Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2020
Due to COVID-19, millions of Americans have lost their jobs or been furloughed. The National Bureau of Economic Research stated the United States entered a recession in February 2020. Many citizens do not know how to take their next steps to gain (or re-gain) employment.
Full Professor of Management in the Jesse H. Jones School of Business and author of Be Your Best Career Architect: Here are the Blueprints, Dr. Rochelle Parks-Yancy, has provided answers to questions that many unemployed workers face.
I've lost my job, now what do I do next?
What does the process of getting a new job look like? What resources are available?
The people who know you and think well of you are the best sources of job leads. While jobs are posted on Indeed, LinkedIn, Zip Recruiter and other job sites, many times those positions are not actually available. Instead, referrals are far more likely to help you get hired.
We are in challenging times. People have sympathy and empathy. If you're overwhelmed:
What rights are put in place for those who have lost their job?
Not many. Texas is a Right to Work State. There are federal laws in place regarding why people can't legally lose their job (e.g. disability, age, race, religion, pregnancy, gender). Excluding those sorts of violations, private Texas employers can terminate individuals' employment without much notice. That said, if you are terminated, be sure that you know your organization's rules regarding payouts for accrued vacation days/other kinds of accrued leave, as well how much you're owed in your final paycheck. If you believe that you've been terminated unlawfully, consult with an employment attorney to review the merits of your complaint.
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