So. After I got over being mad/angry/in shock, I got to thinking.
Unfortunately, I live in Georgia. It’s basically a state geared towards the employer, not employee. Basically, they can do whatever they want to do, fire you or lay you off at will. Besides, it wasn’t just me they laid off. They got rid of two other nurses (one with 14 years and one with 25), a secretary, two ultrasound techs and reduced two people to part-time.
Bastards.
I do have a severance package. Worth one months pay. And I get my “earned” PTO, which amounts to a little over half a regular check at the end of this month. I can choose to continue my benefits at a whopping $689( that’s just health insurance) with Cobra.
So my first order of business yesterday was to get on C-Dub’s insurance at his job. Luckily, when my coverage ends( 9/30), I can pick right up with his with no wait because we have had a “change in status.”
So, at least we will be covered. And his insurance is better.
Now. How to pay the bills when November rolls around and there is no money coming in from me? Unemployment will pay a whopping $300 a week, which will not even equal to half of what I was making. But hey, something is better than nothing right? And I can continue that until the end of the year. But my maternity leave will have to be cut short. WAAAAAY short. I was planning on 3 months. Now, I might have to go back to work at 6 weeks. But I am going back to the hospital. 3 days a week with a baby is way better than 5.
One of my friends just called me a few minutes ago to tell me that they really need help on night shift at my old hospital. NIGHT SHIFT??? I really have to wrap my mind around that one. I never EVER EVER wanted to work night shift again. EVER. But if I’m desperate, I guess I’ll have no choice.
In the meantime, I am going to be a housewife. I am going to have time to get my house in order. My house might actually return to its former glory now that I have an endless amount of time on my hands to clean. C-Dub will actually get a home cooked meal most nights. Hell, he might even get some sex! 🙂 I guess I must be grateful that this happened at 7 1/2 months and not 4. Who knows? Maybe God heard all of my scheming and all of my plans and laughed.
I always joked that I wanted to be a housewife.
I guess God thought it was funny too and gave me my wish.
I guess the moral of this story is:
Be careful what you wish for.
Kathy S.
Wednesday 16th of September 2009
As far as Cobra goes, I know with my husband...Obama signed into law a new thing that if you were unvoluntarily laid off, your employers have to pay 65% of CObra coverage for 9 months. You still have to pay a portion, but it's better than the whole thing.!!! Hope this helps and let me know if you need more info.
rosesdaughter
Tuesday 15th of September 2009
Oh no, Georgia is indeed a right to work state too. Learned that the hard way.
Nina
Tuesday 15th of September 2009
And here I thought that TN and NV were the only right to work states. That's strange. Don't they have to have documentation and stuff? Follow their corporate practices? Maybe they don't have any. I don't know. All I know is I feel your pain, too.
VA Blondie
Tuesday 15th of September 2009
I am sorry about your job. That is really awful.
Personally, I would say be picky about your job. ( I also hate night shifts. They do not do good things to me. I refuse to go back to nights, if I can help it.) You need to take care of yourself and your little one. If you do not want to work nights, then do not work nights. There are jobs out there for nurses, even if it is not exactly what you are doing now.
I hope something works out for you soon. Have fun playing housewife for a while!
B MoM
Tuesday 15th of September 2009
nice to be a house wife for a bit. dont feel bad..they way things are going with me, i'll only be able to afford 6 weeks of maternity leave too...either that or I'll have to quit entirely and move......yikes.