Jill Schlesinger

With the labor market downshifting and many industries consolidating, many workers feel like a job loss is just one day away.

To help prepare — or if tomorrow is your unlucky day — here’s what to do if you lose your job:

Sit on your pity pot... for a day

Even if you weren’t crazy about your job, losing it still can be disarming and emotionally rough. Give yourself some grace but not too long — we have much to accomplish!

Tackle two tasks

As the shock of the news moves through your body, focus on health insurance and unemployment benefits. If you received health coverage through work, contact HR to learn about COBRA. This rule allows you to keep your coverage for up to 18 months, but you have to pay for it on your own, which is usually expensive.

Alternatively, if yo

See Full Page