It was out of the blue as these things often are, but I’ve been looking for something else for some time now. I was offered a position (demotion) in another store that I really don’t want to take. It’s going back on the sales floor and selling cars again. In this economy, I fear that would just be delaying the inevitable. The other store is also almost an hour drive in heavy traffic, and they aren’t selling much either.
I know what my decision needs to be. I should show up for work at the other store Monday morning because at the very least, I’ll keep my healthcare benefits. If I don’t take it, then I can go ahead and try to find something that I would be happier with. Trouble is, there isn’t much of that to go around either. I’ve veen looking, remember?
Conflicted now. This would have been easier if I had not been given a choice. What to do, what to do? Add to that the fact that I won’t be getting more than $200-300 for the entire last months worth of work and it’s not suprising that I’m a little stressed right now.
I vote for taking the new job, but kicking your search for other opportunities into high gear.
Do your research about what you’re looking at in unemployment benefits, severance, and COBRA costs for healthcare (if any of that would apply) if you don’t take it, but I think my advice will still stand.
Take the demotion - a couple more months with a paycheck and health insurance is nothing to sneeze at, even if it is delaying the inevitable. Meanwhile, ramp up the search for alternatives, but realistically, in this economy, finding another job will be tough.
Ah, Hockey Monkey, that sucks. I’d vote for taking the demotion, too, though, however much you don’t really want to. Visit the job-seekers thread to see all the horror stories! Keep the benefits and moola coming in as long as you can.
There is no guarantee of a paycheck with the offered position. It’s 100% commission too. The only benefit would be the continuation of healthcare coverage. I had all major stuff taken care of this year already, just in case. The drive is nothing to sneeze at because I’m currently leasing my vehicle and over mileage charges could be huge. Here’s another kicker: one of the people I would be reporting to if I go there tried to get me to sleep with him a couple of years ago when we went to training together. He’s still very flirty with me and I think that would be very awkward.
I am going to speak with the HR person tomorrow and see if I will qualify for unemployment benefits. I don’t know how they are going to classify this…if the call it a termination or discharge, I most likely won’t qualify. If they call it a layoff, I will. They may have screwed me royally by even offering me another position. I have several things to sort out tomorrow.
Oh - didn’t realize it was 100% commission. That is an important factor to consider. In that case you might be better off not taking it, you really need to think about that one.
Don’t rule out unemployment - you can always apply for benefits. Depending on the company and its HR that might not be a problem - when I was let go I was given a document that very clearly stated my former employer would not contest my application for unemployment and they even helped me when unemployment dragged me through an audit. Much depends on circumstances unique to your case here.
How does unemployment work for people who work on 100% commission? If you don’t make anything for [howevermany] days and your benefits amount is based on your pay over [howevermany] days…are you totally screwed?
You should know that Obama made it a requirement for employers who lay off emloyees until the end of this year are liable to pay 65% of of COBRA costs less the employee’s normal per pay period contribution for the first 9 months if you elect it. (However, IANHR since last Tuesday )
Plus sometimes, even if your employer contests your benefits, you may win out. Both my mom and my sister have ended up getting benefits even in cases when the employer called it a discharge for cause. (In one case, the “cause” was that my sister refused to pay out-of-pocket for a week-long business trip a couple of weeks after she started - not only did she not have the money or a credit card with which to do so, she didn’t see why she should be floating her employer money for legitimate business expenses. They “fired” her for “insubordination,” but well, the IL Dept. of Employment Security didn’t see it that way.)
The HR person told me that they would not contest unemployment, but I won’t be able to get out of my lease with less than 4 month’s rent, which is exactly how long I have left on the lease anyway. Looks like I’m going to go ahead and cut ties with the old employer.
I’m so sorry you are in this situation - it sucks beyond belief.
The husband and I are shaking in our boots waiting for the state budget to be finalized, since we both work for the state and the situation is very, very bad. I could very well be out pounding the pavement myself in a few months, and I will have the disadvantage of being too old to be a desirable candidate, but too young to retire.
At least the Triangle area isn’t doing as badly as the rest of the state, so there is that. You will find something!
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