FAQ - I Have Been Furloughed From My Retail Job, What Can I Do?

One Friday each month, I dedicate the post to looking at some questions I have heard recently from developing leaders. Sharing those questions and my thoughts about them is a way for me to spread the information to as many leaders and future leaders as possible. If you have a question about leadership or just a situation you would like some additional insight on, please email me at Effective Retail Leader. Let’s take a look at this week’s question.

I have been furloughed in my retail job, how can I spend my time away from work making myself better when I go back to my job?

The last few weeks have been the most difficult ever for anyone in retail. All of us have seen, heard, or been a part of the latest set of layoffs or furloughs in history. A high percentage of the new unemployment claims in the United States have come from retail workers. With so many businesses forced to close due to state and local restrictions, it has caused a lot of concern and hardship for many people. And while these moves are necessary, it doesn’t make it any less difficult to navigate for everyone effected.

If you find yourself in the position of being furloughed, I am truly sorry and hope that we will see a quick recovery to getting stores, restaurants, and other businesses safely back open for everyday customer traffic. As I have written in a few other articles, there are some things you can do for yourself during this unexpected time away from work.

A first step - rest

As difficult as this may be, give yourself a break. Every person in retail I have ever met feels best when they are doing something and working towards an outcome. I appreciate that about our industry. It is for that reason that this first recommendation is so important. Even when we do take scheduled time off under normal circumstances, we usually find ourselves still connected to work in some way. Use this time where you have been disconnected to do just that, disconnect. Now is an opportunity to give yourself permission to catch up on some sleep you are likely deprived of. Let your body reset and catch up on some of the needs it has that have impossible in the past. Build a Mind, Body, Do Plan for Your Self-Care in the New Year

Establish new routines

Catching up on rest is one thing, but try to avoid completely getting into a situation where you only move from your bed to your couch and binge-watch the newest thing on Netflix. In Creating a New Normal, I address some ideas for how you can build new routines for yourself to help adjust to a new set of circumstances.

Plan for the future

As I mentioned above, most of us are people of action and we want to feel like we are working towards something. In The Time You Never Had for Planning as a Store Leader, I wrote about building a plan for what you want your business to look like when you return. Planning and thinking time is always a challenge in the everyday world of retail, but this is a different world right now. You can use this time for the thinking and planning you haven’t had time for in the past. This can be a silver lining in this difficult period.

Self-development

This time frame may also afford you the opportunity to spend time on yourself. I would recommend blocking at least an hour each day, preferably at the same time each day, to dedicate to your personal learning. This could be reading a book, watching a video or training series online, or listening to podcasts. There are a ton of great resources available and right now many of them are offering extended free trial periods. This can be both beneficial to have access to this material for no cost, but to also evaluate them for long-term tools for your ongoing growth.

Check out -

Many colleges also offer courses online with several being free to attend. This might be the perfect time to take advantage of those as well.

Stay connected

One last thing to ensure you do while you are away from your business - stay connected. Build in time at several points during the week to reach out to peers, coworkers, supervisors, and friends. We are all experiencing something new in our lives. We may be impacted differently, both on a personal and professional level, but we truly are all in this together. Being able to share stories and the things you are doing right now is a good way to bring some happiness into your life and also recognize that you are not alone in dealing with these strange times.

We are all dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in different ways. But for those that have found themselves in the unusual position of not having work to do, there are many positive things you can do for yourself. It is hard to see the positives in such a negative and challenging situation, but there are opportunities to be had in this time. Find the right balance for you and the silver linings will become apparent. We all certainly hope that a new beginning will present itself quickly and that everyone gets back to work soon in a safe way.

Other Resources

I wanted to share some additional resources. I know many people are dealing with something they have or wanted to in their lifetime. You can find many resources online to help you through whatever your situation is. Here are a few to help get you started. I wish everyone the best of luck during these unprecedented times.

National Unemployment Site (USA)

CARES Act information

National Institute of Mental Health

Disaster Distress Helpline

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

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The Whole World is Changing - but Some Things Will Always be the Same

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Resetting Goals for a Year That Has Changed Dramatically