I have survived my second annual thinning of the herd

[Hauldren Collider]

I am not sure whether I am in what you call an "at will" state but if at will means that employers can fire people freely then Virginia most likely is one. Which I think is a good thing, personally.

[Asher]

I am not sure whether I am in what you call an "at will" state but if at will means that employers can fire people freely then Virginia most likely is one. Which I think is a good thing, personally.

It's fantastic until you have a mortgage to pay and kids to feed and retards for management.

[Hauldren Collider]

I'd pull from savings, presumably.

[Kuciwalker]

Our herd is still growing pretty rapidly

[Asher]

I'd pull from savings, presumably.

Yes, it's a great option if you have it. Not everyone does (most don't). A ridiculous number of people live paycheque to paycheque.

[Al B. Sure!]

Asher, I'm puzzled by this you think it's ILLEGAL for a company to not offer severance pay? Is Canada like that? I've never actually heard of severance pay at any of the jobs I've worked at and never heard anyone I know that got terminated (at any job, not just the ones I worked at) talk about severance pay.

I mean often you can cash out your vacation days, I guess, but that's not really severance pay.

I know severance pay does exist like I said for higher professional white collar jobs and high level blue collar ones but like I said, no cashier, salesperson, landscaper, etc. etc. (the vast majority of jobs) will get severance pay.

[Docfeelgood]

my herd became extinct.

[Hauldren Collider]

Yes, it's a great option if you have it. Not everyone (and most) don't. A ridiculous number of people live paycheque to paycheque.

But they are stupid, so perhaps they deserve it

It seems to me that if you are careful with your money most people who are above entry-level should be able to save a decent amount of their income. Then again, what the hell do I know, I'm still a kid.

[Asher]

Asher, I'm puzzled by this you think it's ILLEGAL for a company to not offer severance pay? Is Canada like that? I've never actually heard of severance pay at any of the jobs I've worked at and never heard anyone I know that got terminated (at any job, not just the ones I worked at) talk about severance pay.

I mean often you can cash out your vacation days, I guess, but that's not really severance pay.

I know severance pay does exist like I said for higher professional white collar jobs and high level blue collar ones but like I said, no cashier, salesperson, landscaper, etc. etc. (the vast majority of jobs) will get severance pay.

It depends what you mean by severance pay. It's illegal to tell somebody "you're fired, go home and never return" then only pay them time worked. You'll always need to pay more, unless it's for cause or they're in a probationary period.

[Asher]

But they are stupid, so perhaps they deserve it

It seems to me that if you are careful with your money most people who are above entry-level should be able to save a decent amount of their income. Then again, what the hell do I know, I'm still a kid.

It's very easy in theory to just save. But it's just not practical for many people. They don't get paid enough and their expenses too high. Many of them are stupid, I'm sure. But much of it is just practicality.

[Al B. Sure!]

And yes, HC, VA is an 'at-will employment' state.

[Hauldren Collider]

It depends what you mean by severance pay. It's illegal to tell somebody "you're fired, go home and never return" then only pay them time worked. You'll always need to pay more, unless it's for cause or they're in a probationary period.

What about wage-earners? Couldn't you just dodge that by cutting their hours down?

Alby: Thanks for clarifying.

[Egbert]

It varies from country to country, of course. And also varies between occupations. Here people often get something in the way of severance pay, it may not be much though. As a very rough guide, the unionised blue collar jobs and white collar jobs tend to get more. Many industrial awards have severance pay provisions for long serving employees. Sacking somebody for something other than redundancy or gross misconduct can be tricky, good idea to get advice first.

HC
Gross misconduct includes stealing and assault and is just cause for instant dismissal in Australia and, I think, most Anglo countries including USA.
Wilful disobedience can also be cause for instant dismissal but get advice first.

[Al B. Sure!]

But they are stupid, so perhaps they deserve it

It seems to me that if you are careful with your money most people who are above entry-level should be able to save a decent amount of their income. Then again, what the hell do I know, I'm still a kid.

HC, remember the median income in America is not that much and half of America lives below that. You talk about above 'entry-level' but entry-level what? College grads?

[Al B. Sure!]

It depends what you mean by severance pay. It's illegal to tell somebody "you're fired, go home and never return" then only pay them time worked. You'll always need to pay more, unless it's for cause or they're in a probationary period.

Yeah that's definitely not so in America

How do people get paid for work they didn't do?