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- From Layoff to Labor of Love 💼
From Layoff to Labor of Love 💼
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Welcome back to another edition of the Career Rocket newsletter, your trusted source for the latest updates and insights on employment laws, job market trends, and more. We're thrilled to have 1440 Media sponsoring today's newsletter, empowering us to continue delivering valuable content to you.
Need to know: Thanks to Monday’s observance of President’s Day, our next email will go out after the long weekend on Feb. 23. Looking forward to it.
Let's dive into today's highlights:
FEATURE: From Layoff to Labor of Love: Brittany Lappano's Journey to Empower Working Mothers
When Brittany Lappano was impacted by Google’s 6% reduction in force at 14 weeks pregnant, she had one choice: interview with a growing belly. The calendar felt like an unsolvable equation. She’d be under New York’s WARN notice and on Google’s payroll until April 28th, and if she carried to term, her baby would arrive July 13th.
Lappano had no idea how to ask about maternity leaves; when to tell interviewers she was pregnant; or how to land a role within a razor’s edge of time. Her severance package included lightweight coaching services. But when she finally told her assigned coach that she was pregnant, he said that in all of his decades of coaching, he’d never helped a pregnant client before. And then he stammered, “Well, maybe I have, but they haven’t told me.” He was kind and well-meaning, but that conversation stirred up intense feelings of otherness.
“Was I that much of an anomaly?” Lappano wondered. “While I hadn’t entertained other opportunities in years, I’d always been told that with Google on my resume, I could go anywhere. That was no longer true. Ineligible for FMLA, I stumbled across a list of only 130 companies in the U.S. that offered maternity leaves without a qualification period. Though I’d built up a level of confidence in mid-career by doing what I loved, I felt like I suddenly belonged on an island of misfit toys.”
With the April 28th date nearing, the clock in her belly ticking louder, and the race to land a role growing more complex, she weighed the pros and cons of posting about it on LinkedIn with her husband.
“We decided no one from Google was going to save me so I’d better try to save myself,” she says. “I never anticipated what happened next.”
A million people saw the post. Of 900 public comments, many were from supportive mothers who’d been in this situation before.
Privately, Lappano received more than 100 heartbreaking messages from women who were currently laid off pregnant, on maternity leave, or during their baby’s first year. They hid their stories — stuck in a shame cycle during a time that was meant to be joyous. They were anxious, afraid, and seeking connection with someone who understood.
The idea to create a mentorship program was instantly born — connecting empathetic mothers who understood a nuanced and time constrained job search during a vulnerable period with the women in her inbox who, like Lappano, needed support.
In November 2023, Lappano soft launched The Labor Club (a double entendre representing birth and work) to the women who had reached out to her. Today, there are more than 200 members.
Lappano gushes, “Something really beautiful is happening now. Impacted mothers and mothers-to-be are getting hired and then coming straight to The Labor Club to offer referrals. Women are also helping each other by reviewing resumes, conducting practice interviews, and offering advice. Empathy is one hell of a motivator.”
With her own job search percolating on the side, Lappano is now eyeing 501(c)(3) status for The Labor Club.
“I’ve already distributed micro cash grants; provided access to healthcare professionals; and offered programming centered on career development and healthcare for women and infants. There’s so much more I can do as a non-profit. I’ve caught the attention of major brands whose support would enable me to help provide for babies so that mothers and mothers-to-be can focus on their job searches.”
She’s currently shopping pro bono legal support to help her with tasks like submitting her 501(c)(3) application; board governance; and filing for a trademark.
“Every day, I hear from expecting and new mothers who are so grateful to have a place to find community, help, and hope during their stressful and time-bound job searches. While I’ve always known that women are stronger together, I never would have imagined that picking up the pieces of my own layoff while pregnant would lead to such a supportive community. There’s plenty of TLC to go around now,” Lappano says.
If you were let go from your job while pregnant, on leave, or within your baby’s first year of life, email [email protected] for an invitation to join The Labor Club.
Catch the Latest in Job Market Trends with 'Job Minute Market 📊
Nurse practitioners are the highest growing professions – with graduate degrees
Nurse practitioners, lawyers, and health specialist teachers will be the fastest-growing industriesfor graduate-level occupations. Nurse practitioners show the highest projected growth, with 11,900 annually in 2032. Lawyers are projected to see 6,200 new jobs annually by 2032.
Mental health occupations are projected to grow faster than average growth for 2032
Mental health occupations will grow faster than the 3% average for all occupations from 2022-2032. Specifically, jobs within substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling are projected to grow the fastest, increasing by 18%. On average, mental health jobs have grown 200,000 annually over the last decade and continue providing new jobs.
Diagnostic medical sonographers are projected to be the highest-paying jobs within the fastest-growing industries.
Among the fastest-growing industries, diagnostic medical sonographers, projected to grow 14.3% by 2032, are the highest-paying occupation. In 2022, the median salary was $81,350, and 81,000 new jobs were added annually. Most job openings for this role in 2022 had an associate's degree as there is a continuing need to replace previous workers who left the labor force.
Union workers saw the highest increase in wages and salaries compared to nonunion workers
In 2023, wages and salaries increased by 5.4% for union workers in the private sector, while wages and salaries increased by only 4.2% for nonunion workers. Comparably, benefits costs increased similarly between union and nonunion workers by 3.4% and 3.6%, respectively.
Staying tuned to the job scene is like having a secret weapon for your career game plan! This week, we've got the lowdown on the latest buzz, especially regarding layoffs. Take a peek at the top 3 updates in this week's newsletter – because your career journey deserves some insider insights! 🚀
1. Elon Musk funds Gina Carano’s lawsuit against Disney over ‘Mandalorian’ firing
Actress Gina Carano is suing Disney and Lucasfilm, alleging unfair treatment and seeking reinstatement and damages for her dismissal from "The Mandalorian." Funded by Elon Musk's X, the lawsuit stems from Carano's controversial social media posts, including one criticized for its perceived parallels between right-wing views and the Holocaust. Carano denies making the comparison, arguing her termination was retaliation for expressing her views. The lawsuit highlights disparities in treatment compared to her male co-stars. Musk's involvement aligns with his vision for X as a platform of unrestricted free speech. The lawsuit is seen by some as a right-wing stance against corporate censorship, following Disney's withdrawal of advertising from X amidst controversy over antisemitic content.
2. California’s Noncompete Law Has Immediate Effects for Business
California's new noncompete laws have immediate effects on businesses, irrespective of their location. Assembly Bill 1076 invalidates noncompete agreements except in specific circumstances, while Senate Bill 699 renders any contract restraining trade unenforceable, even if signed outside California. Employers must notify affected employees by February 14 and face penalties for noncompliance. Companies are advised to review employment agreements, send notices, and adjust templates promptly to comply with the new laws.
3. Earnings Reports, Whispers & Company Earnings News
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Thank you for joining us for another edition of the Career Rocket newsletter. We hope you found today's content informative and engaging. Stay tuned for more updates on employment laws, career insights, and industry news in our future editions.
Until next time, keep aiming for the stars in your career journey!
Fly high,
The Career Rocket by The Spiggle Law Firm