What to Do When You Have Been Fired

What to Do When You Have Been FiredWhat to Do When You Have Been FiredSteve Jobs. J.K. Rowling. Walt Disney. Oprah. What do all these famous people have in common? Theyve all been fired. If youre currently staring at your own pink slip- or anticipating one in the near future- you can take a tiny bit of comfort in knowing that youre in illustrious company. To set yourself up for a second act thats as impressive as theirs, you need to do a little preparation. That means taking a deep breath, getting yourself together, and looking at your situation.If youre like most people, you have a lot of questions. Are you eligible for unemployment? Can you appeal? What happens if you have been wrongfully discharged? What do you say in your cover letters and job interviews?Heres what you need to know about your employee rights, your financial options, and your best path forward when you are fired or otherwise terminated from employment. 01Termination Checklist Do This Right NowWhen youve lost your job, its important to check- right away- on compensation due, benefits, references, and unemployment. If you have been fired and havent been informed about benefits, contact the Human Resources department at your former employer or your manager to request information on the position of your benefits. Follow this checklist to make sure you have covered all the bases.02What to Do in the Days After Youve Been FiredThe day you get fired, your focus will waver between the immediate (I just got fired. What do I do now?) and the very long-term (Is my career over?). To keep from getting lost in the details or psyching yourself out, it helps to have a plan.This step-by-step list tells you what you need to know when you have been fired from your job- and what to focus on today, tomorrow, and so on.03Things Not to Say (or Do) If Youre FiredWeve all seen it in movies the hero gets fired from his job, makes a big scene that either embarrasses his evil boss or sets the hero up for eventual redemp tion and then stomps out of the office, accompanied by stirring music. That makes for great drama, but if you try to replicate it in real life, youll notice that its a lot less satisfying without the soundtrack and flattering lights.Bottom line, theres a right way to behave after getting fired- and a lot of stuff you shouldnt say or do, lest you make a schwimmbad situation worse. Avoid these common mistakes.04Does My Employer Have to Provide Notice of Termination?Short answer probably not. When an employee is terminated or laid-off, there are no federal regulations requiring employers to give advance notice to the employee unless the employee is covered by an individual contract with their employer, a union/collective bargaining agreement, or the WARN Act. If youre like the majority of workers, these probably dont apply to you- in which case, your employer is free to terminate you on the spot.05Were You Fired for Cause?When an employee is terminated for cause, they are fired from th eir job for a specific reason, for example, being chronically late, stealing, spending too much on social media, or having a bad attitude. Its important to figure out whether you were fired for cause- as opposed to being laid off- because it may determine whether youre eligible for unemployment. Heres how to handle being terminated for cause.06Can You Collect Unemployment?Dont assume that being fired means that youre ineligible for unemployment. Depending on the circumstances, you could still qualify. The exception is if you were fired for misconduct, but you can always apply because your perception of your work history may be different than your employers.07What Is Wrongful Termination?Wrongful termination happens when an employee is discharged from employment for illegal reasons or if company policy is violated when the employee is fired. If you were wrongly terminated, you ?may be able to appeal the decision. Heres how to tell if you were wrongfully terminated- and what you can d o about it.08Employee RightsRegardless of how you were terminated, its important to know your rights. Depending on which state you live in, whether youre working under a contract, or as an at-will employee, and how the employer typically handles terminations, your rights will vary.09How to Answer the Interview Question, Why Were You Fired?Getting fired isnt the end of the world, even if it feels like it on the day you receive your termination. Handled correctly, it can be a minor bump in the road of your career. Heres how to handle the inevitable job interview questions about your termination honestly and positively, so that you can move on to your next adventure.10Job Termination Questions and AnswersHere areanswers to the most frequently asked questions about termination from employment, including reasons for getting fired, employee rights when you have been terminated, collecting unemployment, wrongful termination, saying goodbye to co-workers and more.