By EMILY BRANDON
Special to the Observer-Dispatch

For the past 44 years, Gary Colvin has been cutting into blocks of silver by hand to form pieces of silverware in a process called ornamental die cutting. He was informed of the closing of Oneida Ltd.’s Sherrill plant approximately three months ago, but still vividly remembers the terrible emotions that engulfed him when he learned of his impending layoff.

Colvin expected to work at Oneida Ltd. until he was 65; he is 62. After attending a trade meeting provided by Oneida Ltd. for plant employees, he said, “I don’t want to learn another trade. I’ve already been there.”

Colvin will choose early retirement instead when the plant closes. “I don’t think there’s much call out there for hand-cut work any more,” he said.
In the first weeks after a layoff, it is common for people to experience emotional distress, including anxiety and depression.

Symptoms may include trouble sleeping, changes in appetite and difficulty concentrating. There is also an increased risk for health problems due to suppressed immune functioning.

A study of workers nearing retirement found that laid-off workers had increased physical disability after two years relative to continuously employed individuals and an increased risk of stroke after six years, according to William T. Gallo, an associate research scientist in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Yale School of Medicine.

“Among individuals who lost their jobs, those who returned to work had better physical functioning and emotional health than those who remained unemployed,” Gallo said. Thus, an impending layoff should be viewed not as a failure but an opportunity to try out a new path.

Brushing up on job-search strategies can combat the adverse physical and emotional effects of being laid off. Studies at the University of Michigan suggest that people who do best during this period are able to put together a strategy that makes sense to them and maintain confidence that it will be successful in the long run.

All possible job-search networks should be utilized rather than just relying on advertisements. Job searchers should seek “information interviews” with companies they would like to work for, even if the company isn’t hiring at the moment.

Studies also suggest that people try to think like an employer so they can approach job interviews with an idea of what employers are looking for and how they can meet their companies’ needs. It is important to realize that seeking employment is usually a long process that includes a series of “no’s” finally followed by a “yes.”

The Working Solutions Center is available to help Oneida Ltd. employees and other local job seekers with interviewing skills, career exploration, skill upgrades and career counseling, as well as the job search, said Kelli Owens, regional administrator for the New York State Department of Labor.

Walk-ins are welcome at all four of its locations.

“People can become more irritable during this period as a result of the financial uncertainties that crop up,” said George W. Howe, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University, “and this can have some negative impact on their relationships with their spouse or partner.” It helps to work out with family members a strategy for handling the financial pressures during this time.

Withdrawing from friends and former colleagues may be a typical initial response to a layoff, but continuing to rely on both friends and colleagues may be beneficial to your well-being, says Leon Grunberg, professor of comparative psychology at the University of Puget Sound. Social contact will provide people with much-needed support and may even help them find their next job or opportunity.

Meghna Virick, assistant professor of management at the University of Texas at Arlington, suggests staying active any way you can by taking classes, volunteering or doing something proactive to further your job search such as searching online databases for opportunities. These activities will not only keep you busy but give you more skills and experiences to sell to your future employer.

It is important to maintain a positive outlook. Be flexible; any job is better than no job, advised Virick. Thus, the best strategy is to be ready for a long period of unemployment and hope for the best.

Perhaps the most pressing concern after a layoff is health insurance.
“I’m worried about the health insurance more than anything else, because it’s going to take a lot of money,” said Colvin.

It will cost him $812 a month for health insurance for himself and his family, but he knows that he must be covered for the sake of his 14-year-old daughter.

COBRA health insurance can be used to temporarily extend health insurance coverage for up to 18 months. You must pay the full cost of your health insurance, including an additional 2 percent administrative fee. The state Department of Labor offers temporary unemployment insurance to laid-off workers that could be used to help pay for health insurance.