I just got laid off - Page 2

[snowgirl]

I left a message with a lawyer on Friday and waiting to hear back.

This used to be a very family friendly company. I have been part time since dd was born 4 years ago and they allowed me to take 5 months off as well. I don't think so anymore. I mean, how can anyone have the conscience of laying off someone who is on bedrest and about to give birth?

I really wonder where our values are in this country.

I can't seem to stop thinking about the sick pay. And I need to let it go. I wish baby would come so I can focus my energy on him/her.

Thanks for all the support!

[Katielady]

Originally Posted by snowgirl

I left a message with a lawyer on Friday and waiting to hear back.

This used to be a very family friendly company. I have been part time since dd was born 4 years ago and they allowed me to take 5 months off as well. I don't think so anymore. I mean, how can anyone have the conscience of laying off someone who is on bedrest and about to give birth?

I really wonder where our values are in this country.

I can't seem to stop thinking about the sick pay. And I need to let it go. I wish baby would come so I can focus my energy on him/her.

Thanks for all the support!

I have trouble letting go of unjust treatment too. I know exactly how you feel. I think it's great you're looking into fighting it; meanwhile, and I know you know this, but try to focus on other things as much as you can. Maybe you could do some nice little pampering things for yourself, like bubble baths or buying a junky magazine.

I must say though, there is definitely a special place in hell for people who fire a pregnant woman on bedrest and then try to weasel out of paying her for earned sick time. I hope at least some of them lose sleep over it. :

[BundleFishMama]

Originally Posted by snowgirl

I left a message with a lawyer on Friday and waiting to hear back.

This used to be a very family friendly company. I have been part time since dd was born 4 years ago and they allowed me to take 5 months off as well. I don't think so anymore. I mean, how can anyone have the conscience of laying off someone who is on bedrest and about to give birth?

I really wonder where our values are in this country.

I can't seem to stop thinking about the sick pay. And I need to let it go. I wish baby would come so I can focus my energy on him/her.

Thanks for all the support!

It's true, most companies just don't care about families anymore - kind of endemic in our selfish society these days, I think - no one really cares. We've been saying the same thing since DH was laid off in August - he was the head of a foundation, doing a great job for them, and the board of directors let him go for no reason - all the while knowing very well that he's the sole breadwinner for a family of 5, about to be 6. And they acted like they were so noble and wonderful because they paid a severance and let us keep the health insurance for 6 months since I'm pregnant. : Nevermind the fact that we had dropped everything in our lives and moved clear across the country for them, and now had a house to sell and had to move back at our own expense....

Just so you know, you're not alone! We also plan on getting a lawyer to look into what their contractual obligations were, if we were entitled to anything else, etc. - once we get settled and DH has another job and we've had the baby, etc.

[p.s]

I'm confused. I would think you would be :, esp. if you were not planning on going back to work anyways.
If you quit a job, you cannot collect unemployment. Neither would you get severance.
And it sounds like you were already planning to take maternity leave, utilizing FMLA, and then at the end of it, letting your employer know that you wouldn't be returning after all.

Originally Posted by snowgirl

So, it looks like I will be a SAHM after all. And I am pretty excited about that. More than likely, I was not going back to work anyway.

Julie

Not returning after mat leave can leave an employer scrambling to find and train a replacement, and can sometimes burn bridges.
so it sounds like:
they're letting you go,
but you were more than likely not planning on returning after mat leave/ FMLA anyways,
and now you can collect unemployment for 6 mo,
plus a severance,
plus they probably feel very guilty about letting go a very pregnant women and would probably write you very good letters of rec. should you ever need them. And you avoid putting your employer in an uncomfortable position by quitting after using up mat leave/ FMLA. It seems like that would be worth the sick hours; this seems even like a gift that landed in your lap? I may be confused though.

[TefferTWH]

Originally Posted by p.s

I'm confused. I would think you would be :, esp. if you were not planning on going back to work anyways.
If you quit a job, you cannot collect unemployment. Neither would you get severance.
And it sounds like you were already planning to take maternity leave, utilizing FMLA, and then at the end of it, letting your employer know that you wouldn't be returning after all.

Not returning after mat leave can leave an employer scrambling to find and train a replacement, and can sometimes burn bridges.
so it sounds like:
they're letting you go,
but you were more than likely not planning on returning after mat leave/ FMLA anyways,
and now you can collect unemployment for 6 mo,
plus a severance,
plus they probably feel very guilty about letting go a very pregnant women and would probably write you very good letters of rec. should you ever need them. And you avoid putting your employer in an uncomfortable position by quitting after using up mat leave/ FMLA. It seems like that would be worth the sick hours; this seems even like a gift that landed in your lap? I may be confused though.

I'm not sure how this comment is supportive in any way. She most likely was not going back, but she didn't plan that definitely. I didn't plan on going back either, then changed my mind and had it changed back for me by a very difficult administrator and decided to h3ll with it. The work place can be very anti-family, especially in this market, and the attitude that a woman needs to make a decision NOW and stick with it is ridiculous. It might suck for an employer, but it sucks the same way it would if another valued employee quit. I think you are confused.

[p.s]

Originally Posted by TefferTWH

I'm not sure how this comment is supportive in any way. .... I think you are confused.

My comments were meant to be supportive in pointing out the advantage of being laid off if you already planned to quit. Obviously, if she didn't plan to quit, then being laid off is very difficult, and being laid off 3 wks before you are due should be illegal.
Actually, I don't think I am confused. But I am sure that i don't have the whole picture. I am quite familiar with the workplace as a FT WOHM, thanks.

[snowgirl]

p.s., you point out some good facts about severance and unemployment.

I am really ok with being laid off. Just really bummed that I have lost about $1800 of accrued sick time. Ouch! I have been saving it since I started working there and could have used it with DD's maternity leave and I didn't. I really pushed myself to work in Sept instead of taking sick time and of course in hindsight wish I did. I am/was not 100% sure if I were returning to work or not. I wouldn't know until the end of December as DH is doing some work on the side. I transitioned my accounts to another co-worker right before I went on bedrest, so my company would have been fine if I didn't come back.

I guess my lesson learned is, try to not be so frugal, as it may not be beneficial in the end.

[Phoebe]

I experience the same thing 10 days before my first was due. It was frightening to loose 1/2 of our income. I had done the math and there was no way we could have me stay home. Well, 4.5 years later here I am still a SAHM. It was such a huge blessing in disguise. In my math I had not included that we could cut out new shoes, eating out, movies, etc.

Now we are expecting baby #3 at the end of this month and dh has now lost HIS job!! I couldn't be more excited!! He is starting his own consulting company and hopefully will be around more than he was while working for "the man".

Best of luck to you. These things have a way of working out for the best most of the time.

Enjoy.

Amy

[p.s]

Originally Posted by snowgirl

Just really bummed that I have lost about $1800 of accrued sick time. ....
I guess my lesson learned is, try to not be so frugal, as it may not be beneficial in the end.

that is a lot of money! esp. if you will be SAH. one thing to consider though, is to get a very good letter of rec. from them before leaving. Esp. in light of the fact that you pushed yourself... just prior to being laid off.... when massively pregnant. This must have impressed someone with some authority or position to give a weighty word. The letter may be useful in the future, you never know. Also, I really truly believe that what goes around, comes around. Not necessarily that someone else will lose $1800, but when you do what is honorable (and you did, even pushing yourself for your baby's sake and employer's benefit) it will work out bountifully for you.
I grew up in a super frugal immigrant family; and I'm also still trying to find the sweet balance of frugality.
Be of good cheer though! I just know everything will work out well for you!