每月在医疗保险方面支出300美元，其实（在医疗保险上）你每个月要付出600美元。
因此，除非你的医疗支出比COBRA的花费多的多，否则你还是别申请COBRA了。（如果你有每次100美元上门服务的医生的话，还是别申请COBRA了）还有种情况（可以申请COBRA）就是你的60天期限得到了延长。
4 评估你的财政状况
我早已在我的文章中详细的论述过这点，“六步骤。。在困境中解决经济问题”。其中，特别是看一下第一到第四步吧。
5 给你的前任雇主写感谢信
什么？我知道你在想什么，“你一定在开玩笑！是他们把我解雇了！”的确，他们是解雇了你，但请听我慢慢道来。
生意不外乎关系。老生常谈，但却是真理。我建议你发一份感谢信给你的上司，老板，和你的同事（那些依旧还在公司工作的同事），人事部主管和你公司的高级行政人员。如果你在IBM工作过，你可以将感谢信发给IBM的首席执政官- Samuel J. Palmisano。如果是微软，就发给Steve Ballmer。
你的信涵应当是积极的，正面的。感谢这些人为你提供了为公司服务的机会。如果对象是个人，你可以将感谢信表述的更亲切。用手写，并且简洁明了。不要提及诸如此类的话“如果有任何工作上的机会，别忘记告诉我噢”。其他人或许会对我的做法表示不理解，但我的初衷是为了表达一种真诚的态度。“你写感谢信的真正用意其实在于找新的工作”。
为什么你需要这么做？首先，这样做没什么不好？其次，你认为会有多少下岗的人会写这样的感谢信？几乎没有。这种感谢方式很有可能能给你的求职带来好处。可能一个工作机会就在向你招手。你也许会因此给某些人留下深刻印象，他们可能会把你和你所从事的工作推荐给他们认识的在其他公司的同事。这样一来，这种感谢方式就会起到很大的积极作用。
不要自毁桥梁，反而，你该铺设他们。
6 好好照顾自己
下岗会对你的自信造成沉重打击。届时，你的生活会变得很糟糕，你会惶恐不安，焦虑和乃至绝望。试着将这一阶段来作为“反思”的阶段。吃点好的，多运动，睡好觉。做好找工作的准备工作。保持精力充沛。做些平时工作时你不曾做过的事情。比方志愿者。帮助你的邻居。还有旅行呀，祷告呀，沉思。
保持你的大脑的活力，好好照顾自己，不管是头脑，身体还是灵魂。
我没有将笔墨花费在下岗找工作的方面，因为上面这些是当你被解雇时首先需要做的。过些天，我会继续写关于下岗后找工作的六个步骤。