3 Points You Should Negotiate When You Are Losing Your Job
Summary:
Do you know what to ask for when you face a job loss? These 3 points can be negotiated at this difficult time.
Your employer has seen a great deal of change and turmoil recently. There’s talk of layoffs, and you’re afraid you’ll be the next. As you receive your pink slip, make sure you ask these three questions if you have been an excellent employee and the layoff is not due to anything you did:
1. Ask for a Letter of Reference:
You can use this to help you land that new job because it will be beneficial to have a letter that praises you and your accomplishments.
This will show future employers that your termination was a business decision and not because of any wrongdoing on your part. Most people forget to ask about this, and it is difficult to try to go back later and ask for one.
2. Ask about severance pay:
You are not automatically guaranteed this unless it was stipulated in your employment contract when you were hired. Typically, one week of severance is given for each year of service to the company, but this can be negotiable.
And remember to let them know, especially if you’ve just completed a significant project, received an honor, or accomplished a significant objective. It may buy you another week of severance pay they weren’t planning on giving.
3. Are you entitled to unused vacation pay?
In most cases, the answer is no. Some businesses have a use it or lose it policy, while others let you carry over your unused time from one year to the next.
Most companies will explain their rules in the employee handbook, but asking to be paid for your unused vacation pay just may earn you a few extra dollars you could use right now.
You may not get any severance or vacation pay, and you especially won’t if you don’t ask for it. Remember that your supervisor is also going through a lot, therefore they may grant you more than was originally anticipated.
Unless you ask, you’ll never know, and their worst possible response is no. Likely, you won’t get another chance to ask these questions if the occasion passes. Knowing ahead of time what to ask for may give you the confidence to speak up for yourself at this difficult time. Good luck!
