Laid Off - I don't know what to do.

38 Comments

1. AnonymousJanuary 12,2023 at 3:52PM UTC

   Since you live in Florida, I just saw where Medicare is enhancing coverage for mental health counseling, which I have found to be a problem because I cannot find a therapist that takes Medicare. You may want to explore options for joining or opening a practice that accepts Medicare.

   As for the contract, I am guessing that the 30-day notice was the contractual obligation for termination notice. I would defer that discussion to your attorney.

   Lay-offs are very stressful. I have been through two pretty large ones. Keep your spirits up and try not to stress about it (I know, easier said than done). You probably have an arsenal of calming, quieting, and centering exercises available. Mindfulness exercises are also helpful. As for the benefits, if you missed the open enrollment window, the lay-off provides you a way around that, so you should be able to utilize the healthcare marketplace to find affordable insurance

2. MalloryJanuary 13,2023 at 4:57AM UTC

   Thank you! I will look into Medicare and also seeing about getting credentialed with them.

3. AnonymousJanuary 12,2023 at 4:50PM UTC

   I think tge first thing you do is breathe. You will need clarity of mind to weather this. And you will so don't let your selfcare slip. It's easy to do.

   Once your spouse is able to review your contract you’ll be more informed as to what you can count on from your company in the way if severance etc.

   What you should also find out is if your company provides any separation services such as job placement, resume services etc. These can help if available.

   Make sure to get your Cobra info so you can weigh those temporary options.

   Good luck.

4. MalloryJanuary 13,2023 at 4:57AM UTC

   Thank you! I will ask my Regional Manager about separation services, I didn't even think about that.

5. Barb HansenJanuary 12,2023 at 5:20PM UTC

   Being laid-off is not a indication of your value. Great employees get laid off all the time, so give yourself grace.

   Your journey back to a "great job at a wonderful company" might not be a straight line, and that's okay.

   Your job right now is to make sure that you're getting all of the benefits that you need from this company.

   Then, your next job is to get your next job. View the process of getting your next job as a job:

   -- Start your job hunting at 8:00 am (if that is your normal start of the work day)

   -- Take a break mid-morning for a 15 minute leg-stretch/coffee break/short walk

   -- Eat your lunch away from your computer

   -- End your day at 4:00 or 5:00

   -- Don't spend 16 hours a day looking for a job. you'll get discouraged and burnt out.

   Treat your job hunt like a project and have a project plan:

   -- record all of the job that you apply for in a spreadsheet (Google Sheets is a great option). If you are applying for tens of jobs a day, in a few weeks, you'll start to forget what companies you have applied too, which companies have gotten back to you, etc. So keeping track of the job you applied for and update each entry with notes.

   -- Break up your day or your week into different activity chunks.

   Example: Spend time looking for new job postings. Spend an hour or two applying to any new job openings. Spend time networking. Spend time learning new skills or keeping up with your CEC (continuous education credits).

   -- Investigate how your current skill set could translate into different industries or careers:.

   Example:

   Mental health startups hire medical professionals as account managers, product managers or subject-matter experts.

   Good luck and remember FGB is a great place to continue to ask questions and get support, so keep us in the loop, we are here for you.

6. Kimberly GrahamJanuary 12,2023 at 7:24PM UTC

   Outstanding and valuable advice!

7. MalloryJanuary 13,2023 at 4:58AM UTC

   Thank you! This is really helpful.

8. Yolanda SouthJanuary 13,2023 at 5:42PM UTC

   Mallory I am so sorry you are being laid off. It can be a stressor and with health issues you don't need that. I agree with some of the other comments to not take it personally, breathe and make a plan. Barb gave great advice. It's surprising in FL to be losing those services however keep the faith. I would use resources from companies that you dealt with or competed against in the area to see if they have openings. LinkedIn would be a good place to put a profile also. Any community, state or private colleges in the areas usually have job boards as well.

   Good luck in your job search.

9. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterJanuary 12,2023 at 8:15PM UTC

   I agree with what others have said. Here are some sites that cater to remote work:

   Growmotely features long-term remote jobs with conscious companies. You can create a candidate profile and start searching remote roles right away.

   We Work Remotely has been a job board I’ve referenced for many years. They highlight remote jobs across all types of fields, including tech to customer service, sales, and marketing.

   FlexJobs is one of the top boards to find remote, part-time or flex jobs. They have opportunities across 50+ categories.

   The Mom Project features roles with vetted, family-friendly companies, including remote positions.

10. MalloryJanuary 13,2023 at 4:58AM UTC

    Thank you so much!

11. AnonymousJanuary 13,2023 at 11:00AM UTC

    Has any of the suggestions helped you figure out what to do?

12. MalloryJanuary 13,2023 at 10:09PM UTC

    I created a spreadsheet and color coded it to help me keep track of the jobs I'm applying to and responses I'm getting. I limited my searching today because the last 2 days I was searching until like 1am. It's a very rough market right now and I didn't anticipate being in this position. I honestly thought I found my dream job. I'm trying to remind myself that I'm allowed to grieve and do my selfcare.

    My supervisor and some colleagues have a group chat going where we are sharing job postings and being there for one another which is helping.

    But if anyone knows of a MH clinic hiring in tampa for a remote therapist let me know.

13. AnonymousJanuary 14,2023 at 4:36AM UTC

    Maybe try Embark Behavioral Health. I think they hire Virtual Therapists. https://www.embarkbh.com/

14. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:21AM UTC

    Thank you! I will look into them, I haven't heard of them before.

15. Jasmine KnightonJanuary 14,2023 at 1:11PM UTC

    Sorry to hear about the lay off. Mental health is important and this society is making sure everyone knows it. I hope you land something soon.

    In regards to insurance; I haven’t read anyone mention this… can you be added to your husbands insurance in the meantime? There is the possibility since you have lost coverage this is a qualifying event so you can be added.

16. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:23AM UTC

    He just started a new job this week so his insurance does not kick in until April I think but we are planning on adding me to his for the time being once it starts. We talked about me doing COBRA for the time in between since I cannot go without health insurance due to my health issues.

17. GirlBossanova934974January 14,2023 at 2:06PM UTC

    It is quite possible you are eligible for Florida unemployment benefits. I believe these are the requirements. -You must a resident of Florida
    -Unemployed-
    Worked in Florida during the past 12 months-Earned a minimum amount of wages determined by Florida guidelines-Actively seeking work each week you are collecting benefits-You must have lost your job through no fault of your own.-You must have earned at least $3,400 before taxes in what is called the "base period"-You must be able to workI would apply and/or call the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity at your earliest convenience. https://floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/apply-for-benefits

18. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:24AM UTC

    I tried applying this week but since I technically still make a salary I got denied. I'm planning on applying the week I'm officially done and hopefully they'll approve it. Fl is notorious for making unemployment hard to get.

19. GirlBossanova934974January 15,2023 at 11:03PM UTC

    Regardless of what state you reside in, every state unemployment/labor office requires a date of separation from your employer for you to draw unemployment. If you are still drawing a REGULAR paycheck for whatever amount, you are still employed. IF on the other hand the money you are collecting is "SEVERANCE PAY", that does not count as being employed. Collecting accrued vacation pay also does not count. If you contact the State of Florida, you should have on hand your "Letter of Termination of Contract or Employment". That letter should list your employer name, your name, the date of separation, and reason for termination of contract/employment.

20. Julie Foster WeldonJanuary 14,2023 at 2:58PM UTC

    First - take a deep breath. Having been laid off 4 times since 2009 I know how you feel. The economy is causing this not your skills.

    be ready to apply for unemployment, apply for medical assistance and hold your head up. The system in place is supposed to be used by people in your position. It’s not charity. Post your resume on social media like LinkedIn and other employment sites.

    I feel pretty good that you won’t be without a job. Network with co-workers past and present.

21. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:27AM UTC

    I'm sorry to hear that you have been laid off in the past. It's honestly the worst and like a gut punch. I plan to apply for unemployment the week I'm officially without a salary. I'm going to look into Medicaid but my state makes it so hard to get it. I tried once years ago and got denied. We are planning to put me on my spouses insurance once it kicks in at his new job.

    I have posted my resume on LinkedIn, zip recruiter, and indeed. Thank you. I am hoping I can find something soon. My current coworkers and I have a group chat going where we are all posting job postings to help each other and it's been so helpful having that.

22. AnonymousJanuary 14,2023 at 4:18PM UTC

    Everything is temporary. You will be fine. Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to further your education? Look for remote therapy jobs in MInnesota where there is a huge shortage of therapists. Can you go on your spouse’s health insurance?

23. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:29AM UTC

    I'm in Florida so I would have to look into getting licensed in Minnesota and what their requirements are. I'm not sure if I want to go after a doctorates since I already owe a lot in student loans. He just started a new job so it doesn't start until a few months but the plan is to get me on it once it does.

24. AnonymousJanuary 14,2023 at 4:39PM UTC

    I sympathize with your situation. After 14 years with a company in an on-site mental health position, I too was laid off. It happens more than you might think and remote positions in the mental health field are hard to come by. Add in that most states require you to be licensed in that state to practice and it’s definitely challenging.

    I would follow the advice of others, look into unemployment benefits, see if they’re offering a severance, network with people you know, and keep searching. Limit your searching to a specific amount of hours a day. There’s only so many new job posts a day anyway so it doesn’t pay to search 8 hours a day and feel burnt out and depressed. If you’re licensed and can explore reciprocal licensure in another state to expand your remote search location, I would look into that too.

    Also keep in mind that while everyone says this is still an employees job market, this doesn’t apply across all roles. Mental health is such a specialized market that there are never an abundance of jobs. And sadly even though we know mental health issues keep increasing, the amount of positions in the field are not. So this could take some time. Try and be patient and take care of yourself in the meantime.

25. Michelle S.January 14,2023 at 10:40PM UTC

    Didn’t the government open up telehealth licensing by state requirements during Covid? From my knowledge, they haven’t revoked those, have they?

26. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:31AM UTC

    They did revoke it. I'm in Fl and if I wanted to provide telehealth services to a client in Georgia I would have to contact the licensing board there to get permission. It's difficult and the states usually deny from what I heard stating there are therapists in their state and an out of state one isn't needed. I'm looking into getting licensed in my surrounding states and what the requirements are.

27. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:36AM UTC

    I'm sorry to hear that you were laid off as well. I am licensed in my state, I am looking into getting licensed in my surrounding states and seeing what the requirements are since some states you can waive in if you're already licensed and in good standing in your state.

    It's been a challenge trying to find fully remote positions, unfortunately I need that due to my health. There's some out there but the pay is low or there are no benefits. I'm hoping I can find something soon. I'm trying to keep my search to a few hours a day and not spend all day searching.

    I wish you luck as well in your job search.

28. AnonymousJanuary 15,2023 at 8:17PM UTC

    I would definitely look into reciprocating your license in other states and even applying for positions in those states. If you get an opportunity on an application or in an interview to indicate you’re not licensed in that state but interested in reciprocity, maybe they would be willing to hire you on while in the process. It usually just requires someone willing to supervise you while you wait to take care of it. Also, have you considered working for an insurance company? I’ve had several friends go on to do that and it’s typically fully remote positions, better money, better benefits than direct service counseling. Just something to consider. I’ve found most of the major insurance companies post a lot of their positions on their own website/career boards.

29. RichJanuary 14,2023 at 4:42PM UTC

    Reach out former co-workers, friends, and family. Go as far back as you can. Don't send email blasts. Each contact should be individual. It will go along the lines of "Hi, we haven't talked in a while. How are things going? Can I help you?" - Don't mention your job loss in the first contact. Instead, offer to help. Who knows, you might know someone. Along the way, some will help you back.

    Fortunately, you are in an industry where job boards are sometimes helpful. But your network will probably be more helpful.

    Remember when you do your resume that your focus needs to be on your accomplishments and impact, not your responsibilities. Recruiters don't care about responsibilities because we've all known people who failed to carry them out. Instead, the rule is, "You will get hired for your results, not your responsibilities." I wish I knew who said that first so I could give them credit. But it's true.

    Remember to be active with your selfcare. That will help you avoid being negative during interviews. Selfcare are things that you do that make you feel better about who you are. I can't tell you what they are for you, but I can tell you what they are not. Selfcare does not include anything costly, or drugs or alcohol. It does include family time, spouse time, hobbies, devotionals, and especially exercise.

    Go for it! You have good options.

30. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:41AM UTC

    I don't have a lot of friends in my field, most of them work in different fields but they are aware of what's going on. I haven't talked to any old coworkers yet but that's not a bad idea, I'll probably do that on Monday and send an email. Thank you for that idea.

    I don't do drugs or drink so that wouldn't even be something that would cross my mind. I'm also not really spending any money on 'wants' since I need to save money. Since my lay off I've just been buying anything that is a need like my service dog's allergy pills, groceries, etc.

31. IntentionGirl299847January 14,2023 at 7:00PM UTC

    All I saw was CONTRACT FOR 2 YEARS. Unless you didn't bother to read it, they need to buy you out for the remainder of your contract.

    That said, there are online or telecounseling sites where you sign up and they provide clients. You need to be a licensed professional counselor too (or a licensed master's level social worker). There is Betterhelp, Guideline Healthcare, and Mind Body and Soul Counseling LLC. There are plenty of sites if you have licensure. If not, get it.

32. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:21AM UTC

    I am a licensed mental health counselor. They don't have to buy me out as there's a clause in the contract that says termination can be made if they determine need is no longer need in my state. That was my first thought too. Betterhelp pays crap and does not offer any benefits. I have never heard of Mind Body and Soul Counseling LLC so I will look into them. I have been applying to places and heard back from a few but some of the ones out there don't pay well at all and you can't survive off of it. I have some interviews next week that I hope go well.

33. Betsy DooleyJanuary 14,2023 at 8:54PM UTC

    I run a telehealth mental health practice in Iowa and Nebraska. We have openings right now! Please reach out to me. I'm sorry for this and you are in demand in the midwest! Please email me at bdooley@embracehealth.com.

34. MalloryJanuary 15,2023 at 7:18AM UTC

    Hi! I truly appreciate this unfortunately I'm in Florida and not licensed in the midwest. Thank you though!!

35. Betsy DooleyJanuary 16,2023 at 11:11AM UTC

    We get people licensed , pay for it etc. I’m looking for someone willing to get credentialed and licensed in Iowa and Nebraska. Thanks!

36. Betsy DooleyJanuary 17,2023 at 10:35PM UTC

    Mallory we have full and parttime roles for therapists

37. misskelleypJanuary 15,2023 at 12:00AM UTC

    Sounds like, as they said, they're shutting down in your state. See if you can be covered under your husband's health insurance, or check your state healthcare website. First off, stop panicking. Employers can sense that. Take a breath, polish up your resume, make sure your LinkedIn Profile matches your resume and that you set it as "looking for work". Then start sending emails (networking) to acquaintances, former colleagues, the school you graduated from, etc. "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. And that's how you get a new job - one step at a time.

38. MalloryJanuary 16,2023 at 10:37PM UTC

    They're downsizing quite a bit in our state but not pulling out completely. They won't tell us how many people have been retained. I've been trying to follow other people's advice on here and limit how much I am searching, using my self-care etc. It looks like I will have to be on Cobra for maybe a month minimum or few months longer until my spouse's health insurance kicks in since he just started a new job. I updated my linked and I have my own private practice that's super small, I have done nothing with it. I am working on getting credentialed with insurance companies using my own tax ID to help grow that practice to have money on the side.