The coronavirus pandemic has had a tremendous impact on everyone. This is a medical crisis the likes of which have not been seen for more than 100 years. Furthermore, given numerous shelter-in-place orders that have been issued across the country, this has led to an economic crisis as well. Many people are concerned that a second wave of lockdowns might be coming, leading to speculation that more small businesses might have to lay people off in order to make ends meet. As a result, everyone is wondering what they should do if they get laid off or fired during the pandemic. There are a few key points to keep in mind.
The first thing that people should do if they get laid off during the pandemic is to clarify exactly what this means. For example, some people get laid off temporarily with the intention of being brought back in the future, which is usually called being furloughed. On the other hand, individuals who get laid off due to no fault of their own may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Furthermore, people who are being fired with cause may not be eligible for unemployment benefits. Therefore, it is important for everyone to clarify exactly what is happening with respect to their employment status.
If someone gets fired or laid off during the pandemic, it is important for everyone to make sure that they don’t make any decisions or agree to anything under duress or while emotional. Often, when someone loses their job, things appear to move more quickly. As a result, individuals may sign something without reading it fully or understanding it completely. They may unintentionally sign away rights to their employer following their termination. Therefore, everyone should make sure that they get everything in writing. This should spell out the exact nature of the termination, why someone is being laid off, and what this means for the future.
After this, it is critical for everyone to meet with a trained legal professional in the field of employment law. It is incredibly challenging to find another job, particularly in the current climate. Therefore, people might have trouble making ends meet. The good news is that there are other options available. By working with a trained legal professional, everyone will place themselves in the best position to move forward. Even though it is difficult for people to process what has happened following a loss of a job, they do not have to go through this process alone. A lawyer understands how to review someone’s employment contract, review the status of someone’s termination, and figure out if there are any options available for recourse.
Even though it is good that there is a vaccine on the horizon, this may not be available until next summer. Therefore, the next few months are going to be incredibly challenging for businesses, individuals, and families. It is important for everyone to make sure they protect their rights, particularly when it comes to the status of their job.