financial help needed

[Guest guest]

Chad,

I had another thought about you and your employer. If this employer is

in fact, suggesting you resign (and I would DEFINITELY find out the

reason for this), ask for severance pay. Since this " news " just seemed

to come out of 'nowhere' and suspiciously seemed to be timed with your

diagnosis, you certainly have a right to ASK. And I'd ask for at least

6 mos., if not 1 year. If your employer is willing to negotiate, start

asking for 1 year's severance, plus your benefits, etc. This is not

unreasonable and should help you out in the meantime with bills and

expenses while you find other work or even while you fight your

employer's decision to terminate you. Don't leave the meeting with your

employer until you have a check in your hand, or are able to continue

working at your job. I hope things work out well for you in this regard.

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Gretchen and all,

Thanks for the thoughts and comments. While this was all in process, I

contacted my state's attorney for civil service and he walked me through

my rights and helped me look into my employers rights as well. The

problem with my situation is that I work for a non-profit Christian

based camp that has a lot of exemptions legally...so, I can't even go

claim unemployment from here.

Yesterday, I went through Michigan Rehabilitation services orientation

and am in the process of working with our Department of Human Services

applying for financial assistance.

We are really in the middle between a rock and a hard place though. We

don't really make a ton now, so we have nothing to fall back on while

we wait for state funded assistance to kick in.

I don't want to paint my employer as bad either, they really have been

pretty supportive through all this...except for accomodating all my

doctors restrictions.

Thanks again,

Chad