As my family shares more of Charlie’s story from the airport and the next steps as he looks for a new job. I wanted to let you know if you’re young and this is your first serious employment problem, the words people use can get confusing quickly.
If someone says you’re suspended do you know what this means? Or if someone else says you’ve been fired do you know what that means? Maybe somebody says you’ve been “let go” or maybe you’re simply told to wait for another phone call.
And suddenly you’re sitting at home wondering: “Do I still have a job?” That’s a question worth getting an actual answer to. As part of our Teen Entrepreneur: When Plan A Changes series, we’re looking at the difference between some of the employment terms young workers may hear.
This article is for general educational purposes. Employment laws, company policies, contracts, and unemployment rules can vary depending on the circumstances and where you work.
Being suspended generally means an employee is temporarily removed from work. A suspension may be connected to an investigation, disciplinary issue, workplace concern, or another situation involving the employer.
A suspension may be paid or unpaid, depending on the circumstances and the employer’s policies. There may be a specific return date. Or you may be told that the employer will provide another update later.
The important thing to understand is: A suspension does not automatically mean you have been fired. If you’re suspended, ask: “Am I still employed?” “Is the suspension paid or unpaid?”
“Am I expected to return to work?” “When should I expect another update?” “Is there anything I need to do while I’m waiting?” Don’t guess. Ask. You will not know if you don’t ask.
When an employer fires or terminates someone, the employment relationship has ended. That’s different from a temporary suspension. But even then, there are questions.Make sure you find out:
When did the employment end? What happens with the final paycheck? Does company property need to be returned? Are there benefits that need to be addressed? Could the employee qualify for unemployment? What paperwork should be kept? Don’t rely on assumptions. Find out what applies to your situation.
For Texas workers, final-pay rules are important to understand. Which is what David and I tried to tell Charlie until we was blue in the face. When an employee is discharged or laid off, Texas generally requires the final paycheck to be paid within six calendar days after the date of discharge.
Different rules apply when an employee leaves voluntarily. If you aren’t sure when your final wages should be paid, check the current information from the Texas Workforce Commission.
If someone tells you you’ve been “Let Go” this is where everyday language can become confusing. People use “let go” to mean different things. Someone might say: “I got let go.” and mean they were fired.
Someone else might use the phrase because they were laid off. Someone else might simply mean that their employment ended. That’s why you shouldn’t rely on casual language when you’re trying to understand an important employment situation. Ask: “What is my official employment status?” That answer is much more useful than trying to interpret the words “let go.”
A firing or termination generally involves an employer ending an individual’s employment. A layoff can happen because work is no longer available or because of business circumstances such as downsizing, restructuring, or a reduction in force.
Those circumstances can matter when you’re trying to understand what happened and what options may be available afterward. They can also matter when unemployment benefits are considered. So if you’re told that your employment has ended, don’t assume you know why. Ask. Get the facts.
Maybe you’ve only been at the company for a few weeks or months and you’re told you’re still in your probationary or introductory period. That doesn’t mean you should stop asking questions.
Find out what your employer’s policies say. How long is the probationary period? What are the expectations? How is performance evaluated? What happens at the end of the period? Read the employee handbook if you have one. And if you don’t understand something, ask. Your first job is where you start learning how the workplace operates.
If you’re represented by a union, don’t overlook that resource. Which there was a Union where Charlie worked but he didn’t think he was there long enough for them to help him. But he didn’t ask he just walked away with questions we will never have the answers to.
Your collective bargaining agreement may contain specific rules about discipline, suspension, termination, investigations, meetings, grievances, or representation. Check your agreement.
Contact your union representative. Ask questions. Don’t assume that being new automatically means you have no rights under the agreement. Find out what your contract says.
You might wonder why we’re spending an entire article talking about words. Because words matter when you’re dealing with your paycheck, your employment record, unemployment benefits, or your next job.
If someone says: “You’re suspended,” that’s different from: “Your employment has ended.” If someone says: “You’ve been laid off,” that’s different from: “You’ve been terminated for misconduct.”
And if someone says: “We’ll call you,” you need to know whether you’re still an employee and what you’re expected to do while you wait. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. You aren’t being difficult. You’re trying to understand your own employment situation.
When you don’t know, ask which may be the most important lesson of all. Don’t let embarrassment keep you from asking. Don’t worry that you’re too young. Don’t assume everybody else understands something you don’t.
Ask. “Can you explain that to me?” “What does that mean for my job?” “What happens next?” “When should I follow up?” Those are reasonable questions. Learning to ask them is part of becoming a responsible employee.
And that is exactly what we’re trying to teach through the Teen Entrepreneur: When Plan A Changes series. Because sometimes Plan A changes. And when it does, you need to understand what happened before you can figure out what comes next.
Part C will look at what a young worker should actually DO when their job suddenly changes. Teen Entrepreneur: When Plan A Changes Real-life lessons. Practical tools. Faith, family, resilience—and learning how to keep moving forward.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
