Things to Request From Your Employer If You've Just Been Laid Off

If you think you might be getting laid off soon, here are some things to consider ahead of time. This information also applies if you've already lost your job but it occurred very recently.

Many managers are just not comfortable laying people off. Right after they get out the words, they are in possibly their most generous mood due to the guilt they're feeling, and they will often agree to any number of requests. This obviously doesn't apply in every situation, but if you've just been laid off, politely ask for things. What's the worst thing they can do to you at this point?

Here are some examples:

Ask if you can keep your work laptop. Some companies have policies that require its immediate return, but in some cases it will just sit on a shelf and the company really won't care if you keep it. The same goes for any printers, faxes etc. that you might have at home that the company owns.

Ask the company to pay your COBRA (healthcare) expenses for up to a year, or until you find a new job, whichever comes first. A surprising number of companies are flexible on this point.

Many health insurance plans continue until the last day of the month of your last day of work. Ask if your last day can be extended to the first of the next month so you effectively get another month of health insurance paid by the company.

If they say no to that request and you have accrued vacation, you can ask that it continued to be paid with the normal payroll until it runs out if it will get your last day of work extended to the first of the next month. Depending on your company's policy, your accrued vacation might normally be paid out in a lump sum when you leave.

Ask your now former employer to pay for outplacement services. They may already have something available to you, but if not, it's not too much to ask, and you'll want all the help you can get. An outplacement service can help you to develop a good resume, improve your interview skills, etc.

Ask the company to pay for you to have your resume professionally written. This can cost up to $250-300 but can make a big difference.

Ask to keep your company Blackberry or iPhone if you have one. This is something that's even less likely to be recycled within your company than your laptop. Who wants a used phone? At the very least, ask the company to transfer the ownership of your phone number to you if you want to keep it.

Do you have a loan from your company? Ask that it be forgiven. You never know what they'll say.

Similarly, if you're negative in your vacation balance, ask for that to be forgiven. If you're getting severance, the last thing you want is to have to pay back your negative vacation balance if they'll let you out of it.

Do you have tuition reimbursement or some plan where the company has a payback clause if you leave? Since you're being laid off, it's reasonable to ask that they don't try to take it back.

Do you have unvested stock options of some sort? Ask if they will vest everything immediately.

If you're not being terminated for cause, ask for a letter of recommendation.

Also, don't forget to ask for anything you need that's on your computer.

Remember - it's best to ask for these things while you're still in the room, but otherwise, the sooner the better.