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We all basically find out the day of. Happened to me about two months ago. I’m sorry you are going through it, as it stings a ton, especially when you work your ass off and constantly deliver. You will go through the full range of emotions on grief - anger, sadness, acceptance, etc. take a week to just feel it and take care of yourself. Clearly the job was toxic and you have no work/life balance. This is a gift in disguise. After a week (which won’t be the magic time for feeling totally healed of course), pick yourself up and start searching for your next thing. Sign up for job alerts, update your resume/portfolio, reach out to your people, etc. it feels daunting to find a job during all of this, but they do exist. Take it as an opportunity to determine what you really want. For me, I know I’m done with the holding company agency BS. I just started doing freelance work at an indie shop. I don’t know if I’ll have a permanent home there, but I’m trying new things with the hopes that what ultimately sticks is where I’m meant to be. I was miserable at my other job, and sounds like you were too. Good luck OP
Take a vacation. We’re all next.
Mentor
You were freelance. You were not fired.
Mentor
Otherwise your advice is spot on though VP. Everything you said is true.
When you’re treated like a full-time employee, working from the corporate office (prior to the pandemic), and obligated to follow company policies like a full-time employee - that’s still getting fired. Legally - that’s the terminology CD 2. And you’re clearly focused on the wrong aspect of that write up, I can only imagine what it’s like to work on a team with you.
Mentor
OP: I actually got laid off from a full time role, along with about 10% of my agency. Not for performance. So I’m very much focused on this situation. No need to be snarky. I’m sure they could have just refused your OT request. But let’s not go there.
What advice are you after though? If you’re permalance you likely had no PTO or benefits and it is easier to let you go. There is no severance or termination agreement for the company to negotiate. So, to them, it is very different from full time. Regardless of how hard you were working. Which I have no doubt was like a FT employee. Maybe this is a learning though, that it’s not worth being so loyal or getting so comfortable in your next freelance role.
All the creatives I know who were freelance have had most of their gigs cancelled. I’m starting my freelance from scratch and have just started to get traction. But as VP said, there isn’t much out there.
If you’re after other advice, like how to deal with it mentally and emotionally then say so. Not sure what you need right now.
CD2 - you deleted your last “snarky” comment. And still continue to miss my point. My main qualm is that I was not getting paid for all the OT hours that added up to beyond me working 100+ hours a week. I kept bringing it up and was FIRED for it. As creatives it would also be helpful to feel supported instead of poked at, especially during the climate we are living in. You could learn to be more empathetic.
Mentor
I didn’t delete, I added to it. Seriously you sound like don’t want practical advice, you want to vent. Don’t misinterpret my comments. I support you but I just like to keep a sense of real talk here, not fluff. And you need a thick skin and a sense of humor to get you through this shit at the best of times.
Point is, they took advantage of the situation. It’s like living in a place month to month with no lease. It feels the same as having a lease until they get rid of you because they want to sell or give the apartment to their brother-in-law.
You got screwed but you will bounce back. Having been freelance before could be a huge advantage. You probably have tons of contacts in agencies already. And don’t permalance again. If you’re that much of a fixture at a good place, ask to go full time.
OP I have been in your shoes. Did you start on a day rate basis as a 1099 contractor? Or a W4 overtime eligible?
I’ve gotten overtime in a day rate because the paperwork was w4. But not as a 1099.
What you’re legally entitled to depends on that.
And yeah, normal to let go of all freelancers with no notice. This must be your first time in a bad climate. The whole reason freelance exists is because it gives the employer flexibility they don’t have with FTEs.
Honestly, you should have seen it coming - every agency is cutting freelancers off right now as much as possible. It’s not personal. It’s a pandemic.
And also, toughen up. And check your paperwork. If you’re going to make as a mercenary, you have to look out for yourself. No one else is going to.
I didn’t know freelancers could get fired and I’ve been freelancing for years. When I sign a freelance contract, it usually stipulates that either side can end the relationship at any time, for any reason.
OP - Were you fired or laid off? To be fired, you need cause. When you’re laid off, it’s for a business reason (ie lost revenue or restructuring).
I’ve been laid off 3 times before. Always without notice. 2 of the 3 times I had a feeling something was about to go down. It’s a reminder to pay attention to agency vibes and always put important files on a hard drive. It happens to everyone, you’ll get through this.