How to Deal with redundancy

How to Deal with redundancy by Michael Cheary Losing your job can be one of the hardest things you have to face in life. Often, the combination of emotions can be overwhelming, leaving you depressed with your confidence severely knocked.Redundancy is never easy, but there are ways to soften the blow. Heres what to do to prepare yourself if the worst has happened. How to: Achieve a work/life balance>Step one:  Try not to take it personallyThis can often be the most important thing to consider when facing redundancy. Losing your job is extremely stressful, but you’re not alone. It’s an unfortunate fact that hundreds of thousands of people are made redundant every year in the UK. Possible reasons for redundancy could include:Your role in the company or the service you offer is no longer requiredYour role in the company no longer existsYour employer is looking to cut costsThe business is closing down or moving siteWhatever happens, and whatever your circumstances, there are always positives you can take from the situation. The important thing is not that you have lost your job, but how you deal with losing your job.REMEMBER: Always check your contract first (if you have one) to see what you’re entitled to. How to: Achieve a work/life balance>Step two:  Know your rightsBefore you do anything, it’s vitally important that you check your entitlements. All employers are required by law to follow a strict set of guidelines when making any redundancies. Your employer should:Give you a written explanation of why you’re being let goGive you at least one week’s notice if you’ve been employed between one month and two yearsGive its employee representatives (i.e. union) 30 days notice if they are making between 20 and 99 redundanciesGive its employee representatives 90 days notice if they are making over 100 redundanciesTry and find you alternative work in the organisation if possible.If your employer is forced to be selective in making redundancies, there are a number of factors wh ich will be considered. These include disciplinary and attendance records, qualifications, experience and competency of work.If any of these things haven’t happened, or haven’t been considered, your redundancy may be considered as an unfair dismissal.REMEMBER: You do have the right to appeal against your redundancy. If you feel that you were not properly consulted, you have not been given adequate compensation, or you have been discriminated against in any way, shape or form, you can take your case to an employment tribunal to dispute the decision.How to: Achieve a work/life balance>Step three:  Redundancy payYou are entitled to redundancy pay if you have been with the company for two years or more. You should also receive a written explanation of how your employer calculated it.The amount you are compensated will vary depending on your age, and how long you have been with the company. If the company has gone into administration, or has other financial difficulties meaning that they cannot afford the payment, the Redundancy Payments Office may make the payment.For specific information about how much redundancy pay you are entitled to, you can use Directgov’s online calculator.How to: Achieve a work/life balance>Step four:  Planning your financesIf you do receive a redundancy payment, don’t get tempted to spend a lump sum straight away. It may sound obvious, but it’s always worth drawing up a list of your outgoings and trying to determine a budget moving forward. This will also help to give you a timespan: so you know exactly how far your money will go, and how long you can dedicate to finding a new position.You will of course be entitled to state benefits during your period of unemployment, for example Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support. To find out exactly how much you can claim, visit your local Jobcentre+.How to: Achieve a work/life balance>Step five:  Searching for workOnce you’ve sorted your finances, and set yourself a deadline, you ca n then start to search for work with a sense of focus (and hopefully a little less pressure). The most crucial thing is to begin with is to update your CV.No matter how long you have been in your previous role, there will be skills and achievements which you can take into your new job. It’s not as simple as just adding the dates, and a few tasks. You can use your attributes and accomplishments throughout your CV. This will not only show practical representations of your career development , but also show that you’re a more rounded candidate.Also, it’s probably been a while since you’ve updated it. Freshen it up, add a specifically crafted cover letter for each role, and you’re ready to go. For help and guidance writing your CV, and for examples and CV templates, our CV builder is the best place to start.How to: find a new jobRedundancy cover letter templateRedundancy CV template How to: Achieve a work/life balance>Final thoughtsIf financially viable, try offering your empl oyer to drop your hours or a temporary wage decrease. This could be a short-term way of bringing in some form of income, while still continuing your job search.It can be tempting, but don’t spend every hour of every day looking for jobs. You will only add more pressure on yourself, and find the process tedious very quickly. Also, it can be incredibly depressing.Network, network, network. If you know anyone in your industry, let them know you’re looking for work. You’ll be surprised what your contacts can throw up.Tell people that matter. Your partner, friends and family are sure to offer you support and guidance. More often than not, they have been in a similar situation at some point.You should not be ashamed of your redundancy. It is not a reflection of your work, and you should never start doubting yourself. It could happen to anyone, and it does.If it all begins to get too much: don’t panic. There are people that can help if you begin to feel overwhelmed. (Acas)  offers free advice on employment rights, and your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can also provide free and impartial advice.Turn a negative into a positive: your redundancy could be the perfect time to move forward in your career, or change your career direction. Deal with it in the right way, and you’ll be fine.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Development

How Do I Choose the Right Career for Me

How Do I Choose the Right Career for Me As a recent grad or a soon-to-be college graduate, you will be embarking on your job search to kick off your career. Choosing the right career path right from the get-go can help you avoid financial and emotional stress down the road. However, this can be an overwhelming process. Instead of forcing yourself to identify a direct path, find out your “wants” and “needs”, and then see what the world has to offer. Your passions and your skills While some people clearly know what their passions are, some of us aren’t so clear and may have a passion that is very vague. We all want to follow our passion but at the same time, we’re afraid that we’ll waste our life if we don’t obsessively pursue a career goal. Sounds familiar? Well, the problem usually is not about following your passion but it is that they are too broad and you don’t know where to begin. You can use your interests  as a starting point for your career planning  and break them down into bite-size interests. For example, if you want to be a writer, you can break “writer” down into “writing” and “editing”. Next, do a “skills inventory” to come up with a list of your skills. Match your interests and skills to job titles and zero in on those that have the best prospects for your career growth. Your personality type You know yourself best. Are you more of an extrovert or an introvert? If you’re not sure, a personality test such as the Myers-Briggs personality test will likely shed some light on that. Knowing your personality will help you determine what kind of work environment allows you to thrive. For example, as an extrovert, you will probably enjoy working in a busy sales office, while an introvert will thrive in a quieter role as a researcher. In addition, ask yourself this question: “what motivates you?” In other words, are you prevention-focused or promotion-focused?   People who are prevention-focused prefer thorough planning and analytical thinking, and their goal is to remain status quo. On the other hand, people who are promotion-focused are creative and prefer to try out new things. Your preferred lifestyle As a newbie in a career, expect to work your tail off for at least a few years. However, you should look at people who are well into the career you are about to choose to see if the lifestyle they lead is what you want in the future. Do they have control over their time and what they make? Will you be happy if you live like them? What gives you the most satisfaction? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Why Your Boss Should Allow Dogs at Work

Why Your Boss Should Allow Dogs at Work The 26th of August is National Dog Day in the USA. “But I treat my dog like my Valentine every day of the year,” you protest. “Surely this is just a ploy by the greeting card industry!” Well, perhaps your dog gets the royalty treatment when you’re at home or in the park. But while she may be number one in your heart (placed significantly above your partner and children), society still considers the canine kind to be distinctly secondary to the human race waves fist furiously at society. The fact is, once you button up your shirt and head out the door to the office this Monday, National Dog Day will be over for your beloved hound. Just like every other day. But what if society has got it all wrong? Reconsidering the value of dog Rather than a greeting card industry ploy, National Dog Day was established as a marketing tool with a serious message by pet expert/animal advocate Colleen Paige. You may know Paige from other American holidays such as National Puppy Day (March 23rd), National Mutt Day (July 31st), and the more generalist National Pet Day (April 11th). For Paige, the main message of National Dog Day is directed at potential owners: “consider choosing adoption first.” However, the holiday is more generally a great opportunity to reconsider how dogs fit into our human-dominated world. Partly for the good of the dogs (how many are put up for adoption because they get too unhappy being left at home all day?) And partly for the good of people. In fact, humans may have more to gain from dogs than you might think. When we work side by side, we have a lot to offer each other. Why not use this National Dog Day as an excuse to advocate to your boss that she allow dogs in the office? Bringing your dog to work It’s good for your boss, after all. In a scientific study at Virginia Commonwealth University, the suspiciously-named Randolph T. Barker and team discovered that employees who bring their dog to work have a more positive perception of their employer. This is due to the organizational support the boss provides to keep the ‘family’ together during the work day. You might point out that dog presence lowers human stress levels. Barker’s study also showed that workers who bring their dog to work feel less stressed than those who leave pooch at home. And as anybody who can list among their most regular friends figures such as “Rex’s dad,” “Buddy’s mum,” and “those kids that bring Henio to the park at the weekend” can attest, owning a dog gets people talking (while offering a useful buffer zone). Having a dog in the office gets colleagues talking to each other, which boosts satisfaction, trust, and interaction within the team. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this creates a stronger sense of office community and an atmosphere of openness and flexibility. Anyway, it’s no bad thing for your boss to have colleagues who communicate with and understand each other. Finally, having a dog in the office is good for the team’s mental and physical health. You’re more likely to take a walk on your break if you have a dog staring at you with her leash in her mouth. Your colleagues can take their turn walking the dog too if they want to. Most people don’t exercise enough. Walking a dog regularly can help prevent health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and colon and breast cancers. This fabulous pro-dogs-in-offices infographic lays out the facts so you can study up on your argument ahead of National Dog Day and leave your boss with no reason to say ‘no.’ Because the real National Dog Day should be every day of the year and not just 26th August! Courtesy of: Headway Capital About the author:  John Cole  writes on behalf of NeoMam Studios. A digital nomad specializing in leadership, digital media, and personal growth topics, his passions include world cinema and biscuits. A native Englishman, he is always on the move, but can most commonly be spotted in the UK, Norway, and the Balkans.