Just got laid off

[teeny5]

Just found out that my position was eliminated at my job. Been waiting nearly a month to find out...the company had notified us at the beginning of January that there would be cuts. I feel the elimination process has been a joke with little regard to the employees and their performance...but that is a whole other rant.

I am both relived as well as sad. Relieved because I think the job was getting too difficult for me physically and sounds like things would only get harder. Sad because of knowing I will no longer be working with some great friends.

I have a couple of options so far of what I can do. I am able to apply for another open position at this company or take the severance package and be on my way.

My dilemma lies in whether or not to continue with this company. I have been stressed and unhappy with many things over the last couple of years...feeling that I was putting way more into my job than I was getting back from it.

I am scared to be unemployed and what that will do to my family's finances. I have run the numbers and I think we will be ok, but the biggest issue is of course the medical insurance. My company will pay for 3 months of my medical insurance so I do have time to figure things out. My husband's job does not have an insurance option so we will need to buy individual plans. I am worried that the cost will be what forces me back to work. I would rather work part time if at all.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any tips. I live in Southern California and currently have Kaiser insurance that has been amazing. I do sell Avon on the side and believe I can get insurance through them...again the cost I think will be substantial.

Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I am just still in shock over losing my job when I have always been a top performer...not sure I would want to continue to work for a company who clearly did not appreciate my contributions enough to keep me employed.

 

[ronroush7]

I am sorry for the loss of your job.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Oh my goodness, Teeny, I'm so sorry to hear it. I might be in a similar situation myself - as of yesterday there have been some shakeups at work and we're being absorbed by another part of the company, and all we've really been told is that we'll know more after April 1st (sounds like a bad joke, ugh). So I may or may not lose my job in the near future, but I think either way some big changes are coming. And my husband also isn't offered insurance at his work - he's a chef - so I may also be faced with a similar dilemma in the near future. (My hubby is applying for other jobs as his hours had recently been cut at work anyway, so I'm really hoping he can find something that does offer insurance, that would take away some of my worries.)

I don't have any advice for you as I am not sure what I will do myself or what is going to happen for me, but you definitely have my empathy and support. I'm going to tag Jennifer as I know she lives in California and might be able to help more than I'm able to. I really hope you can figure out a good plan of action for yourself. Please keep me posted on what you decide to do, and I'll let you know what happens on my end too. Big hugs to you!

 

[Ricky_V]

Try for another job within your company especially since you are a top performer. Better to keep your health insurance. You can always get a severance package if not selected for other jobs and you can always look for another down the line. Better to stay employed.

 

[Jennifer]

I'm sorry to hear that teeny5.

Luckily you're in California so I don't think you'll ever go without insurance. The cost of a chronic illness is huge so often times the most important thing is to keep your insurance if possible. If you worked less I wonder if you would qualify for Medicaid (I imagine why you or your husband aren't on it already is because of the amount of money you make). I'm also not sure what's going to happen with Medicaid in the future even if you were already considered disabled. It all feels up in the air right now but again we're in California and I believe the governor mentioned keeping the benefits even if the ACA is repealed. We'll have to see though.

Have you looked into unemployment at all? You can continue to receive payments from them for around ~a year. Things could have changed but it's more than a few months and may give you more time to figure something out or find another job. If possible also talk to your local Social Services office to see what other options (including information about health insurance) may be available to you.

 

[teeny5]

Thank you for all your nice words! I have decided to take the severance package. All in all it is the better choice. I will have COBRA insurance and a few months of pay so I feel a lot better...at least I know I have time to look. I found out that there are more things on the horizon with the company and potentially more layoffs, so even if i was kept this time I could go through it again.

I am trying not to be bitter about it all and really just believe that things happen for a reason. Maybe this is a good turning point in my career. I will be able to collect unemployment as well. I guess they will give me more packets as my end date gets closer.

Change sucks, but I have to believe it is for the better.