https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:35:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-821933 Fri, 31 May 2013 11:50:15 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 821933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: When my company did this they provided info regarding our unemployment benefits. A few things came up: if a position at lesser pay was offered, but declined you were eligible; if you opted out of reapplying but still worked until position eliminated you were eligible. The reason people were eligible is because they didn't quit. Talk to your HR rep about your options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-821890 Fri, 31 May 2013 11:35:32 +0000 mamabolt 821890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, so sorry to hear your news! Just wanted to say that you don't *have* to disclose you are pregnant while you are interviewing and they legally can't ask you. Don't know how much you are showing at 22 weeks but something to think about! I know it is kind of underhanded in some people's opinion, but I'd put having a job and being able to provide for my family ahead of any concerns I have about coming off as dishonest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-821885 Fri, 31 May 2013 11:34:01 +0000 LovelyPlum 821885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: thinking of you! I hope that you get the job. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-821876 Fri, 31 May 2013 11:32:16 +0000 Protectlove 821876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Thank you! I will be applying for the position opening that has the most similar payscale as my current position (as will 2 other people).</p> <p>The trouble comes in what happens if I do not get it. The alternative position that will be offered comes with an almost $15,000 paycut annually which would not be enough for me to justify paying for childcare to continue working. I am just so concerned that this is somehow a tactic to make sure we are ineligible for unemployment.<br /> And the timing stinks to look for a new job! Being 22 weeks pregnant, regardless of my experience, makes me a little less than desirable as an applicant.<br /> Lets see where it goes from here... fingers crossed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-821065 Fri, 31 May 2013 07:29:29 +0000 regberadaisy 821065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: I was thinking about you last night!</p> <p>If I were you I would apply for the new position but in tandem look for a new job elsewhere.</p> <p>On the bright side, 2 more weeks of pay is 2 more weeks of pay! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-819066 Thu, 30 May 2013 17:07:54 +0000 heffalump 819066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Glad to hear your update. Personally I'd try for the new position because any job is better then no job. Then I'd start looking for a higher paying job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-819057 Thu, 30 May 2013 17:04:42 +0000 avivoca 819057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: thanks for updating! I was thinking about you today. Fingers crossed that they hire you at the new position if that's what you want! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-818999 Thu, 30 May 2013 16:41:36 +0000 Protectlove 818999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update!</p> <p>I was not fired but my position has been dissolved (effective 2 weeks from now) and I am being encouraged to apply for one of the new positions- all of which come with a significant pay cut. </p> <p>Although it is not the worst case scenario I am still so concerned about what this means for us financially. It was unclear what happens if we apply for a position and do not receive it and I am unsure if this is a way for the agency to get higher paying employees to voluntarily quit. If there are any HR people to offer insight into that side of things I would love to pick your brain. </p> <p>Thank you for all the support and well wishes! </p> <p>Cheers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-818954 Thu, 30 May 2013 16:27:39 +0000 kakimochi 818954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>shucks sorry to hear, i know it's such a stressful thing to have to go through. i was let go 2 months prior to delivery, and i was so shocked and sad...for a week... and then i realized i could just not work, cut expenses where i could, and just relax. i qualified for 12 weeks of disability (despite the lame HR lady at work telling me that I don't qualify). and then 5 months after the baby was born, i started looking for a job, and applied for unemployment. it was all a blessing in disguise when i look back at it, but i know it was a trying time at first. good luck ok? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-818700 Thu, 30 May 2013 15:12:49 +0000 MrsBrewer 818700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-818694 Thu, 30 May 2013 15:08:15 +0000 Boheme 818694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thinking of you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-818668 Thu, 30 May 2013 15:00:20 +0000 avivoca 818668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: I hope everything is okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-818477 Thu, 30 May 2013 14:08:01 +0000 ladyfingers 818477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: Hope you're doing ok. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-817582 Thu, 30 May 2013 10:38:15 +0000 Protectlove 817582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for all the well-wishes! I will definitely be checking back in this afternoon with an update. Until then I will be trying not to think about it by cleaning my office with the music turned up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-816933 Thu, 30 May 2013 07:36:56 +0000 LovelyPlum 816933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck today! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-816915 Thu, 30 May 2013 07:26:53 +0000 tequiero21 816915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So sorry u have to deal with this. I hope your meeting today is better than u are expecting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-816878 Thu, 30 May 2013 07:06:05 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 816878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: So sorry you are in this position. I just went through a reduction in force at my job and its super scary. Wishing you the best today! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-816868 Thu, 30 May 2013 06:58:12 +0000 avivoca 816868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: Good luck today! Hold your head high, no matter what. And I second what @regberadaisy said! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-816859 Thu, 30 May 2013 06:54:06 +0000 regberadaisy 816859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: Good luck today! IF you do get laid off don't forget to ask about severance, unemployment, COBRA etc!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-816062 Wed, 29 May 2013 16:10:53 +0000 Protectlove 816062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: That story breaks my heart! It is so similar here, we actually serve children and families so it is even harder to understand how my director could feel comfortable with the choice to fire me now. I am so terrified that I am going to be in that same position tomorrow. Between now and my meeting tomorrow, I am going to do the best I can to clean out my desk and be physically prepared for that, even though mentally I know it will be unbearable.<br /> Cheers to a strong work ethic! It sounds like you are a loyal and dedicated employee that I would grateful to have on my team! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815664 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:54:47 +0000 Lindsay05 815664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: Well, my position was on a year-to-year contract so when my contract ended, they made my position from a part time temporary to a full time permanent. Since they changed the job to a full time, they guy who was covering my mat leave decided he needed a "change" so screwed me over and took the job and left me with basically nothing. There are laws that say i'm supposed to be guaranteed my job or a similar job to it when I return but since this could have happened even when I was working, I don't think i'll have a case to fight it. The company is keeping me on casual but with zero guaranteed hours. I feel like telling them to shove it. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815636 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:46:31 +0000 avivoca 815636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: Also, I'm really sorry this is happening to you! That stinks, but I hope that if it does happen, your next job is much better and that this ends up being a good thing for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815626 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:44:37 +0000 regberadaisy 815626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: aww this was me. I was there for almost four years. I poured my heart and soul into that company. They portrayed a "family" environment. At the end my computer was locked by the time I came back to my desk to collect my bag. I was asked to leave immediately and My first thought was to save my work so my co-workers don't lose anything. When I saw that the computer was locked it was so insulting and that's when I started crying. I had to come back at a later date to clear my desk. It was SO hurtful and such a betrayal to the dedication I gave them on a personal level. It definitely opened my eyes to a job is just a job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815624 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:43:18 +0000 avivoca 815624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: I work for a non-profit, and we have 12 full-time employees. Technically, they don't have to hold my job during my maternity leave in October, and they didn't have to offer it to me per FMLA because we don't qualify.</p> <p>This is for my state (Kentucky), but here's what it says about FMLA: "Be aware that taking some time off after our pregnancy under this act doesn’t guarantee that your job will be held. In fact, a provision under the FLMA, designed to ease economic hardships for companies who are missing key employees, states that it is completely legal for key employees to be terminated during leave. You are considered a key employee if you are in the top 10 percent of highest paid employees." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815614 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:41:19 +0000 Protectlove 815614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: This is great advice. I just wish I worked for an employer that had an HR department. My agency is really small and pretty flat, my director is above me and then we have a board of directors, severance is not even a possibility. My biggest hope is that I can avoid being emotional about it in the moment. Having been here for almost 6 years makes it all feel so personal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815599 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:37:04 +0000 Protectlove 815599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindsay05: Can they do that? I always thought that your position had to be maintained during maternity leave. </p> <p>And I had a form of maternity leave punishment with my first so I honestly expected some form of attack after announcing my second pregnancy but I didn't expect it to be this extreme. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815596 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:36:14 +0000 regberadaisy 815596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Protectlove: If you are laid off you are ABSOLUTELY eligible for unemployment. Being laid off is not the same as getting fired so I think that does not look badly on you for job searching.</p> <p>ETA: as sneaky as it might be to protect your own a$$ I would look into maternity discrimination laws in your state. This meeting sounds pretty "on the books" so I wouldn't be afraid to spew some laws back at them to at least protect your job till after baby comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815590 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:34:49 +0000 Protectlove 815590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Thank you! My resume is pretty much set to go, I was preparing to look for another job when I found out I was pregnant again. I decided to wait until after the baby was born so that I didn't catch a new employer off guard. Although I worry that if I do get fired I am not exactly in the best position to be in the job market. As of right now we are all pretty fearful, the memo that went out calls it "restructuring" but the individual meetings that are scheduled with my director are following "lay-off" protocol for me and one other employee. The meeting is with my director and two board members (I work for a small non-profit.)<br /> I just hope there isn't some way that can sway this into me being un-eligible for unemployment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815567 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:29:55 +0000 Bluebonnet 815567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was laid off several years ago (I wasn't pregnant at the time), but I knew it was coming. I prepared a little bit by:<br /> - researching severance packages by years of service (benefits information was posted online)<br /> - researching unemployment benefits<br /> - transferring all personal files from my work computer to a thumb drive and deleted them from my computer.<br /> - printing a copy of my department's phone list (including email addresses and cell phone numbers) so I can get in touch with coworkers</p> <p>Hang in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/possibly-being-laid-off#post-815555 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:26:28 +0000 yoursilverlining 815555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: really?!? The company I just left laid off a lot of people over the past 5 years and we offered everyone severance; I thought it was pretty standard! jeez, that stinks to not even get a few weeks extra pay :/ </p>