To help those about to negotiate a new job offer, we’re dropping our $100 Buck Hour to a $50 Buck Hour for the next sixty days. For those with simple questions on the effect of Corona Virus on working conditions, we’re offering a free 15 minute consultation here.

General advice below.

Some Companies Continue to Hire

First, people are still interviewing for jobs and being hired. Waitpersons, valet parking attendants, concert venue workers, and the film and theater industries, not so much. But hiring in the executive, managerial and professional ranks is still happening, as my clients can attest and as Executive Recruiter Suzanne O’Brien assured her clientele this week.

As Suzanne said on Linkedin (watch the video)

I’ve had a client interview at google, another get an offer from a well-funded startup, and yet another land 2 interviews with a non-profit in their area. All the meetings are virtual, but they’re still happening.

81Cents.Com is Putting its 2,000 Member Volunteer Force to Work for You

I’ll let Founder Jordan Sale tell you how 81cents plans to help.

The 81cents community has over 2,000 incredibly talented, well-connected professionals (our ‘pay equity reviewers’) - and is literally built on altruism and kindness. As such, we want to try to adapt 81cents to meet our current needs.

Starting [last week], we will be adding a new component to our community - providing no-cost, personalized support to anyone impacted by COVID-19 with any workplace-related question.

Here’s how it’ll work:

#1. Submit your question(s) here.

Think of it like a “Dear Abby” column where Abby = 100s of product managers, engineers, marketers, & C-Suite execs.

#2. We’ll email the 81cents community the questions we receive.

#3. The feedback we collect will be sent to the individuals who request it within 2 - 3 days.

#4. We’ll regularly share out the questions and answers we collect, so everyone can learn from each other. If you’re interested in supporting us as we facilitate this work at no cost, you can through our Patreon. 10% of proceeds will go to the Coronavirus Care Fund supporting domestic workers economically impacted by COVID-19.

Not only that, but if you purchase a market value package from 81cents, ten percent of the proceeds will go to the Coronavirus Care Fund supporting domestic workers economically impacted by COVID-19.

Pink Slipped?

Check out these resources

You’ve Been Laid Off, Now What?

The New York Times advises laid off, quarantined and furloughed workers as follows:

even if you haven’t lost your job but have been quarantined or furloughed, you might qualify for benefits so check with your State’s unemployment office
if you have been laid off, unemployment benefits typically replace about 45% of your lost income for 26 weeks (though some have pared back to 14 weeks)
many states only cover full-time workers

Pause your student loans (the Times again)

the Education Department has granted a 60-day payment waiver but it’s not automatic
call your loan provider to request a waiver
the waiver doesn’t apply to private student loans unless they choose to waive payments. One of the largest, Sallie Mae, is offering a three month suspension as is Navient for “qualified borrowers. Check it out.

If you expect to be required to pay taxes, file in july (the times again)

the Federal tax filing deadline is now July 15.
there will be no interest or penalties for mid-July filers

You can’t be foreclosed upon or evicted for at least 60 days (again, the times)

this does not appear to apply to all loans, but it does apply to those owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and to people with loans backed by the FHA (this applies to new foreclosures and those already in process)
the Times recommends that nervous renters contact JustShelter.org which is publishing a list of all local and regional actions to pause the eviction of renters.

THINKING OF JUMPING FROM A SECURE JOB TO A MORE EXCITING BUT LESS STABLE START-UP?

We covered potential up-front protections for that in this week’s blog post, Negotiating a New Job in the Midst of a Pandemic. And it doesn’t apply just to start ups. People who don’t need to take a new job should consider whether their potential new employer is in an industry that is being particularly hard hit by the pandemic or, for other reasons, is particularly susceptible to failure during these trying times. At the very least, raise the issue during one or more job interviews.

Vital Information for Laid Off Workers