USHomePay.com – Job Loss Protection

Can You Survive Layoffs?

For many American workers, it is not about avoiding an unemployment period. No, it is all about surviing a layoff! Experts weigh in, and here are some of the top tips for you to consider.

• Layoffs are almost never the employees fault, so you must get over that thought! Most of the time, workers get laid off because there were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Please do not waste time too much time analyzing reasons you got laid off. Just pick yourself up, and move on.You will also need emotional support during this trying time. Do not neglect your family and friends, and this is a great time to have people over for an affordable pot luck meal with TV movies!
• Examine your income and expenses. How long can you survive without a paycheck?If you have an emergency fund stashed away, good for you! Your challenge will be to list and prioritize your bills. What needs to get paid on time, and what can be delayed. Also decide what you can do without. It is no fund to lower your standard of living, but perhaps gym memberships and dining out can be deferred for a few months.If you have no emergency fund, join the crowd. This is a good time to, not only evaluate your bills, but also figure out how you can raise some cash to pay the highest priority bills, like your mortgage, food, and utilities, until you can make an income again. We have some ideas at Simple Work!
• Can you keep your health insurance plan? Look into options for unemployment health insurance plans because this is no time to neglect your medical needs. You may have the option of accepting a COBRA extension, or you may need to look into COBRA health insurance alternatives.
• What do you need to get another job?If you are still at work, make sure you keep all of your contact information someplace where you won’t get locked out if you do lose your job. Your network of business associates and friends are the best place to get a job, and not the huge anonomous job boards.

  Would a little bit of job training make it easier to find a job? Consider a computer or writing class to increase your skills. And even though you may want a permanant job, a temp. job can have some great benefits. For one thing, temp jobs often lead to real job offers! What better way to show an employer and coworkers that you are a great employee than by showing them?

  Even if the job really is temporary, you may develop a variety of skills, and it will look good that you were making a good use of your time, even if you had to accept underemployment.  If your field does not lend itself to temporary jobs, you may be surprised by the variety of freelance jobs you can find! In fact, many people started freelancing during unemployment, and they liked it so much, they forgot to seek a real job!