7 things to do if you are fired from a job due to Coronavirus Outbreak

By Ehsanul Hoq

A job is not only a job, but it might also be a dream for you. Unfortunately, whenever there is a failure in our system the immediate response is to fire employees. For years, millions of employees were fired from their jobs due to natural and man-made disasters

In practice, it is also known as mass layoffs. Before World War II, the practice of firing employees was not significant globally, especially in the USA. Many times governments ensured protection against firing in the 20th century.

After World War II, the allied nations saw a remarkable boost in their economy. Sectors like Banking, Airline, Railroad, Utilities and Technologies saw large growth. At the same time, the worker-employee relationship was becoming more complex. Employees were more aware of their rights, payment and work flexibility. Employees started to switch jobs frequently to improve salary and position.

The 1970s saw the first major downsizing in the USA which started to take shape as a phenomenon. Many corporations failed and started to exploit employee rights to save the companies.

In 2008, thousands of employees were fired globally. Employees from finance to retail sectors are forced to give up their jobs to save the salary cost of the company.

“Dear Valued Worker, You’re Fired”
Read the Story: nytimes

For the last 12 years, our world was healing from the global financial crisis of 2008. Many laid-off employees during the crisis found new jobs while others became freelancers. Working online became more popular with those who wanted to serve multiple companies to earn more.

When you started to feel confident about your work and lifestyle after the financial crisis again a new black cloud started to cover your life. Scientists named it COVID-19 or more popularly known as Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Outbreak

Coronavirus is a new pandemic that started in Wuhan, China and now sweeping the whole of Europe and North America on a large scale. The virus can’t be controlled right now, making it the most significant outbreak since the Spanish Flu of the 1920s.

COVID-19 or Coronavirus outbreak is similar to the SARS outbreak in China in 2002, which had a lesser global impact during that time.

Since we don’t know how to control Coronavirus, the only way to save the human race is to enforce mass lockdown worldwide. Lockdowns will stop everything you do on a daily basis and push you to survive at a bare minimum.

You have to stop traveling, shopping and eating out to make sure that the virus is not spread to others. Unfortunately, this theory of lockdown was highly ignored by many individuals and states. Government leaders are trying to act normal with an excuse to save the economy.

Consequently, the COVID-19 virus is spreading from one country to another like hellfire destroying anything in the path. Those who are saved from this pandemic will lose their jobs like you and me to save companies once again.

But this time you should be prepared.

Most of World Lacks Unemployment Insurance.
Source: International Labour Organization

7 things to do if you are fired from a job now

Use emergency funds to save the day.
Look for opportunities to cut back expenses.
Go Online and search for freelance jobs.
Ask a friend for help.
Check the community programs.
Learn new skills online.
Check Unemployment benefits.

1. Use emergency funds to save the day

You can’t expect a pandemic every now and then. For instance, the last Spanish Flu pandemic happened 100 years ago.

So it’s the time for those who have been wise enough to keep some emergency funds aside to utilize it.

You might need to pay for your food, bills other expenses even though you have zero income sources. Rather than borrowing money to save the day just use the emergency funds now.

If the emergency funds are not enough to cover all the expenses during the lockdown period don’t get stressed. Just think about how you can spend less to cover most of the time till the pandemic is over. Once it is over you might find new opportunities in the new world.

2. Look for opportunities to cut back expenses

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only teaching you how to stay at home but also giving the time to look at your expenses.

Generally, when we have jobs often we overlook the unnecessary expenses that are occurring each day. We might spend eating out while keeping a large stock of food at home which is not necessary.

Other times, we spend a lot on shopping, subscriptions and gadgets.

So take a paper and pen now and track all the unnecessary expenses you did in the past. Cut down the expenses and you will feel much confident and can breathe normally for at least a few months. Just use the money to buy things that are important for the survival of you and your family.

3. Go Online and search for freelance jobs

The freelancing community is becoming bigger each year. Many of the employees who lost their jobs during the 2008 financial crisis never came back to the traditional workforce. Rather they found the new way to make money and freedom.

Online has many more wonderful opportunities now than in the last few decades. Just creating an account can earn you thousands of dollars in the worst situations possible.

Many companies still need writers, virtual assistants, data specialists and many other people who can work from remote spaces. The good thing about freelancing is that you can pay the bills while working safely from home.

This is this the picture of online freelancers in 2018-

Country	Freelancers
United States	558,965
India	245,342
Philippines	162,233
Pakistan	62,442
Bangladesh	55,449

Source: Analyticshelp

According to Freelancers, one of the largest freelancing job portals in the world, they have currently 17,568,453 jobs posted on their website. So it is enough for you to try and do a project for other individuals and companies to cover up the losses for your unemployed situation.

4. Ask a friend for help

Masked Woman in a Store — Source: Pexels

The effect of coronavirus won’t be the same for all of us. Different numbers are coming up regarding unemployment in the USA. For instance, 16.78 million people asked for temporary unemployment benefits. Federal reserve bank of St. Louis declared that around 47 million people will lose their job in this quarter.

Whatever the number is we have to accept that the pandemic will affect at a different rate in different regions. So ask a friend if you need some quick cash, a loan or even any job they might offer you during these tough times.

5. Check the community programs

From South Asia to North America there have been reports of many community programs to help the people who are the most affected. In the USA, several federal level community organizations are helping people. They are providing foods, medicines, unemployment benefits, etc.

211.org is giving assistance to those who need COVID-19 in all the states of the USA. There are many other food banks, charity, NGO’s and microfinance organizations that might help you to survive the current situation.

In Bangladesh, there are organizations like Onetakameal, Brac and other smaller organizations are trying to provide food and other supports to the poor people. On the other hand In India, where the world’s largest lockdown going on, providing food support to everyone, can be a big challenge. To ensure minimum food support Indian government is trying many schemes to provide rice, wheat and pulses to those who lost their jobs.

Checking your local community might be a good idea now. Ask for any kind of support you need. Many people are staying alive thanks to the community supports.

6. Learn new skills online

Are you a hotel employee, travel agent, restaurant worker Or salesman?

According to Business insider, 4 million people working in the hotel industry are at risk of losing their job. The Hospitality and tourism sector won’t survive the months of global lockdown and will be forced to cut off employees at mass.

So if you relied on one skill to serve your organization then there is a chance that you might lose your job. The lockdown will is the perfect time to visit online websites and learn new skills that you can use to earn some extra cash.

Websites like Skillshare, Udemy, Upskill and Coursera have excellent courses for you to upgrade your skills. For example, you used to be a chef in a local restaurant and lost your job due to the lockdown. Now try the courses first that teach how to start your own online business. Once you know how to sell online now search for a specific skill like web design, graphics design, writing or blogging and try selling those skills.

In the beginning, you will earn very little. But in time you will start earning more by selling more. Some of the online skill selling platforms are – Upwork, Fiverr and freelancer

7. Check Unemployment benefits

Not all countries give unemployment benefits to the citizens. But if you live in a country where unemployment benefits program is available don’t feel shy taking it.

The program in the USA provides the laid off employees to enjoy half of their salary at the previous job for 26 weeks. This is enough to sustain the COVID-19 lockdown period.

However, the benefit is not the same in each country. For instance, European countries like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France and Germany have the most generous packages.

In a report by ILO it is stated that- “Most of World Lacks Unemployment Insurance. Seventy-five per cent of the 150 million people unemployed around the world lack any unemployment insurance protection”

So if you are lucky enough to avail the program just don’t think twice and file for unemployment benefits now.

Final Thoughts

You have nothing to do about the current situation. Companies will keep failing during the toughest times and firing is the only solution for them. But what you can do is that if you have the strength to survive you will come back with a stronger mind.

Just learn how to use your emergency funds, cut back your expenses, learn new skills, apply for online jobs and ask help from your community, friends and unemployment programs. You will surely go through this hard times.

What do you think? If you have anything more in mind leave us a comment below.

Next Episode: Is it the right time to invest in digital currency?.

Ehsanul Hoq

Ehsanul Hoq is an independent financial researcher and freelance content writer/Blogger

7 things to do if you are fired from a job due to Coronavirus Outbreak