I'm facing a layoff in November

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Our small department is being dismantled. Ten of us were offered transfers to other positions. Five of us including me were assured that if a suitable position opens up by then, we will be at the top of the heap to get the jobs.

Interestingly, the people at the very bottom got transfers. The nurses got transfers (I’m at a hospital and there is always a nursing shortage). Everyone higher up, including the manager, had their position eliminated and became “displaced”.

If I haven’t found another spot by November 10, I can take a severance package equivalent to 2 weeks pay for each year of service (14 weeks pay for me) and leave. Or I can stay on doing “project work” (temp assignments) for another six months at current pay and benefits while I continue to look for other jobs.

If I take the six months, I lose the severance package.

If I take another job, inside or out of the hospital, before November 10, I lose the severance package.

If I refuse an internal job offer, even one that pays less than I earn now, I lose the severance package.

I still have a few unanswered questions – like can HR decide that if I don’t even apply for a job that they think is suitable for me (but I don’t), do I still lose the severance package? My guess would be yes, but I may as well ask.

I suppose I should be happy – I’ve never been important enough before to be even offered a severance package. :cool:

I’ve been given private assurances by my boss and a VP that they recognize my unusual skills and they will find a place for me. I don’t feel especially comforted by this. The only concrete decisions I’ve made are to give highest priority to finding a new job outside the hospital and accepting a suitable offer. The words are nice, but if I’m so fucking important they should have found something to offer me before telling me about my severance benefit.

I can’t afford to believe them. I’m nearly 50, unmarried (so no second salary to keep me afloat during a job search), with a mortgage to pay.

The other very good thing is that my boss agrees with my new job description for the position I’m still in. My job now is to find another job, and my boss has essentially offerered to suspend my other job responsibilities while I do this. She has also agreed to be a reference and use “talking points” that I provide her when and if she gets calls from other employers.

I do love my boss. She is the best I’ve ever had – I only wish she had more clout and could better protect her turf.

2

Sorry to hear it.

One suggestion would be to investigate your state’s laws on how severance interacts with unemployment benefits, should it come to that. You’ll want to know the facts.

From an HR perspective you don’t have to apply to an internal position to be offered a transfer, so I think you’re right that they could theoretically offer you something undesirable and expect you to take it or waive severance. A decent organization will have internal policies that limit to what extent this can be done (e.g. not offering a senior manager an orderly position). The law is unlikely to limit such offers, since severance is voluntary on the part of the employer. Discrimination law might apply if extremely crappy offers were only made to minority employees, women, or employees over 40 to deprive them of severance.

Good luck with your decision and job search.

3

Sorry to hear about this. I’ve never been laid off, but my employer has done about eleven rounds in the time I’ve been with them. I’m also my only income, have a mortgage, etc., so I understand the stress.

I think you’re wise to start looking now. However, I wouldn’t give up on the idea of internal placement. About six years ago, we laid off someone who was asked to stick around for a couple of more months to wrap up a project. She’s still working for us. Sounds like they really value you, so maybe something will work out.

4

Sorry to hear your news! Wishing you luck in your career hunt!