I’m so sorry you’re going through this. But a few pieces of advice from a long-time HR professional:
- If you haven’t already, file for unemployment immediately. Having some money coming in will not only help your family, it will help your feeling of being a failure.
- Unemployment rules vary by state to a certain degree, but it sounds to me like you should get it. If you are turned down on your first filing, appeal immediately. Make sure you thoroughly read any paperwork you receive from the state or your former employer.
- Get out there and hunt for a job – put in as much time as you would if you were working. In addition to increasing your chances of new employment soon, you won’t have time to brood over what’s happened.
- Be honest about the firing, on applications and in interviews. I’ve had to turn dorwn people for employment because they lied, when if they’d told the truth about the circumstances, I could have hired them.
- Pray to recognize and accept God’s will in this. There may well be something much better out there waiting for you.
Best wishes.
Great advice! Also would suggest documenting NOW everything known about the situation as memories fade quickly. This might be important in the future if another employer asks about the dismissal.
Further, as an employer I would know better than to do this to ANY employee. Quite frankly the laws tend to protect the employee…even to the detriment of the employer. I guess it’s David and Goliath syndrome. To the OP, you may well have a cause of action against this employer. In no way do I encourage a lawsuit but for your own self protection, check to see if there is an employee handbook or policy and make sure you were availed of this information at the outset of your employment.
MOST employers have a disciplinary policy. I know we’ve been caught in the situation of an employee who was having difficulty and we’d let one thing slip, then another but at a certain point it becomes necessary to terminate the employee. Our lack of following our own policy (notification, time to rectify situation, offer of training etc) put us into the position of having to risk a lawsuit were we to terminate employment. It was our fault. We were able to work out with the employee a path out the door without difficulty but again it speaks to the need for employer and employee to KNOW and to FOLLOW the policy.
It sounds like you were targeted and they simply found an excuse to terminate. But that does not negate their duty to follow their policy.
More important is your mental and emotional state and as many have said, there is no way to simply banish the feelings. What you have to do is focus on what you can control and leave what you can’t control to God. You can assess your situation, file for any available benefits including continuation of health insurance (THIS IS IMPORTANT) to protect your family’s situation. Then focus on your next job.
The unemployment office can be your friend in helping you with available programs for retraining, job skills updating, and there are many online communities that help with resumes, applications etc.
Our Parish had so many unemployed we put together a support group. You might find out if your Parish has something as well. Something about being on the same tough road together makes it a bit easier.
Best of outcomes for you!
Lisa
