how to survive a layoff

A layoff is a traumatic experience. I experienced it first hand, 9 years ago, roughly a year after migrating to Canada.

In the Philippines, there’s no such a thing as lay off, well at least before the pandemic hit. I was never laid off from a job before. Like most people experiencing this surprising event, my initial reaction was to panic. Realizing that I could qualify for Employment Insurance (EI), I panicked less but I needed to come up with a plan fast!

Losing a job means losing your income source, and you have to be quick to get another one to maintain your household’s financial security.

In Canada, being laid off is just part of the game, yes, even after your probation period. If the company you work for experiences some difficulties, the lower-ranked employees are always the first ones to go.