Facing Unemployment in 9 Steps
Photo by Free To Use Sounds on Unsplash
I was scheduled for a company udpdate meeting yesterday, and then laid off via the Zoom webinar.
Sit with it. Go ahead. Process how you might feel, or how you did feel, because I know I’m not alone.
Now release it. I’ve learned to embrace the period of not having a job as a time to pivot. I call this FUNemployment.
The company I had been in service to for the last (nearly) 3 years did their best to be a people first company. The culture was amazing. I was able to grow and thrive. The company CEOs personally called to thank everyone that was laid off. Letting us go on the first of the month means we have medical benefits through the month, and they’re covering May by reimbursing COBRA premiums. I know how hard this was and I’m encouraged by how this was handled.
My career started with the end of my marriage. I had a job with the VA hospital in my late teens. I worked as a tv extra. I got married and we had babies. I was their primary care giver. I spent much of my marriage as a stay at home mom.
In 2015, I worked at a part time job. I gave them my two weeks notice when I was offered a full time job. It fell through at the last minute. I was suddenly fully unemployed without any support as this was within months of the separation. Unemployment paid less than $30 a week.
My first full time job after my marriage was as a contracted employee in Hollywood. I was brought on to work on their backlog. I worked my butt off. It was supposed to be three or four months long. A month shy of the projected assignment time, I was told I had worked myself out of a job. They let me know ahead of time and gave me the option to work through the week, or leave early. I needed the money, so I chose to stay. There was no severance package, as I was a temp, and that was the whole point of my role. No commitment.
That week, I watched the company CEO walk into one of the most emotionally difficult meetings I’ve ever witnessed. He brought the company into a meeting. I walked by the glass doors on the way to the bathroom. I watched everyone’s body language as he announced layoffs. It was the entire marketing department and financial analysts.
My next job was at another company, as a temp in Burbank. I worked there through Summer and Fall and my layoff came just before Christmas. I didn’t get an explanation but later I heard rumors that I was an incorrigible flirt. I can’t see it, but those weren’t my people.
I had another temp assignment in Marina del Rey. As they were preparing to hold interviews to make my position permanent, teams flew in from New York. The company was restructuring. The position I was applying for was dissolved, at the same time my temp position was no longer being extended. I was out of work again.
This time I’m in a much better position. I’ve had the privilege of working for a company that did their best to put their people first. You might want to argue that I wasn’t put first. I’ve had a lot of heartwarming messages point this out to me. It was a business decision that focused on the greater good of the many people still working there, that I’ve grown to respect and genuinely care about. They made the right decision. They paid me well. Maybe too well to keep me.
I’ve also been passively job hunting anyway. I was feeling complacent and ready to stretch and grow. They paid me to leave a situation I was no longer excited to be in.
The days after a layoff are filled with activity for me. I wanted to point out some take aways and offer 9 steps to take or consider taking. This isn’t my first rodeo.
File for unemployment through your state’s Unemployment Insurance website. In this pandemic, there isn’t a week long waiting period, but typically there is. Your benefits start from when you apply, not when you stop working. I don’t recommend waiting several weeks to apply. Apply early. They’ll sort out the details after the application is in. The amount you receive depends on how much you were making when fully employed. The same can be said for disability, which you would apply for if you are out of work for medical reasons. Your application date is important.
Look at your exit documents. Make sure you fully understand what you’re being asked to sign. Enlist the support of a document and litigation or employment attorney if needed. I’m not saying the company is trying to hurt you, but they are trying to protect themselves.
Their documents and equipment are theirs, but there’s a good chance your personal things are also on your work computer. I downloaded paystubs and wrote a few rough drafts of blog posts I needed to save and delete. Go through documents, desktops and downloads. Make sure to have access to that irreplaceable document you received in your work inbox and downloaded. You won’t have access to work emails for too long. My access ended in minutes.
Start next steps on your medical insurance. My medical insurance was through my job, and with out that job, my next steps are to apply for COBRA insurance (The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). I have children and there are low cost insurance plans for children, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). If all else fails, you can also apply for Healthy Families or Medi-Cal/Medicaid, depending on where you live. I also have a court order saying that I’m not responsible for my children’s medical benefits, so I won’t qualify for these. Whatever you won’t qualify for immediately, you may qualify for as your income drops off. Reapply as your situation changes.
Get your finances in order. Contact any companies that will be expecting money from you. Student loan repayments can be adjusted. As someone that has done collections, it’s better to reach out to them, before they reach out to you. There is more flexibility they can offer and being proactive will make them happier to help you. You just made their job easier. Stop unnecessary expenses. I’m cancelling subscriptions, savoring my last wheel of brie for a while, and looking at my grocery budget closely. There are things that cost more out of convenience. Reconsider what is necessary. See my blog post on scarcity shopping.
Create your routine. As I’m embracing funemployment, I have a list of things to do, and I get to be flexible with how I go about it. Start your job hunt. Unemployment insurance will require this anyway. Keep careful notes of the places you’re applying to. I’m giving myself some time for self care and passion projects.
Decide what direction you want to go in. If you were working on someone else’s vision of their dreams, there’s a good chance you were underpaid to do a small fraction of what you’re capable of doing. List the things you love doing and see if you can find a career path that will meet you there. Is there a dream you had, that you once let go of? It’s time to pursue it.
Make job hunting a part time job. I spend at least four hours a day applying for jobs, connecting with people on LinkedIn, and learning something new. Some people do this at their desk, but there are apps that allow you to swipe from anywhere. In non pandemic times, I’ve swiped for jobs at the beach. You can create the space and habits you want. Make it enjoyable.
Prioritize self care. Throughout the process of being released and not knowing what is coming or how to handle it, stress is inevitable. Self beat up doesn’t have to be. There are supports in place and you’re not alone. Find reasons to smile throughout your day. Focus on something fun to do. Let your creativity run wild. Find pleasure in giving yourself permission to do nothing sometimes.
Resources:
Visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) for more information or to apply for these programs.
You can also apply for Medicaid by contacting your state Medicaid office and learn more about the CHIP program in your state by calling 1-877-KIDS-NOW (543-7669) or visiting insurekidsnow.gov.