Getting Fired as a Remote Worker – What to Do Next

Worker receiving letter getting fired

More and more people have begun working remotely, especially during the pandemic. Working from home can be extremely convenient. You can stay in your home’s comfort, and you just need your computer or laptop.

Even with a remote job, your whole life is influenced by work. You plan your free time according to your working hours and plan your budget based on your income. So, if you end up getting fired, your world will shatter. You’ll no longer have an income source, and this can greatly affect your quality of life.

What can you do if you are fired as a remote worker? Here are some steps you should take.

Take Notes

It’s important to understand what made your employer fire you. Perhaps you did something wrong and you didn’t understand it when your employment was terminated.

Ideally, you should start taking notes to properly understand everything your manager is saying. The same goes for your discussions with the HR representative. Look over the notes before signing the final documents following the termination. This way, you’ll see if what your employer/HR representative said is the same as the details in those documents.

Don’t Lose Your Temper

Losing your job is a stressful situation. It is normal to feel sad and angry, and you’ll likely be tempted to start pleading, screaming, or even swearing. But this is not the best course of action, and it won’t help you. You shouldn’t allow your emotions to get the best of you.

Instead, you should allow yourself some time to calm down before doing anything you’ll regret later. Sit in silence, take deep breaths, and think about what happened so you can get a better understanding of it.

Sure, you might feel like going off on your boss, but don’t start arguing there. It will help you more if you talk calmly and take notes instead.

Talk to Meaningful Coworkers and Vendors

During the time you’ve spent with the company, you most likely established some good relationships with coworkers and vendors. Just because you got fired it doesn’t mean you have to cease communication with them altogether.

If you are fired, you should let them know how much they meant to you while you worked there and how they were a good influence on your career. On top of that, establish how you want to keep in touch with each other.

Don’t Sign Everything Right Away

Knowing that your employment was terminated and there is nothing you can do to change your boss’s decision, you may just sign everything you are given. This way, you can get done with it and move on. With your feelings being all over the place right now, you might not question too much. You just want to look for a new job to support yourself.

Still, don’t rush to sign everything yet. You’re more likely to sign something you shouldn’t when you’re in shock, and this might only work against you in the future.

What you should do is tell your employer that you will come back with clarifications or questions later. Until everything is clear, you should not offer your signature on anything.

Your lawyer should look over the documents first.

Hire an Attorney

If you want a smooth process, you should hire a good employment defense attorney in your area. Your lawyer can help you if you think you were wrongfully terminated. He or she will advise you on what to do next and what to avoid doing. If your employer discriminated against you, having an attorney who can help you prove it can be very useful, even when working remotely.

Start Asking Questions About the Future

Now that you were fired, you should start asking some questions regarding the future. You must plan your next moves so you know how you can support yourself and your family following this incident.

Ask whether you can get any help in finding a new job, and what happens with unemployment benefits and severance pay. Moreover, ask when your health insurance ends, and how the company will inform future employers in reference checks.

Final Thoughts

After getting fired from your remote job, you will understandably be angry and frustrated, and you’ll want to argue with your boss. But it is more important to focus on staying calm, planning your next move, and making sure you understand what happened. Ideally, you should also hire an attorney who can help you navigate this situation more smoothly.

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