A former employer very kindly laid me off one May (after April financial results had revealed various cock-ups, and sales hadn't been as predicted etc). This was in the UK, and I got the legal minimum payout, having been there a few years. That was tax free of course, and enough to buy a few things like new big Ikea wardrobe, couple new double-glazed windows, extra week on a static caravan holiday. Deliberately didn't apply for jobs straightaway, to avoid people trying to get me to start too soon ;) Eventually got the first job I applied for that I really wanted, with a few other interview offers. Managed to swing it so it didn't start until September. So had the whole summer off, which was particularly good as our daughter, who's very young for her year, was about to start full-time school that September. So lots of nice time with her before that. Sorted out a huge mess of cr*p in the garage, and various other jobs neglected due to having small children and full time work. To this day I think that employer feels a bit bad about this, but I feel grateful. ;) Having met up with ex colleagues, its a common story, a few of us got kicked out over the years, and generally ended up having a whale of a time, learning new skills, and getting a pay-rise out of it too. ;). When else do you get paid not to go to work? ;). Hasten to add, I'm actually a hard worker, and take pride in my work. But not gonna turn down opportunity of a nice long holiday and extra cash. Had this happened in a bad job market, would have been a different story of course. Same thing happened to a friend in his 50s. He initially feared his age would be a problem. But his problem turned out to be, having to reply to so many calls from recruiters.