Laid off of job for the first time in my life (collect, file)

[J-Dean]

I am very upset and anxious.

Yesterday after getting my paycheck, I was called into the owern's office and told that I was being laid off and don't need to come back to work.

I have never been fired or laid off from a job before in my 45 years of lifetime. I don't know how I am going to support my wife and child.

I was told they would call me next week to get my last paycheck and sign some paperwork.

I don't know how to even file for unemployment since I have never had to before and I don't understand what paperwork they need me to sign.

If anyone can offer me some guidance or support, I would really be grateful. We live in NY and my wife is disabled and on disability and child too small to work.

[C.C]

Originally Posted by J-Dean

I am very upset and anxious.

Yesterday after getting my paycheck, I was called into the owern's office and told that I was being laid off and don't need to come back to work.

I have never been fired or laid off from a job before in my 45 years of lifetime. I don't know how I am going to support my wife and child.

I was told they would call me next week to get my last paycheck and sign some paperwork.

I don't know how to even file for unemployment since I have never had to before and I don't understand what paperwork they need me to sign.

If anyone can offer me some guidance or support, I would really be grateful. We live in NY and my wife is disabled and on disability and child too small to work.

Since you said "owner", I would be very careful about what you sign. It may delay that last paycheck, but I would have them mail me the paperwork so I have plenty of time to read it and possibly get legal advice if anything looks suspicious. Some will be perfectly legit, like acknowledging your COBRA rights, but others could affect things like your unemployment eligibility, e.g. if you say you're quitting voluntarily. They may even offer some severance in exchange, but don't assume they have your best interest at heart...

[Java378]

wow.

[tomkat26]

Originally Posted by J-Dean

I am very upset and anxious.

Yesterday after getting my paycheck, I was called into the owern's office and told that I was being laid off and don't need to come back to work.

I have never been fired or laid off from a job before in my 45 years of lifetime. I don't know how I am going to support my wife and child.

I was told they would call me next week to get my last paycheck and sign some paperwork.

I don't know how to even file for unemployment since I have never had to before and I don't understand what paperwork they need me to sign.

If anyone can offer me some guidance or support, I would really be grateful. We live in NY and my wife is disabled and on disability and child too small to work.

Don't worry there are plenty of people on these forums you will help you get though this if you have any questions.

Stuff like this happens to the best of us, so you and your family will be alright.

[J-Dean]

I have never been on unemployment before and when I was told I was being laid off, I was told that I will get 2 weeks severance and that I can collect unemployment. Also, I was told that if it's any consolation, I was one of four to be laid off.

Now, I'm even more worried because I can't just find a job so quickly. I have been looking online at job boards all day today but haven't gotten any responses so far.

Originally Posted by C.C

Since you said "owner", I would be very careful about what you sign. It may delay that last paycheck, but I would have them mail me the paperwork so I have plenty of time to read it and possibly get legal advice if anything looks suspicious. Some will be perfectly legit, like acknowledging your COBRA rights, but others could affect things like your unemployment eligibility, e.g. if you say you're quitting voluntarily. They may even offer some severance in exchange, but don't assume they have your best interest at heart...

[frizzo100]

Originally Posted by J-Dean

I have never been on unemployment before and when I was told I was being laid off, I was told that I will get 2 weeks severance and that I can collect unemployment. Also, I was told that if it's any consolation, I was one of four to be laid off.

Now, I'm even more worried because I can't just find a job so quickly. I have been looking online at job boards all day today but haven't gotten any responses so far.

Wow!! You are out of touch with reality. The odds of somebody responding to you in one day is almost impossible even in good times. It sure as hell isn't going to happen in this economy. You mean to tell me you have not been exposed to one news story about people who have been unemployed for years?

I hope the best for you, but you need to be a little more realistic in your expectations. Even people who are highly skilled and have many years of experience are having a tough time finding work.

[J-Dean]

Of course I see the news and could only imagine the horror but it's a whole other scenario when it's happening to you.

If you can't offer any real advice, myob.

Originally Posted by frizzo100

Wow!! You are out of touch with reality. The odds of somebody responding to you in one day is almost impossible even in good times. It sure as hell isn't going to happen in this economy. You mean to tell me you have not been exposed to one news story about people who have been unemployed for years?

I hope the best for you, but you need to be a little more realistic in your expectations. Even people who are highly skilled and have many years of experience are having a tough time finding work.

[frizzo100]

Originally Posted by J-Dean

Of course I see the news and could only imagine the horror but it's a whole other scenario when it's happening to you.

If you can't offer any real advice, myob.

You made it everybody's business when you decided to post your problems on a public forum.

[J-Dean]

Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words.

Originally Posted by tomkat26

Don't worry there are plenty of people on these forums you will help you get though this if you have any questions.

Stuff like this happens to the best of us, so you and your family will be alright.

[jkcoop]

My husband was laid off for the first time ever in the summer of 2009. It's one of those experiences that will forever change your perception for sure.

I don't know how things work in your state. My husband was able to do all the paperwork and filing for unemployment online. It was actually a very simple process.

Now the rest of it....

I don't know what industry you are in - all are different.

My husband did some contract work for a while and then took a contract last summer that was contract to hire. A month after starting they reorganized the whole company. Who he worked with totally changed. The "to hire" part was up in the air, but up until the last day of the contract, they indicated that it would be extended. So at the beginning of December when they chose not to, it was a blow. And we were not able to get any unemployment at that point.

My husband is in IT. The reality for that was - apply and you might get an email of interest a week later. There is no way he'd ever get one the same day. If 2 weeks went by and he heard nothing, then he knew to not expect to. They are inundated with resumes. The way to make yours stand out is the cover letter - putting key words in there to make them interested in you.

What we kept saying was it's a numbers game. Apply for a ton - hope you get one nibble. In IT, the cycle of interviewing can take weeks and weeks.

Now on a good note. He got a job offer this week. So it took him 2 months - a good chunk of that being a waste of a few weeks because of the holidays.

I know what you are going through - that initial shock and fear of what you will do. I will tell you that one good thing that came out of all of this for us - we got our expenses down so low, that now with the job, we'll be able to really sock some money away. Don't wait until you are desperate to start looking at what you can cut.

Wish you all the luck.