Single Mom. 50 years old. Just laidoff due to job elimination. What should I do?
My Boomer Tips
OK. This really sucks. I am still in shock. Myself and 6 others in my dept. were told yesterday that due to budget cutbacks etc., that our positions had been eliminated. We were also told that 100 more employees will lose their jobs by years end as well.
I had been with the company for 11 years. Had a great paying position as an IT Appl Dev Specialist. Just turned 50 and was looking forward to retirement. I will lose my health insurance and my pension. I think this is very, very unfair. I have 60 days to find another job either inside the company or out. If I don't find a job that pays at least 80% of what I make now then the company will give me severance pay.
One question I have right now is:
Can I get unemployment pay along with my severance pay? I live in Ohio. If so, how long and how much?
Who is going to hire a 50 year old woman?
This is just so not right. I was a dedicated, hard working employee.
Unemp pay is from your state and city. Severance pay is from your co. You can get both.
For the Unemp pay you have to sign up for it asap after being terminated. Usually they give you 2 to 6 months to find something else, and be prepared to report your success of finding a new job or lack of one. It will be a small amount that you can collect every week, depending on ur states rules.
Google Unemployment compensation State of OHIO
Applic dev specialist…how about coming up with a program or an enhancement to a program that you may be able to market on your own.
First, sorry about your job that really sucks. Second, I would call your local unemployment office and ask them for sure. I also found another question that was posted on here before that may be able to help you, I will post it below. You will find another job, just keep applying to all the places you can. And remember, keep your head up.
So sorry you have to face this problem. This is one of the ways that American businesses are becoming very inhumane. Upper level managers making millions of $ think nothing of terminating lower level employees due to budget cutbacks — bet the big buck guys don’t get eliminated or a cut in pay. It all makes me very angry. Half the time, they end up hiring to fill a good part of these positions they are now eliminating because they can’t efficiently run the company without the employees.
GET VERY BUSY trying to find another job within the company. You have 11 years on your pension – you can never replace these at a new company. Also, they may let you keep your current salary in the new position. Canvass everyone you have worked with and ask for possible openings. Enlist help anywhere and anyway you can. Do this quietly, don’t let your coworkers in on your plans (save these for close friends and family). Personally visit with those who might be able to help you and discuss your single mom status.
If you can get a spot with the company, when they realize they have to increase staff to get the job done, you will be at hand to take back your old job.
If they gave you 60 days notice, I presume you will have to work for the next 60 days. So, you cannot file for unemployment until you are no longer on the company payroll. You cannot draw a paycheck and unemployment at the same time.
If you don’t get a job, you are entitled to severance pay and unemployment at the same time.
Life just isn’t fair sometimes. But don’t think you can’t find another job. At 50 you still have a lot of years left to work, and most employers will recognize that the years you have left are longer than most people stay in the same IT job – and you might even have an advantage, since they’ll think you’re more likely to stay, given your job history, than someone younger might be. If your skills are current, you’ve still got a good shot at finding something. With a little luck, something might even turn up within the company, but if they are cutting back that much, they might not be the best bet for the future.
As to unemployment, normally it doesn’t kick in until after the severance period, but apply right away anyhow. Unemployment generally lasts 26 weeks. Amounts vary, but it’s often something like half of what you were making. You’d have to talk to the u.c. people to find out what you’d get. The Ohio website has a lot of info at http://unemployment.ohio.gov/
Good luck.
be prepare to change careers, you can collect unemployment for at least two years while being retrain. check with the edd office in your area. the health care industry is booming. don’t worry about your age, they will take you anyways. the money and hours are not that bad. LVN is about a 2 year program, starts @ 18.00 hr.
You are right, this is a difficult situation. Unfortunately, it isn’t an unusual one.
Get the severance agreement in writing. Because you are over 40, and because this is a group termination, you are entitled to receive a list of titles for positions which were eliminated and those which were not, as well as they ages of the incumbents (so you can see if all of the 50+ employees were let go, for example.) You should also receive a waiver in exchange for severance, which you will have 45 days to decide whether to sign.
If your severance is "payroll continuation", you cannot claim UI at the same time. If it is "pay in lieu of notice", you CAN claim UI. Check with your HR person to determine which is the case; I suspect it is pay in lieu since it would appear they have triggered the WARN Act and are providing 60 days’ notification.
Finally, 50 is NOT old, and being a single parent is tough (I know) but not a huge job-seeking handicap. There are resources out there which can help you (email me and I’ll send you some privately.) Check with your county’s Workforce Investment Board – they typically have lots of resoruces for laid off workers. Start networking (this is not the time to be proud – tell EVERYONE that you need to find a job!) Check monster, careerbuilder, dice (for IT folks.)
Channel that shock and fear into taking some positive steps for your future, and you will feel better – I promise. There are jobs out there for ‘dedicated, hard working employees" – you just need to be aggressive about finding them.
Best of luck.
I’m sorry to hear this. One thing that bothers me is you say 11 people have been told your positions are being eliminated and by the end of the year 100 more people will lose their job………I wouldn’t try to stay with this company because of this and the possibility of it happening on down the line. Doesn’t sound promising staying with this company if ya know what I mean.
OK, focus,
I am 53 myself and was in a similar position myself.
1- take the "free" money.
2- take time to smell the roses.
3- at age 50, there is all kinds of govt help, of all kinds, it depends what you want to take advantage of (I am NOT referring to the social service depts)
Go to the AARP home page, they have a link to the over 50′s job market. you may have to relocate, or another position, but there are jobs out there.
Go to your local unemployment office (you do not have to be unemployed) Make friends with a counselor, they have valuable information. (just sometimes, they don’t want to share it)
There is also vocational rehab, Depression because of anything, (age, loss of job, too many bills, etc—) is qualifying for this program. they pay for transportation, school, child care, etc—. Sometimes you are better qualified for higher positions because of this training.
I have been through this, but for me it was 31 years with the same company, I was only 50 years and not ready to give it up. I now have a better paying position, I did have to relocate, but I am working. Good luck, write if you need more info. Bill