美国国家公共电台 NPR--Advice on what to do if you think you might be laid off

Advice on what to do if you think you might be laid off

Transcript¹

January is usually a big month for layoffs³. How should you prepare if you think your job may be at risk? We asked some experts.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

January can be a big month for layoffs.

DWANE BROWN, HOST:

Amazon plans to cut about 18,000 corporate⁴ jobs. And the software giant Salesforce says it's laying off about 8,000 employees. That's about 10% of its workforce⁵.

FADEL: Michelle Singletary is a personal finance columnist⁶ for The Washington Post.

MICHELLE SINGLETARY: You know, you never know when layoffs are going to hit, and so you want to be very into what's happening in your industry.

FADEL: She's got advice on what you can do if you think job losses are coming.

SINGLETARY: The first thing you want to do is go back to your budget and start cutting now. The benefit is if you don't get laid off, you're in a great position, and if you do, you've already started those cuts.

BROWN: Singletary says you should also look for ways to reduce loan payments.

SINGLETARY: During really tough times, lenders will give you a break, but you must - you must - be in communication with them. So the moment you know you're in trouble, call. Call your credit card company. Call the auto⁷ lender. Call your mortgager. Call the rental⁸ office.

BROWN: You can also get money by filing for unemployment.

SINGLETARY: All the public service social safety nets, you should apply for.

FADEL: And do it as soon as you can because it can take weeks for those benefits to kick in.

BROWN: Financial planner Tammy Lally advises those who get a layoff² notice to take care of any medical needs before their last day on the job.

TAMMY LALLY: Take advantage of your health insurance, meaning, you know, like, if you haven't had an annual physical, get one.

BROWN: And when it comes to finding another job?

SARAH RODEHORST: Start with your resume and LinkedIn. That's, like, job search 101. But beyond that - network, network, network.

FADEL: Sarah Rodehorst is the co-founder of Onwards HR, which helps companies carry out layoffs. She says you should let people know you're back on the market.

RODEHORST: One of the fastest way to find your next job is to post that you just were laid off by a really well-known company, tech company, and your skills are sought after. We've talked to recruiters, and they are specifically searching on LinkedIn for people who are doing those posts and especially how they handle and present themselves.

BROWN: Losing a job can be tough, but Rodehorst says it probably won't last for long.

RODEHORST: It may feel like the sky is falling, but it is temporary. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor⁹ Statistics, actually 66% of workers find new employment in fewer than 15 weeks.

BROWN: Hopeful words for those at risk of a layoff.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 layoff   

n.临时解雇，操作停止，活动停止期间，失业期

参考例句：

• Finally, prepare an explanation about what led to your layoff.最后，要准备好一套说辞来解释你被解雇的原因。
• Workers were re-employed after the layoff.在暂时解雇不久后工人们又被再度雇用了。

3 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

4 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

5 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

6 columnist   

n.专栏作家

参考例句：

• The host was interviewing a local columnist.节目主持人正在同一位当地的专栏作家交谈。
• She's a columnist for USA Today.她是《今日美国报》的专栏作家。

7 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

8 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

9 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。