| 31. |
REVIEW YOUR CONTRACT. Read
your employment contract carefully! Were any of the terms of your
employment breached by your employer when you were laid off? If so,
you may have a legal case against your employer. |
 |
| 32. |
MAINTAIN A DIARY. If litigation
becomes necessary to protect your rights, information that you’ve
stored in your work diary can be helpful to your cause. Don’t
rely solely on your memory to recall important facts, events, and
dates. |
|
| 33. |
SEAL YOUR PERSONNEL FILE. To prevent any misinterpretations of your past work performance by
anyone in the future, ask your employer to seal your personnel file.
By doing so, you and your employer agree that no one will be able
to view your personnel file without your permission. Obviously, this
is a negotiable item. |
|
| 34. |
FORWARDING OF YOUR MESSAGES. Ask your employer if he or she is willing to forward any phone calls
or email messages that you may receive for the next few weeks. This
will give you ample time to inform colleagues, friends, and associates
of your separation from the company. In matters of business, make
sure you refer the person back to someone at the company who can help
them. |
|
| 35. |
BINDING AGREEMENT. When you
and your ex-employer have come to an agreement, make sure your employer
agrees in writing that any benefits due you will continue if the company
sells out to a new owner during the period your benefits are due. |
|
| 36. |
NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT. Often,
employers will try to get you to sign a non-compete agreement that
will restrict who, where, and when you can engage in similar employment.
Resist these agreements at all costs as they will only endanger your
future employment. Never sign one without having it carefully reviewed
by a competent attorney. |
|
| 37. |
NON-DISPARAGEMENT AGREEMENT. Many employers will ask you to sign an agreement that forbids you
to "bad mouth" the company, its employees and officers,
and its products or services. These agreements are OK as long as you
get one in return. |
|
| 38. |
TAKE YOUR MONEY WITH YOU. When you leave a job it is often advantageous to move the money to
your control and away from your ex-employer’s plan by rolling
over your 401(k) money directly to a Rollover IRA. A direct rollover
will avoid taxes and the early-withdrawal penalty. |
|
| 39. |
DON’T WORRY. Like most
people you’ll find a new job soon. It often takes an event such
as this to help us grow and discover new experiences, friends, places,
and opportunities. |
|
|
Written for Lamaute
Capital, Inc. by James C. Gonyea, Internet
Career Connection |
