Hours after retrenchment: How to stretch your dollar and avoid cash-flow issues

When Sunena Sharma was let go from her job at a technology firm, her first priority was figuring out whether she had enough cash and savings to survive several months without income. This experience echoes the broader issue of employees proactively preparing themselves financially to weather the financial storm that often follows a job loss.

Immediately after being retrenched, it is crucial to assess how long one's savings can last and to start exploring temporary income sources. The second edition of "Navigating Retrenchment," a guide by the Singapore-based NTUC PME and financial advisory firm MoneyOwl, offers workers financial preparedness tips. This publication aims to help employees build financial resilience and reduce stress during a difficult time.

Directly after losing a job, employees should secure a formal termination letter before reviewing the details of their compensation settlement, such as retrenchment benefits, notice pay, and annual leave and bonuses. If retrenched employees are NTUC members, they should reach out to the labour movement or their unions for negotiation support. Those who are not members can seek assistance from the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management.

Sunena's experience highlights the importance of negotiating for a retrenchment benefit and other compensation elements before signing any agreement. After securing her payout, Sunena kept the money liquid and used it to bolster her emergency fund. The guide recommends having six to nine months' worth of essential expenses saved in cash or liquid savings to provide a safety net.

To build this emergency fund, employees can cut back on discretionary spending like dining out, entertainment, and travel. They should also prioritize cash flow over cost savings, which may mean extending payments for things like mortgages or annual subscriptions. Additionally, employees should avoid high-risk investments and reevaluate their insurance policies to ensure they have adequate coverage at a reasonable cost.

When negotiating their separation package, retrenched employees should carefully review any agreements before signing. If retrenched NTUC members, they can seek guidance from the labour movement or their unions. For non-members, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management can provide mediation services.

To reduce monthly expenses, retrenched workers can lower grocery bills, trim utility costs, and cook at home more often. They can also consider whether larger household expenses like a car or domestic helper are truly necessary. Temporarily suspending contributions to savings or investment plans can free up additional cash.

Employees should avoid risky investments, gambling, crypto investments, and job offer scams that require upfront payments. Instead, they should tap into available resources such as government schemes and community support to help bridge the gap between jobs. The SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme offers temporary payouts to eligible employees who were involuntarily let go. Additionally, Singaporeans aged 40 and above can receive monthly training allowances for selected full-time courses.

Community groups like ComCare provide grants for lower-income retrenched households, while the Homeowner Job Support pilot can defer or reduce mortgage instalments for unemployed homeowners working with a career coach. Refinancing options can also help lower monthly housing commitments.

Finally, retrenched workers may explore temporary income sources like renting out a room or pursuing side hustles and part-time work to stay engaged professionally and generate additional income. For more details, consult the NTUC PME playbook at https://www.ntuc.org.sg/pme/advisory-and-protection/workplace-advisory.