Layoff

Must be an epidemic.

> What ethical obligations do I have to my employer during a temporary layoff?

The same obligations that you have when you are not on a temporary layoff.

Larry P

I could use a little more explanation on that. I'm not talking about divulging company secrets, or stealing clients or anything similar. I am referring to my means of making a living while I am on layoff.

If you are being paid by them, you are obligated. If you are getting paid by the government (unemployment) , you have obligations there.

Personally, I would speak honestly with my employer. I doubt they expect you to starve while you wait.

For the purposes of this discussion, "layoff" = "told to stay at home and not being paid for the privilege of doing so".

FWIW, unemployment is a sizeable pay cut.

Are you receiving any compensation during the temporary layoff? If not, it appears to be a one way street for the benefit of your employer unless you enjoy the time off.

Pablo B-)

noun
plural noun: ethics; noun: ethics

1.
moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior.
"Judeo-Christian ethics"
synonyms: moral code, morals, morality, values, rights and wrongs, principles, ideals, standards (of behavior), value system, virtues, dictates of conscience

By definition it is up to you. As for me, I'm gonna feed my family any way I can.

Layoff ? Are You Collecting Unemployment ?

If you do work, do not attempt to cheat and get unemployment to boot.

If you do work but only part time, plan your work carefully. Something I learned while employing union laborers. They were typically laid off in winter, but I had certain work that had to be done occasionally. I contacted the supervisor and said I had 4 days of work. He said they would come in, but the workers would not be happy because they would lose 1 week of unemployment. However if they worked 2 days 1 week and 2 days the next week the partial deductions of unemployment for 2 days would leave them a few dollars ahead. Since what work had to be done was the same I agreed.

Check with your unemployment office for allowable work days and unemployment reductions. For instance 2 10 or 12 hour days may still be considered 2 days. Working 3 or 4 days could be disadvantageous to your total take home.

I see no general problem in doing the exact same work for a different employer. If you are licensed and will be signing work I would suggest you talk to your regular employer. If you plan to work as a subcontractor, the unemployment office may consider you as self employed and you lose all unemployment. Better to talk to them first.

If you have continued health benefits while unemployed, be cautious you may lose them or you may owe your regular employer compensation.

Paul in PA

Without a set return date, none. If they can't justify keeping you on then I would have trouble justifying my staying with them. I've gone through layoffs, seasonal and due to slow downs; one company gave me a return date so I sat on my rear and got right back to it, the other company and I parted ways.

Not sure where you are coming from, but if you are layed off and need to work you find work and do it. When the temporary layoff is over, you can decide then if you want the job back.
Ethical obligations to an employer are up to you even if you are layed off. For me, I'll find work and go for it. My employer ain't paying me a retainer to sit at home and wait for his call. But, I wouldn't diss him either.

I'd say it's totally up to you. If your boss can't swing some busy work for you to keep you around, then I'd have to say I'd be looking for something else. If he knows he can save a few bucks and just cut you whenever he needs to, something is wrong.

Wrong message board... That's a question for an attorney.

> I could use a little more explanation on that.

Sorry for the somewhat cryptic message earlier. Kinda busy and just stopping in for a moment here and there.

Your obligations while on layoff (that term more completely described other places herein) are the same as you would have with a former employer. At this time, if you are not being paid, then you are a former employee. The fact you might come back in the future does not matter.

You shouldn't divulge any information obtained about your clients, their projects or the company. If the information is open and public record, then you can discuss in a limited manner. (There is a fine line there sometimes so be careful.)

You shouldn't take any information from the office of your former employer. (Unless you were the responsible professional in charge and your name, signature and seal appears on them. Even then it might be best to not worry about having copies of any files unless or until some circumstance requires you to defend what you did.)

That is a very brief partial list. Hope it helps.

Larry P

Your first ethical obligation is to take care of yourself and your family. Any good employer will understand and respect that. If they don't, you don't need them.

Good luck.

Ask him to define Temporary.

If you can't feed your family, you have your answer. You don't need no stinkin' atorney

Ask him to define Temporary.

"If you can't feed your family, you have your answer. You don't need no stinkin' atorney(sic"

I didn't see that he said he couldn't feed his family...

Depends upon if you have a contract and/or what it says with the company you work for.

There is usually nothing wrong with having more than one job at a time if you can handle it.

I've hired many guys that were on hold waiting for their company to call them.

Their company had no problem as long as they picked up and arrived on their jobsite when they were called in.

Ask him to define Temporary.

>
> I didn't see that he said he couldn't feed his family...

I think I'm the one who said that, but it is irrelevant to the discussion. You do what you gotta do, whether it's feed your family or work just so you don't go nucking futz.

> For the purposes of this discussion, "layoff" = "told to stay at home and not being paid for the privilege of doing so".
>
> FWIW, unemployment is a sizeable pay cut.

FWIW, unemployment will keep the lights on and your employer paid it in. Don't look gift horse's in the mouth.

Or starve. The choice is yours.