June 22, 2011

Surprise layoff leaves no time for goodbyes

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Q: I was recently laid off. It was a real surprise, as I was a stellar employee of more than five years. No reason was given. I am 59, with silver hair. The company offered a severance package and a good recommendation letter. Since I had an excellent work record, I wanted the opportunity to send a “goodbye” email to my co-workers, but I was not given the chance. I later ran into a former co-worker who said the staff was not told anything. I feel that my reputation was undermined. Did I have a right to send a goodbye email? Also, I had some personal info in my Outlook contacts and email; does the company have the right to look at it?
-- J.D., Seattle

Kristen says: Washington is an “at will” employment state, which means that either party can sever the work relationship at any time with no notice, and no reason is required in most circumstances.

It sounds as if you were treated fairly in your layoff, since you received a severance package and a recommendation letter. If you feel that you were a victim of discrimination, you can explore options with the Seattle branch of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

As far as what rights you have as a former employee, there is not much you can do as it relates to your former co-workers and how management chose to handle the situation. I would suggest that you send them LinkedIn invitations/messages, inform them of your situation and seek recommendations from them. They would also be excellent sources for networking for your next opportunity.

In the case of your Outlook information, most companies’ employee handbooks explicitly state that all equipment and data residing on your work computer and the corporate network are considered company property. This includes any email you receive and any information you choose to keep in your work contacts.

Layoffs are never easy, especially when you feel that you were an exemplary employee. It is important to remember that this was a business decision, not a personal one. Reconnect with your former team on LinkedIn, give them an update and move on to new opportunities.

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