Getting a pink slip can be devastating on multiple levels. Particularly in the case of wrongful termination, it is natural to feel targeted and slighted. There are also many practical issues related to losing your job, such as managing to pay your bills.
Whether your company fired you for justified reasons or wrongful ones, it is paramount to have a plan in place. According to Glassdoor, fired individuals should negotiate the terms of their departure and also see if they have eligibility for unemployment.
Negotiating departure terms
Even if you are on hostile terms with your employer, this is not the time to back away from the negotiating table. In a layoff situation, you may be able to negotiate a severance package, though this is often not the case if your company fires you “for cause.”
You may also want to include your health care package as part of the negotiations if you rely on your employer for this. You should negotiate prior to signing any sort of document, including non-disclosure agreements. This is also the time to contact a lawyer if you believe you have a wrongful termination case.
Unemployment
You must know whether the company is firing you or laying you off prior to applying for unemployment benefits. If the firing is “for cause” issue, like lying or failing a drug test, it is likely you will not qualify for unemployment right away. However, you may after a period of time. However, layoffs, company cutbacks and being a “poor fit” for the job typically means that you have unemployment eligibility.
Getting fired can be traumatic, but handling the severance process properly can reduce the stress.
