Keep Your Wits About You When You Are Fired

Being fired from work, especially if it is unexpected, can be a shock. You might be tempted to fly off the handle and act out in a negative manner. This isn’t usually a good idea, so you have to make sure that you are keeping your wits about you if you are let go.

One of the first things to do if you are fired is to find out why. Make sure that you listen carefully to the reasoning. If you think there is something amiss and you were fired for an illegal reason, such as for reporting discriminatory behavior, you might be able to take legal action.

Another thing to find out is what type of severance, if any, you are entitled to. Oftentimes, employees who have a contract will have a clause for severance pay. Knowing what you are entitled to and what you are going to do to assert your rights is imperative.

Try not to be negative when you are let go. Even if you are the victim of wrongful termination, badmouthing your former employer isn’t going to be helpful at all. Instead, take a look at what positive skills you learned on the job and use that to your advantage when you are looking for a new job. You can always explore your options for fighting wrongful termination but speaking negatively of the former employer might hinder your chances at finding another job.

You should make sure that you don’t let the employer get away with wrongful termination in any form. While California is an at-will employment state, employers can’t use termination in a discriminatory or retaliatory manner.

Source: The Balance, “You’re Fired! How to Handle Getting Fired,” Alison Doyle, accessed Feb. 16, 2018