Posts Tagged ‘laid-off’

Career Transition: Changing Jobs

February 14th, 2012

By Thelma Zirkelbach

Coping with transition isn’t for sissies.  Changing jobs can be tough, and I believe you should think hard before you make a move.  Every workplace has its problems.  Will you simply be exchanging one set of problems for another?  Will a new position make financial sense, emotional sense, career sense?  What will you give up and will that balance what you get?  Does the new position represent a challenge that you’re ready to tackle?

Of course, sometimes you have no choice.  You’re laid off,  or your company goes out of business.  Making a lateral move to a position that requires the skill set you already have might be a possibility.  When my business partner and I closed our speech pathology practice, our office manager, who’d been with us for 19 years, took a similar position in a new practice opened by some speech pathologists she’d met through our office.  She’s a people person who is great at her job and is probably one of the most knowledgeable people in the city about what’s going on in the profession.

Are you considering a career change as opposed to a job change?  Maybe you’ve reached » Read more: Career Transition: Changing Jobs

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Staying Motivated: How to Cope with Losing Your Job in This Economy

June 28th, 2010

By Bethany North

Bethany NorthThe bottom line is that there is nothing fun about losing your job, but it doesn’t have to derail your life. With the current state of the economy in the past several years, job loss has become more common than ever, so it may be comforting to know that you are not alone.

To begin with, one of the first areas to deal with after losing a job is your emotions. You may be experiencing some serious anxiety about your monthly finances, providing for your family, or even having your career and dreams shattered. It is important to remember that you can bounce back so even if you were laid off from your career or job, there are still new opportunities available to you!

This is where it is highly important to be creative. Have you tried taking what you do online? The Internet has overtaken the world, so you better believe that any and every opportunity is available to you on the web. If you were a schoolteacher that was laid off (which is quite common these days), you can teach online, giving you the opportunity to reach the greater United States with increasing job opportunities. Even if you were a chef at a restaurant, you can still take your skills to the Internet by advertising yourself for private parties or even writing articles or blogs about cooking and culinary tips. » Read more: Staying Motivated: How to Cope with Losing Your Job in This Economy

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Career Tips: Severance Agreements

May 21st, 2010
What to Think About Before You Sign One, and
Why You Might be Able to Get One Even if it Isn’t Offered

By Donna Ballman, P.A. Employment Law

Donna BallmanWhen I represent terminated employees, many of them have been presented with severance agreements that they ask me to review for them.   Many more have not been offered severance, but may be able to receive it if they know how to ask.  What should you do if you’ve been fired, laid off, or made redundant, before you sign a severance agreement?  And what should you do if severance is not offered?  Here are some things to consider.

  1. If severance is offered, make sure an attorney reviews the agreement. You may be giving up rights you have not considered, or may be agreeing to something that will cost you more than the amount of severance.
  2. Do you have a pension? How is it dealt with in the agreement?  Many agreements contain releases that include releases under ERISA, which is the law that governs pensions.  Make sure you are not accidentally giving up your pension rights.  If you had an employer-matched 401 and are not vested, you are probably giving up the employer contribution to your 401. » Read more: Career Tips: Severance Agreements

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