For whatever the reason, you may be anticipating a job loss or layoff. In normal times, there are business reasons for layoffs and performance reasons for cuts. During a pandemic or economic downturn, it’s wise to be prepared for the possibility… even if your job is stable for now.
If you have concerns or are notified that your employment is ending, it is helpful to be prepared with questions to ask. You will likely be in shock and forget many of these if caught off guard. Even if you recall a few of them, you will be better prepared than many people are.
Questions to Ask
- What is my last date of employment? You want to know your last date for your future applications as well as for unemployment purposes. If you are ending immediately, you want to be clear about the process of gathering your personal belongings or saying goodbye to coworkers. If you will be working for the coming days/weeks you want to know what the expectations are during that time in terms of communicating with external customers, wrapping up projects, and transferring your workload.
- Will I be provided any severance? You want to be clear on what this looks like so that you can plan financially and so that you understand if/when unemployment benefits eligibility would begin.
- When do I get my last paycheck and what will be included? This may vary by state law, so make sure you understand when to expect this and whether you will get a live check or direct deposit. You also want to be clear about vacation time/PTO payouts and ask for clarification if needed.
- When will my benefits coverage end? How will I get information about COBRA? There is variety in how companies handle separation and benefits end date, so be sure you are clear on this so you can plan any medical visits or procedures while you have coverage.
- What happens with… If you have any additional benefits such as a company cell phone, computer, or car, you want to understand how those will be handled also.
- How do I verify that you have my correct address and contact information or update it if there are changes? If you have moved or might be moving, you want to be sure that your address is correct for the benefits information or resources they mail. You also want to be sure that your W-2 gets to you.
- Who can be contacted to provide verification of employment and references? You want the name, title, phone, and email.
- What information will be provided for a reference check or verification? Will this only be dates of employment and position, or will they discuss compensation, performance, and reason for leaving? (Note that a verification of employment request for a mortgage is different than a reference check by a potential employer).
- What will be communicated to clients/vendors/those outside the company? May I communicate with them directly? If you work with clients or people outside the company, you want to know what information they will be provided. Your company may address details about expectations surrounding contact with those outside the company. With LinkedIn and other ways to connect, you want to be sure to handle yourself professionally and ethically.
- Would I be eligible for rehire in the future, and what will my reason for leaving be listed as? Rehire status should align with your reason for leaving. A layoff should mean that you are eligible for rehire and unemployment benefits. If you are terminated/fired, you want to address this because this could impact your eligibility to receive unemployment benefits. You also want to know what will be communicated during reference checks or verification of employment calls.
- Can you provide a letter verifying my employment and reason for leaving? This can save you some headache in the future for employment verification and also for unemployment. If the reason for leaving is a concern, ask for verification of dates and position only.
- What services are provided to help me with my job search? Depending on your company, your role and the situation, your employer may provide you with outplacement or career coaching services. These benefits can help you better prepare for your search so you can land a new role more quickly and negotiate a higher salary. If they are not already planning to provide services, you can ask if they would consider providing services or providing reimbursement for services you select to help with resume writing and career coaching.
- Who is the best contact for any questions I may have? You will have questions that come up, so be sure that you have the name, phone number and email of a person that can help you. If you remember nothing else, make sure you ask this one. That way you can circle back and ask all the questions you overlooked.
You may have already been notified of your job loss and sat in complete shock. It’s not too late.
If you were notified of a layoff and sat in shock without saying a word, it’s not too late. Review any information you were provided. Figure out which questions remain, and prepare a list. Call your contact person and follow up with your questions. If you are not able to reach them and do not hear back promptly, then send an email to schedule a call. If you still do not hear back, then follow up with your questions via email, or if you are contacting your supervisor then reach out to Human Resources. They should be able to respond to all of these questions for you.
These questions will help you develop a clear picture for wrapping up this chapter of your career. From here forward, you start a new chapter. It may feel uncomfortable right now, but so many clients tell me that they end up in a better situation after a layoff.
Wishing you success and abundance,
Imisa
If you need support in your career, you can use the link below to request a Discovery Call
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