I've Just Been Laid-Off

Question:

"I am a bartender who is now out of work due to the coronavirus health crisis. How do I supplement my income until I can get back to work?"

Answer:

Depending on when you read this, solutions to the problem may be on the way. Congress, the Department of Labor and others are floating various ideas, because there are a lot of people in your situation.  A solution that works for you may not work for others, depending partly on your health status and how concerned you are about possible exposure to the coronavirus. But here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Some companies are hiring lots of people, partly to fill the gap left by closing restaurants. For instance, grocery stores are in search of stockers, and they pay surprisingly well. (It may not sound like fun to do permanently, but it might not be bad for right now.)

  • Transportation options are becoming limited. Could you drive an Uber or Lyft?

  • Could you do odd jobs for neighbors, especially elderly ones? Repair or gardening projects come to mind, or running errands for people who are unable to leave their homes.

  • Do you have a special skill you could use, or teach? Could you offer guitar lessons, or proofread someone’s novel?

  • There are many legitimate work-from-home opportunities. Check out episode 22 of this podcast for more details.

  • With restaurants now being closed for dine-in service, you could look into options with Uber Eats or Door Dash. They are experiencing an increase in demand for their services right now.

  • Similarly, companies like Shipt and Instacart are hiring shoppers to fulfill grocery orders for those who prefer to have their items home-delivered.

  • You probably have some extra time on your hands; maybe now is a good time to declutter and sell your castoffs on eBay. Amazon, Facebook or NextDoor are other possibilities.

  • Many, many parents need childcare because they have to show up at work. Could you babysit for a family, or maybe two?

  • You may be able to file for Unemployment Insurance. We’ll include a link to this website in our show notes for this episode.

  • Think about your transferable skills: things you do well, that you can do in a variety of different jobs, companies, even industries. Can you use any of them now, to make short-term cash? Use your imagination.

  • If you’ve wanted to monetize your website, podcast or blog, now is a good time to figure out how to do that.

  • You may be eligible to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for a period of time. Here’s the link to learn more about this option.

  • Last, but not least, reach out to friends and social media. People who know you may have some great ideas for you. They also might be able to connect you to others who know about potential opportunities.

None of these ideas may work for you long-term. But all of them have possibilities for the next few weeks (hopefully not months) until you can get back to your regular job.

Jessica Mills