Layoff: What to Expect

Your supervisor will meet with you individually to inform you of the layoff decision and why the layoff was necessary. He or she will describe the assistance available to you in understanding the impact on your benefits, your rights to recall and preferential rehire, and in your job search. Your supervisor will also schedule an appointment with a recruiter in Employment Services, who will provide you with more detailed information about your rights regarding notice, recall and preferential rehire.1 You may also be invited to additional meetings, which may include representatives from your bargaining unit.

Your department may also organize information sessions with representatives from campus support units, including Benefits, CARE Services, and Employee Relations.

Before the effective date of your layoff, you will receive a written layoff notice from your supervisor. If you are in a bargaining unit, your union will receive notice at the same time.

What you need to do

  1. Attend the meeting with Employment Services.
    • Your manager will schedule a meeting for you with a recruiter from Employment Services. This is an important meeting and it is critical that you attend it or reschedule if you cannot meet on the scheduled date.
    • During your meeting, the recruiter will review with you the policies and procedures regarding preferential rehire and recall rights and give you a copy of the appropriate program policy or contract provisions. Please note that your preferential rehire rights cannot be exercised until you have met with the recruiter in Employment Services.
    • Your recruiter will also describe the outplacement (job search) services offered through Employment Services and through community organizations and agencies.
  2. If possible, bring with you to the meeting:
    • Your most current resume
    • A list of current campus jobs you are interested in
    • Any letters of reference you may have

    If you do not have a resume or are not sure how to find open positions on campus, the recruiter will work with you to develop a resume and will show you how to search for open positions at the University.

  3. Stay in touch with your Employment Services representative
    Continued communication between you and your recruiter is critical to exercising your rights to recall and preferential rehire. In addition, your recruiter will offer you valuable help in conducting an effective job search at the University and in the external job market.

1 Career employees who have been laid off have certain rights with regard to notice, recall, and preferential rehire. These rights vary according to the personnel program or contract governing the employee's appointment.