Tips for Getting Through a Job Loss in the Family

Frightening, stressful, overwhelming; these are all words used to describe the experience of losing one’s job. A tough global economy and political upheaval have resulted in more and more people facing these and other feelings as they and their families go through the financial and emotional strain that occurs when the primary breadwinner is suddenly unemployed. As new jobs are pursued and other employment options explored, the whole family must find ways to make their new situation work and keep the family moving forward together.

Effects of job loss on the family

The most obvious effect of job loss on a family is financial. As the source of supporting income ends, the family will find themselves evaluating their necessary and unnecessary expenses and determining what has to be sacrificed or downsized in the interim before a new job is found. Expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills and food have to be paid, though there may be programs to help reduce these expenses for a short time.

The emotional strain on a family is also great. The difficulty of trying to find new employment can make tempers shorter and patience thinner than usual. It is also a time when supporting one another and being there for one another is vitally important. Sometimes the strain may be too much and knowing when to seek counsel from outside the home, either professional or spiritual, may make a difference in whether the family is able to get through this difficult time together.

Starting over after a job loss

After the initial shock of losing one’s job and the grief and disorientation of finding oneself in that position, it is time to sit down with the family and discuss what the viable options are for achieving new employment. Today’s job market is tough, with many unemployed people forced to pursue and take lower paying full-time jobs or to take two or even three part-time jobs in order to support their families. Good jobs are out there, but for many newly unemployed people it means having to go through retraining in a field or pursue further schooling in order to qualify and compete with other candidates just as desperate for the limited positions.

In some cases, the family may have to face the prospect of relocation in order to recover from a job loss. While job choices may be scarce in some cities and regions of the country, other places are desperate for workers and are willing to assist potential workers and their families in the relocation and employment process. If this is an option for the family it is important to thoroughly discuss it as a family before making a decision.

For many, unemployment or under-employment becomes an opportunity to pursue the dream of starting a business. In many states, new businesses are given a variety of tax and financial benefits that make it easier for an individual to begin setting up a new venture. Proper research into the legal and financial ramifications of starting a new business must be done before proceeding; a variety of online references, including sites such as www.atlantic-umbrella.com, can provide information and assistance in answering questions and preparing a budding entrepreneur to get a new venture off the ground.

Brad Riley is a freelance writer who loves to write about his interests in online incomes, travel and DIY.