Reported unemployment isn’t everything. Everyone seems to have a different definition for unemployment and how that number is reached. For states issuing checks it is the number of people reporting claims for unemployment insurance checks. For others it represents the number of jobs lost. Read More About the Statistics
Stories from ‘For the Downsized’
Unemployment statistics, just another ill defined value
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009Surviving a Layoff
Friday, April 10th, 2009So you just got downsized. Depending on who you talk to, it was going to happen to 4-12% of us in this economy. That’s quite a few people. Here’s what it’s doing and what you’ll need to know as you approach finding a new job. Read our Keys to Surviving your Layoff
How to SEO Your Resume
Friday, April 10th, 2009Site Review: Glassdoor.com - A look inside
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
For those with a job and for those in the process of negotiating a salary, Glassdoor.com provides a look inside companies and provides a view in to current salary and employee satisfaction. Glassdoor was established in 2007 to provide a community built for users to anonomously share information about their respective workplaces for the benefit of the whole. Users register and provide information on their workplace and then receive access to collected information about other companies shared by other users. Read more about Glassdoor
10 Ways To Delegate More Effectively
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
As entrepreneurs it falls on the individual to run all aspects of the business. For most this is a wider range of skills and talents than what is at the core of each person’s business. However, the rest of the elements that are required to run a business are not less important. Often a business owner will take on the back office tasks in a effort to save money and retain control over the business that they are incubating. Read the full article here
To the recently downsized
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009The good news (or bad) for you is that you’re not alone. For the first quarter of 2009 (only Jan & Feb) Forbes reported over 180,000 layoffs at the 500 largest companies in the United States.We’re talking about jobs in nearly every sector of US productivity possible. Read more about possibilities
The Fast Track to Resume Writing
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009One of the greater goals of our services is to assist the recently downsized or otherwise laid off to find jobs that meet the needs and career goals of our readers. Of these nothing can be more valuable than a well crafted resume and a well though out cover letter letting a potential employer see your experience and enthusiasm for a job that you’re applying for. Read more about quickly polishing your resume
Tracking the Cisco News for Layoffs
Monday, March 16th, 2009Cisco, a tech company based in San Jose California, completed a wave of layoffs at the end of February 2009 totaling approximately 2000 of the 65,000 employees worldwide, 250 of which were at the headquarters. (more…)
A guide to a “Reduction in Force” action in Corporate America
Monday, March 16th, 2009Corporate speak for a layoff is a Reduction in Force action (RIF). We just call it a layoff. In December of 2008, the Society of Human Resource Management received word from participating organizations that roughly 60% were considering layoffs in 2009.
For employees at risk of being laid off or downsized in this economy:
- It’s important to know whether or not your employment is categorized as “at-will”. If so, your employer likely has the right to terminate your position or eliminate you to protect their financial position during a down economy.
- Look at what options are being offered. (e.g. COBRA Health insurance benefits, a buyout of your position, state unemployment benefits, your own supplemental unemployment benefits)
- Note that a layoff cannot be cover for an employer firing you. This falls under wrongful termination. If you feel as though this is the case you should seek legal advice.
- Take a look at the WARN Act, which is a US labor law or an equivalent state law which covers the following.
Enacted in 1989 the WARN Act was written to protect employees from the effects of mass layoffs. By extension this act also protected communities which derived a bulk of their local economy from a single industry or a few large local employers. At the heart of the act, employers with 100 or more employees in the event of mass layoffs a sixty day notice is required. During that time, even if furloughed or asked not to come in to work, the employer must continue to pay benefits and wages for the entire period. Though this does not apply to workers who find a new job within that period. The entire act is obviously longer and provides specific conditions under which you may or may not be covered. For more information visit Wikipedia which has extensive coverage of this item.
Potential Problem areas for those doing the downsizing:
- If instituting a furlough program, salaried exempt employees can be forced to use accrued vacation time but cannot be paid for less than a full work week if they work any time in a work week.
- If there is a collective bargaining agreement in place, it will need to be consulted to ensure that any changes are in compliance with it.
Sources:
- North Bay Business Journal (CA)
- Wikipedia.org - (WARN Act)
The state of our union
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009As published on bloomberg.com, on 3/10/2009, we are faced with a national economic freefall that is pulling the rest of the world in with us. Many powerful and previously successful companies who have been leaders in their respective industries are coming in to very serious harsh realities this year. (more…)