http://www.financialsamurai.com/2012/02/06/dont-get-fired-or-quit-get-laid-off-instead/
GET “RIFFED” AND BREATHE EASIER
Now that you realize the downside of getting fired or quitting, you should logically seek an alternative. If you just can’t stand the company you are working for anymore, figure out a way to get laid off of course!
If you are laid off, you get a number of benefits:
1) You are eligible for government unemployment benefits. Here in San Francisco, you can get $900 every two weeks. That’s $1,800 a month for at least 26 weeks, and up to 73 weeks as of 12/2012 if the government extends federal unemployment benefits in 2013, which they must.
2) You may get severance. Many companies offer 2 to 3 weeks per every year worked. Please note that severance is completely at the discretion of the employer and is not required by law.
3) If you have deferred compensation in the form of stock or cash, you are eligible to receive these assets during the scheduled time table. My friend Paul, for example, has some $400,000+ in deferred compensation he loses if he quits!
4) You will get all your unused vacation days paid. You should get this anyway, but if you quit, there’s no guarantee. You may even receive unused sick days, but that is very rare.
5) You will have no black marks on your employment record. A key if you want to get back into the game at a future time.
6) You will likely get COBRA (healthcare) coverage for at least month and often times 3-6 months fully paid for by your employer. This means you don’t even have to pay the monthly premiums.