Here’s what to do if you get laid off

Organized Finance
2 min readJul 23, 2024

I was laid off from my 6-figure software engineering job in January. Though I did receive a good severance package at the time, navigating unemployment was still a stressful experience. Here’s what to do if you get laid off:

What to do if you get laid off:

#1: Know your benefits:

I received several weeks of garden pay, severance, and health insurance coverage-and I ended up getting paid over $10k for my unused PTO. Find out what benefits you’re entitled to and make sure you receive them.

#2: Don’t leave any money behind:

According to Capitalize, 29.2 million 401(k) accounts have been left-behind or forgotten by people. Please don’t do that! Keep track of your old & existing 401(k) accounts and be aware of any fees associated with them. Roll them over if it makes sense for you. Just make sure you don’t give up money that’s yours.

#3 Figure out your health insurance situation

One of the most immediate concerns after a layoff (in the United States) is health insurance. Evaluate your options, such as COBRA, which allows you to keep your employer’s health insurance for a limited time, or explore options through your state’s health insurance…

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Organized Finance

Stanford grad, software engineer, content creator & personal finance nerd living in SF. Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organized.finance/