Job loss is never a good experience, particularly when it is through no fault of your own. It can feel very isolating, being fired unjustly, but many people have gone through this experience and come through the other side.
There are multiple ways to cope with wrongful termination; choosing health methods of coping is essential. This can ensure you do not drop into a downward spiral of helplessness or begin relying on external sources for comfort.
Thankfully, this post has outlined four of the most important steps exploring recourse for sudden job loss.
Allow Yourself Time to Grieve
Although you might have negative experiences in your former role, it is common to feel helpless and lost when you have just been fired. In fact, it was found that one fifth of Americans, who had been unemployed for a year or more, were undergoing treatment for depression. Healthline also stated that this is “roughly double the rate of depression among those who’ve been without a job for fewer than five weeks.” This shows that experiencing poor mental health after job loss is not unusual.
There are multiple stages of grief that recent job loss can cause, such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The order these stages occur can change depending on the individual, and they might be worse due to the unjust aspect of your job loss. You should not rush through these emotions to avoid the grieving process; there is not timeline for this situation. It is better to work through the grief at a slow pace that feels right for you.
By understanding that grief is a normal reaction to losing your job, and there are multiple stages, you will begin to cope in a healthier manner. You can cope with this experience in numerous ways. It might be beneficial to journal your thoughts and feelings or discuss the matter with a trusted family member, friend, or even a professional counsellor or therapist.
Maintain Mental and Physical Health
Losing your job can have a big impact on your ego, but this can expand to affect your mental health, as previously mentioned. The incident of wrongful job loss can be a shock to the individual, and you might feel like you were being set-up for failure. Being fired illegally might be the result of a protected characteristic, such as age, gender, or race, or because your job was promised to your boss’ daughter, for example.
It is important to remember that this was not within your control. Remembering this can ease some of the stress you might be experiencing, which will boost your mental health slightly. However, you should also work to ensure your physical health does not diminish after being fired. You can maintain your health by creating an efficient, new routine and participating in exercise regularly.
Think About Legal Solutions
As you believe your job loss was unjust, you might want to consider solutions to challenge the company’s decision. This will depend on whether you were an at-will employee or not; if you were, then the company had the right to dismiss you at any time for any reason. You should still make sure the company did not violate anti-discrimination laws in doing so, though. If you think your job loss was due to a protected class, a previous complaint, or whistleblowing, then you should contact an employment law attorney.
Alternatively, you might consider filing a formal complaint with a government office. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) states rules that prohibits adverse employment actions. You will need to provide your name, the name of your employer, and an explanation of your termination when filing a complaint. There is a time limit to make a complaint with this organization, though; you are often only allowed 180 days from the date of your job loss.
Consider a New Career Path
If you lose your job unjustly, it will be an overwhelming experience. You can take this time as an opportunity to forge a new career path, if you want to. To do so, you should think about what the ideal job looks like. This will include looking at your abilities, interests, qualifications, and skills before making a decision.
You could even look into services like career counseling and job placement assistance if you are unsure what to do but would like a change. These services will help you choose a possible career and provide you with the necessary resources to continue.
To conclude, losing your job suddenly and wrongfully can take a toll on you. This can be alleviated by following the four steps in this post: grieving, maintaining good health, considering legal solutions, and forging a new career path.
