What should a tech worker organize first after being laid off?

Equity: RSUs, options, and vesting questions

Write down your last vesting date, what happens to unvested RSUs in your plan documents, and the post-termination exercise window for any options. Treat these as questions to confirm in writing with HR and, if anything is ambiguous, with a qualified professional — not numbers to act on alone.

Severance and release of claims

Severance offers often include non-disparagement, confidentiality, IP assignment, non-compete, and arbitration language. Mark what is in your document and prepare questions before you sign. Review severance, equity, non-compete, and arbitration language with a qualified professional if you are unsure.

Work authorization: gather documents and questions

Some work-authorized employees may have time-sensitive options after job loss. The timeline depends on status, petition validity, I-94, employment end date, dependents, and other facts. If your work authorization depends on your job, gather your immigration documents and prepare questions for qualified immigration counsel. Confirm your situation with qualified immigration counsel.

Health coverage: compare options before deciding

Several health-coverage paths may be available to you, and rules and costs vary by plan, household, and state. Compare health coverage options using official plan information before deciding. A spouse's employer or your state's marketplace may also publish a 'qualifying life event' window — read each one's official documentation.

Unemployment: use official state resources

Unemployment rules — including how severance interacts with benefits — vary state by state and change over time. Confirm unemployment filing rules with your state's official unemployment office. Do not rely on general guidance from any third party for state-specific eligibility.

Income runway: contracting, fractional, advisory

Many tech workers bridge a search with short-term contracts, fractional roles, or advisory retainers. Sketch a runway estimate from your savings and any severance, then list a small set of people to talk to. The Runway and Income hubs are educational checklists, not financial planning.

What should a tech worker organize first after a layoff?

Save your last paystub, benefits summary, equity grant documents, and any layoff communication. Confirm last day of pay and benefits-end date in writing. Read the severance offer once before signing anything. The free First 30 Minutes Check walks through this in about a minute and points to the right preparation hub for your situation.

Should I sign the severance agreement immediately?

Severance agreements often include review windows that vary by jurisdiction, age, and whether the layoff is part of a group. Before signing, mark what is in the document — severance amount, equity treatment, non-disparagement, non-compete, arbitration, release scope — and review the language with a qualified professional if you are unsure.

I'm on a work visa. What should I do first?

If your work authorization depends on your job, gather your immigration documents (most recent approval notices, I-94, paystubs, employment letter, dependents' documents) and prepare questions for qualified immigration counsel. Some work-authorized employees may have time-sensitive options after job loss; the timeline depends on status, petition validity, I-94, employment end date, dependents, and other facts. Confirm your situation with qualified immigration counsel.

What happens to my unvested equity?

Equity treatment at termination is governed by your plan documents and grant agreements, and varies by company and grant type. Pull your equity documents and write down what they say about unvested grants, post-termination exercise periods, and any acceleration. Confirm the specifics with a qualified professional before making decisions.

Where do I get accurate answers about unemployment and health coverage?

Use official sources. For unemployment, your state's official unemployment office is the authoritative source. For health coverage, read the plan documents from each option (employer continuation, a spouse's plan, your state's marketplace) before deciding. This site is educational and does not provide eligibility, legal, tax, or benefits advice.