I just got laid off

[MisaGoat]

Any advice?

It was part of a 200 person reduction in force, so not performance based at all. I am pregnant and showing, due in November.

The hospital has offered one week of severance pay and a two day seminar to find a job. They want me to sign an agreement to accept the severance package.

I only started working at this job in June, I left my old job for this job since the pay was more and the commute was much better ( 48 miles vs 1.5 miles). Why hire people only to lay them off? Didn't they have any idea they might need to balance their budget when they hired me? I know there has been a lot of upper management turnover lately, I wonder if they knew what was coming and jumped ship while they could.

So far my brainstorming:

1) File for unemployment-done online tonight
2) Call my old job
3) Apply to go back to school to complete my BSN, I have my RN license and I am eligible for GI bill benefits
4) brush up my resume and send it out (but over 50 nurses got laid off so I imagine they'll be looking for jobs too).

[*MamaJen*]

I'm sorry, that sounds so stressful. One week of severance pay really doesn't sound like much. Have you talked to other employees to get their take on it?

[purplevega]

What other hospitals are around? I would start sending resumes asap.

Kim

[MisaGoat]

The severance pay is based on length of employment, which for me was 2 months.

I guess what I really want to know, is there any reason not to sign the severance package agreement?

I don't think I really have any grounds to dispute the lay off especially since it was so large.

[*MamaJen*]

It might be worth having a quick chat with a lawyer. It is pretty disturbing that you would leave another job to work for them, and be laid off two months later.
Have you been able to figure out how much unemployment pay you'll be able to get?

[grisandole]

You seem to have a great plan, especially getting the BSN since it will be paid for and will make you more marketable. I'm sorry you got laid off