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There are certain things you should expect if you have been made redundant by your company due to the Covid-19 pandemic. You have rights, and your employer is legally obligated to fulfil specific responsibilities.
For example, you may be eligible for certain compensations, including the following. [1]
Your rights include being able to demand certain monetary payments from the government if your company becomes insolvent due to the pandemic.
Redundancy and holiday pay as well as any outstanding wages, commissions or overtime can all be paid out by the government once you meet their criteria. [2]
Your position cannot be made redundant unfairly. This includes not following standard reductions by role or job experience.
If you believe that you were marked redundant due to your gender, disability, age, or being pregnant, then you can fight against the dismissal. [1]
Coping with redundancy during the pandemic is something millions of people are learning how to come to terms with it. Looking for work alongside millions of other people while being unable to go canvas the area for jobs physically is even more challenging.
It can lead to spiralling negative thoughts and emotions. Finding a way to overcome the anxieties and stress while maintaining your mental and physical health, family life, and searching for a new position can be difficult. We have a few suggestions that may help ease the process a bit.
You might find yourself feeling some shame or guilt over losing your position. However, it is important to remember that being made redundant is not a reflection of you as a person or your abilities.
Not every job position is created equally, and some are more financially burdensome on a company than others. It could also be that your entire department needed downsizing to accommodate how the pandemic has affected spending.
Whatever the reason for being marked redundant, it is not down to your skills or personality. You have nothing to feel guilty about. It might be tempting to let this period of time impact your self-esteem but remember that you are not to blame.
Losing your job during a time when social distancing, community lockdowns, and fear of contracting Covid-19 make it hard to get a chance to network can be frustrating. It will be much easier to cope if you can keep yourself feeling relaxed and well-rested.
Ways to do this include taking days for yourself and making sure to add positive mental health activities into your daily or weekly schedules (e.g., hobbies, meditation, therapy, family time, etc.).
There are plenty of cheap and free training workshops online for every type of job position. You can increase your knowledge in electronics, a specific field, or improve on skills you already possess.
You can also find books and other material at your local library to educate you on whatever new expertise you are attempting to master. Most communities also have local free or low-cost, certified computer classes that you can take.
For individuals who already have a diagnosed mental disorder adding the level of stress that comes with redundancy might require a little extra support in the form of therapy, a self-help group, or medication.
Staying on top of any symptoms will make it easier to be positive and move forward.
Loneliness due to social isolation is also something that you will want to counter with in-person or online interactions. There are plenty of clubs, groups, and forums for filling the gap left in the social fabric of everyday life.
Right now, it is tempting to stay up to date on everything happening in the world. You have the time, and you may have causes that you care about which make you tune in for every new update.
Every day headlines are bombarding us from our phones, computers, and television. Unfortunately, there is a significant amount of negativity in the news and adding that to any stress you are already experiencing due to being let go can be unhealthy.
Avoiding the information entirely is not the answer, but watch in moderation and take frequent breaks when you need it.
While it might be possible to stall specific bills temporarily, there are still daily costs of living that you will need to be able to cover. If you have a family, then that required amount goes up.
You can try looking into contract work while you brush up your resume, job skills, and work on networking in your preferred field.
There are also plenty of skills that can be used for online contract work so you can earn money at home. Many companies are also moving their seasonal and part-time positions online to save money and accommodate the pandemic’s health safety standards.
This means there are more options than ever for earning a little side income.
One significant stressor in life finances, whether you are working or not. Now that you are aware that Jobcentre Plus will be able to help you get any earned payments regardless of the state of the company, you can have some small peace of mind.
However, it is essential to plan ahead for when or if those funds run dry before you can get a new position.
If you are new to the idea of a budget, there are hundreds of useful sites, forums, and apps which can do the heavy lifting for you. Plug in the numbers and monthly costs, and it will spit out a perfect budget formula to keep you in the black.
Simply seeing everything written out and stated clearly can help lessen some of the mental burdens that come with financial uncertainties.
A lot of government funds have been set aside to help individuals and families impacted by the pandemic. There are programmes for assisting with financial responsibilities, coping with mental or physical health concerns, and family services.
You can reach out to your local council to see if you qualify for Hardship Funds which are set aside to assist with paying bills for people in need.
There is also government support for anyone who is under financial strain due to Covid-19, including mortgage payment holidays of three months. [3]
Another option is signing up for Universal Credit which provides funds for people out of work and gives a set amount monthly towards bills. [4]
There are online support groups, telehealth options for therapy, and plenty of apps and websites designed to help with meditation and mindfulness.
These are all helpful resources, and you can look in your area to see if there are any nearby community programmes designed to make the pandemic easier to live with day to day.
One-on-one therapy or group meetings can be found by reaching out to your local health care clinic.
You can get more than certification courses for polishing up your resume. There are plenty of sites online where you can go to start networking for potential jobs such as LinkedIn.
You can use those and community resources to send out feelers to companies and individuals who may be hiring in your area of expertise.
The National Career Service has many areas of their official website that supply helpful job searching tools like the following: [5]
It might be tempting to obsess over what your current circumstances could mean for your future as the pandemic continues to disrupt regular job searching and hiring.
However, that is counterproductive and will only add to your stress without actually accomplishing anything useful. Instead, it is better to focus your attention and energy on each day as it comes.
This is a chance to relax, improve yourself, and enjoy time with your family. Coping is as much about being prepared for whatever comes next as it is enjoying the moment.
This might not always be easy, but there are plenty of resources around you to make it possible.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights
[2] https://www.gov.uk/your-rights-if-your-employer-is-insolvent/your-rights
[3] https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/mortgage-payment-holidays
[4] https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
[5] https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/cv-sections
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. He also covers a variety of topics relating to addiction and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox process.
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