# How to handle my layoff? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867 "2025-11-15T03:38:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/341 "2026-03-03T23:20:59Z")
Congrats! I hope the future is an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/342 "2026-03-03T23:22:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I hope the future is an improvement. Me too. šŸ˜¬ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/343 "2026-03-04T18:41:55Z")
First, hereā€™s the email I received from USPS: > **Congratulations and welcome to the United States Postal Service! You have been selected for the position of Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) and will be scheduled for Orientation after your enter-on-duty date of 3/14/2026.** > > **Please watch your emails over the next few weeks for the Orientation email. This email will include the date, time, and location that you will report to on your first day of work. Typically, the Employee Orientation email is sent the Wednesday or Thursday prior to your enter on duty/hire date.** > > **You cannot be scheduled for Orientation until your Employee Identification Number (EIN) is processed in the system so you will not be scheduled for Orientation to begin until after your enter-on-duty date of 3/14/2026. If you have any questions pertaining to employee orientation or you do not receive your employee orientation email by Wednesday or Thursday prior to your hire/enter on duty date, please email our training department at:** [email address] So my ā€˜enter-on-dutyā€™ date is March 14th. But it doesnā€™t sound like I can do anything until sometime after that date. Second, I received this message from a credit union: > Hi John, this is L\_\_\_\_ from [Name] Credit Union. We reviewed your application and would like to schedule a brief phone interview. Are you available sometime this week? Please let me know what times work best for you. We have a call scheduled for 11:00 tomorrow. Iā€™ve already accepted the USPS position, which pays a little more than the credit unions lower figure, but itā€™s part-time. My work history favours the full-time credit union position. šŸ˜¬ Third: I tried to apply for unemployment benefits, but my identification could not be verified. It seems someone fraudulently tried to claim my benefits in August of 2020. (I vaguely remember it.) It was resolved, but it locked my account. After spending a very long time (more than an hour, less than two) waiting for a representative from the Office of Special Investigations (they only answer phones Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) I was finally sent a link where I could upload two forms of ID. I took pictures of my driverā€™s license, passport, and birth certificate, and sent them the first two. Unfortunately, it can take weeks to verify my identity; so I think Iā€™ll have to go into the WorkSource Washington office. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/344 "2026-03-05T20:46:04Z")
I am officially gone. I got a message on my phone to log in to keep using Teams. I went to my ā€˜workā€™ computer and tried to log in. Failed. So I decided to check Outlook. No go. So, as I said, I am officially gone. In other news, I had a phone interview with a small credit union in Bellingham this morning. They invited me to come in for an in-person interview Monday morning at 10:30. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/345 "2026-03-05T22:06:10Z")
Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/346 "2026-03-05T22:07:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I got a message on my phone to log in to keep using Teams. I went to my ā€˜workā€™ computer and tried to log in. Failed. So I decided to check Outlook. No go. So, as I said, I am officially gone. Iā€™ve deleted Teams and Outlook from my phone. I still have Authenticator. I removed the two ā€˜accountsā€™ (?), but I donā€™t know if the app itself is tied to my former job. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/347 "2026-03-05T23:38:00Z")
The app can be used to authenticate multiple other things. You might have only needed it for that job, but i think Iā€™ve used it to authenticate my credentials to copy Minecraft to a new computer, as well as for a prior job. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/348 "2026-03-06T00:57:46Z")
Yes. While I deleted Outlook and Teams, I kept Authenticator for possible later use. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/349 "2026-03-07T21:30:35Z")
maybe you can leverage your job-offer and (higher) pay to motivate the credit union to pay you more ???ā€¦ (that is how Iā€™d play this situation) ā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/350 "2026-03-07T21:58:56Z")
Neither position pays as much as my previous employer was underpaying me. The teller position starts at almost $2 less to start than does the USPS position to more than a dollar more. Considering that the economy expected 55,000 more jobs last month and that it actually lost 92,000 (āˆ†147,000), the stock market is steadily declining, and weā€™ve become involved in war in Asia, Iā€™m not inclined to negotiate. My mortgage has been paid. My wife has been paying for half of our ā€˜data nightsā€™. I can apply for Medicare in three and a half months. Right now, I just need stability. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/351 "2026-03-12T17:47:35Z")
Wellā€¦ The phone rang. It was the credit union offering me the full-time-with-benefits teller position. They offered more than the minimum hourly pay, so it pays more than USPS too. And they have regular raises. I start Monday at 08:45. My wife said, ā€˜I knew there was a reason the Lord wanted me to start seeing patients later today!ā€™ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/352 "2026-03-12T17:54:21Z")
Hooo-oooo-raaaay! Itā€™s hard to keep a good man down for long. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/353 "2026-03-12T18:19:17Z")
Excellent! Iā€™m sure you presented as an excellent candidate for the credit union, which is demonstrated by the higher salary offer. Way to go! ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/354 "2026-03-12T18:24:38Z")
So, with this higher salary; will there be donuts for all of us in celebration? šŸ˜ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/355 "2026-03-12T18:33:30Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Excellent! Iā€™m sure you presented as an excellent candidate for the credit union I thought theyā€™d be turned off by a Fat Old Fart. Iā€™m glad they werenā€™t! > [@smithsb](#): > > So, with this higher salary; will there be donuts for all of us in celebration? šŸ˜ Oh, you may buy all the doughnuts you want! As long as Iā€™m not paying! šŸ˜› The hourly rate is $4.57 less than what my previous employer was underpaying me, but I can live with that. Just be nice to people, help them solve their problems, and make sure the numbers add up. No programming, no dealing with credit reporting agenciesā€¦ And being diagonally located from Trader Joeā€™s is a nice bonus. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/356 "2026-03-12T18:48:15Z")
how wonderful! iā€™m so happy for you! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/357 "2026-03-12T18:51:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > And being diagonally located from Trader Joeā€™s is a nice bonus. šŸ™‚ Monday, huh? Iā€™ll be sending a list. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/358 "2026-03-12T18:55:46Z")
That reminded me: Maybe I should buy more corned beef briskets! (One in the fridge for St. Patā€™s, on in the deep freezer for Summer. Maybe I need more? šŸ˜› ) I was going to cook the corned beef & cabbage Sunday, as I was going to be in Seattle Monday and Tuesday for USPS training. I briefly thought, ā€˜Hey, I can cook St. Patā€™s on St. Patā€™s! But it takes a long time in the slow cooker. I _could_ put it on before leaving for the new job on Tuesday, and have The Missus put the cabbage in begore I get home, but I think Iā€™ll just make it Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/359 "2026-03-12T19:03:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > And being diagonally located from Trader Joeā€™s is a nice bonus. Wow, will the benefits never cease??? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867/360 "2026-03-12T19:17:14Z")
Congrats! Glad to hear they were fighting over you and you were able to pick the best fit for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-my-layoff/1024867.md?page=19)