Fired, Laid Off or Forced Out: A Complete Guide to Severance, Benefits and Your Rights When You're Starting Over

You're Fired! Those are the two words every employee dreads. But what does it really mean to be let go, and more important, what can you do to turn this situation into an opportunity for future success? Fired, Laid-Off or Forced Out takes the fear out of the possibility of losing your job and replaces it with specific guidelines any worker can use to protect his or her rights. From the factory worker to the professional, the salesperson to upper management, anyone can benefit from the insight and the proven steps described to obtain a positive outcome.

Successful strategies clearly explain how you can: -- Survive a Disciplinary Action -- Diffuse Volatile Situations -- Change an Abusive Environment -- Prevent Termination -- Handle the Termination Itself -- Negotiate a Severance Agreement -- Evaluate Your Case -- Craft a Better Settlement -- Build Your Workplace Power

Richard C. Busse obtained his law degree in 1974 from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. He began practicing employment law in 1975. From 1975 to 1981, he defended employment cases, both with a defense firm and in his capacity as Chief Deputy County Counsel for Multnomah County, Oregon-the state's most populous county.

In 1981, he set out on his own to develop a plaintiff's employment litigation practice, and has practiced in that field ever since. He is now senior partner in the Portland law firm of Busse & Hunt, which is devoted exclusively to the practice of plaintiff's employment law. Mr. Busse represents victims of wrongful discharge, discrimination, defamation, and other workplace torts. His cases have established important legal precedents in the field. He is a frequent speaker and has published articles on employment law since 1981. Mr. Busse is also the author of the bestselling Employee's Rights: Your Practical Handbook to Workplace Law, Sphinx Publishing (2004).

Mr. Busse has been listed in the national peer review publication The Best Lawyers in America every year since 1989 for labor and employment law in Oregon. His firm was named the leading plaintiff's employment law firm in Oregon by Chambers US, America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2003-04; and he was awarded its highest individual rating. The nationally known legal directory, Martindale-Hubbell, also gives Mr. Busse and his firm its highest rating for legal ability and ethics.