#layoff #communication #jobsecurity #seekinganswers #lostjob #vacationwoes
I recently got back from vacation outside of the US where I had no cell service for 10 days. When I arrived back in the country my phone was flooded with messages from coworkers asking me “what happened.” Obviously, I was very confused, but after some messaging back and forth, I found out that 49 people across the company were laid off, and I was announced as one of them. I had no notice that it had even happened by HR or my management team.
## Feeling Lost and Abandoned 🙁
My job has some decent security measures, so my emails and Microsoft Teams were already shut down by the time I landed and tried to log into them. I have been struggling to get a hold of anyone for further information. I was finally able to get a hold of my manager’s personal number, and when I messaged him asking for information, he just told me that he had no information to provide and that I should have received a phone call. When I told him I had not, most likely due to me being out of the country, he told me he would “look into it.”
### Solutions to Navigate Through the Uncertainty 🧭
1. **Reach Out to HR**: Your HR department should be your first point of contact in these situations. Try to get in touch with them through email or phone to clarify the details of your layoff and seek any available assistance or resources.
2. **Network with Colleagues**: Reach out to your former colleagues who may have more information about the layoff or any upcoming opportunities within the company or elsewhere.
3. **Update Your Resume and LinkedIn**: Start updating your resume and LinkedIn profile to reflect your recent job status. This can help potential employers know you are actively seeking new opportunities.
4. **Consider Legal Support**: If you feel you were unfairly treated during the layoff process, consider seeking legal advice to understand your rights and options moving forward.
5. **Stay Positive and Keep Searching**: Remember that losing a job is not the end of your career. Stay positive, keep networking, and actively search for new job opportunities that align with your skills and interests.
## Closing Thoughts 💭
Dealing with a sudden layoff while on vacation can be stressful and overwhelming. It is essential to stay calm, reach out to the right individuals for information and support, and start planning your next steps towards finding a new job. Take this as an opportunity to reassess your career goals and explore new possibilities that might lead you to a more fulfilling work experience. Remember that setbacks can be the stepping stones to greater opportunities ahead. Stay strong and keep moving forward! 🚀
Call an employment lawyer.
Go to work, because you have not been notified that you were laid off
Everybody else here is jumping the gun. You have not been notified of termination by the company, therefore you haven’t been terminated yet. Show up at work when you were expected to. It’s likely that you will be terminated when you go, but it’s another day’s pay and a chance to get the details that you need.
Usually you go to your HR, if you are a remote worker, during the hiring process HR usually sends emails to your personal email address, you should have saved those to archive/backup. One of the documents should be the employee manual type document with HR contact info. Use those emails to contact HR.
Once you apply for unemployment you’re sure to hear from them, they are likely to fight you tooth and nail to prevent it.
Ask any one of the many former teammates that reached out to you for the phone number for your HRBP so you can follow up with HR directly.
Your manager might have been laid off too, reach out to co-workers. LinkedIn is generally a good start.
I’d begin by calling some coworkers to find out if anyone you know personally was laid off as you might be able to get some details from them.
You need to be calling HR until they respond. You might also call your managers manager if you know them.
I’m sorry to hear about your layoff.
You should reach out to your HR department if you have questions about severance, your benefits, final paycheck, PTO, etc. They handle all those details. Also apply for unemployment benefits of course.
What exactly is your concern right now? Did they send you your final paycheck and PTO payouts?
Otherwise you should be focused on polishing the resume and looking for a new job.