If you’re currently staring at your own pink slip—or anticipating one in the near future—you can take a bit of comfort in knowing that you’re not the only person in this situation. Start by taking a deep breath, getting yourself together, and looking at your situation. If you’re like most people, you have a lot of questions for your employer. Are you eligible for unemployment? Can you appeal? What happens if you have been wrongfully discharged? What do you say in your cover letters and job interviews? Here’s what you need to know about your employee rights, your financial options, and your best path forward when you are fired or otherwise terminated from employment. This step-by-step list tells you what you need to know when you have been fired from your job—and what to focus on today, tomorrow, and so on. You should inquire about the following:
When you’ll receive your last paycheck.Pay for unused sick leave or vacation.Severance pay—if the company is offering you a package.How to continue health insurance coverage through COBRA or a health insurance marketplace plan.The status of any other employee benefits you are entitled to.What will happen to your pension plan, retirement account, or 401(k).Eligibility for unemployment benefits.
If you’re like the majority of workers, these probably don’t apply to you—in which case, your employer is free to terminate you on the spot. It’s important to figure out whether you were fired for cause—as opposed to being laid off—because it may determine whether you’re eligible for unemployment. Here’s how to handle being terminated for cause. Here’s how to tell if you were wrongfully terminated—and what you can do about it. That makes for great drama, but if you try to replicate it in real life, you’ll notice that it’s a lot less satisfying without the soundtrack and flattering lights.
