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PAGE A14 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1990 * The man had worked for a large company for 25 years. Last week, he walked into his office and was told to see his boss right away. When he got there, he was told: "Sorry but we don‘t have a job for you anymore." 2s It‘s a question people of ten ask: how much can you get if you‘re fired? â€" d â€" L " â€" He was understandably shocked. What‘s more, he found himself signing a release giving him six months‘ notice. He had to leave his office that day. d es _ Well, the answer isn‘t easy. It takes a lawyer â€" of all people â€" to help you. And, unlike what some say, there isn‘t a secret magic formula that will predetermine the answer for you. What you must remember is that a dismissed employexa a settlement based upon "reasonable notice" â€" which l at age, length of service and position. If you‘re over 50 and have worked for a company for 20 or so years, you‘re looking at a settlement of 12 â€" 18 months and in many instances up to 24 or 28 months in some cases, sometimes even more. What puzzled him most, however, was whether the offer was appropriate and, more importantly, whether he should have signed it on the spot. _ e _ {o_ Forget that stuff about one month for every year worked â€" no such calculation exists. Know your rights ABOUT THE LAW . ffaed Fog, Unemfrloyr_nent willâ€" rise in 1{%)0, "Waterioo aree®huseistesses predict Chronicle Staff If there‘s one word to sum up the attitudes of business leaders in Waterloo Region and Guelph, it‘s pessimism. * Market demand is down, plant capacity is at an allâ€"time low, confidence in investments is down and so is the bottom line. Those are the results of the seventh annual business confiâ€" dence survey conducted by Wilâ€" frid Laurier University‘s Instiâ€" Dr. J. Alex Murray, dean of WLU‘s school of business and economics and the author of the report, says the survey is a good way to compare the performance of business in our area, Canada‘s technological triangle, with busiâ€" nesses across the rest of Canada. About the only thing business leaders expect to increase is unâ€" frid Laurier Um'versi%’i Instiâ€" tute for Business and nomic Pessimistic outlook loyment. we~ .â€"__ iL S a U 1s It gives us a good indicatil The survey was conducted usâ€" ing 300 businesses, 265 of which responded, that were asked six questions designed to measure the level of confidence business leaders have and the expectations that will shape their business decisions in the year to come. Business leaders were asked to respond to questions about emâ€" ployment outlooks, investment mance, expectations about next year‘s financial results, capacity utilization and major problems anticipated. According to the survey, the top three concerns of businesses are weak market demand, high interâ€" est rates and government policy £o CA Mitgibes us & good indicatio® of what the outlook is like, how businesses are coping and can be used as a planning document by businesses who want to find out about the market in a certain apm'lilan.bl:cn:it mafy seem less important use of increasing number of unemployed." About 42 per cent of the busiâ€" nesses said one of the most seriâ€" ous problems they are facing as a f&ind an overwhelming majority of the businesses expected unemâ€" ployment to increase next year. Murray says the recession has shifted the perceptions of busiâ€" ness leaders. Last year‘s survey showed lack of skilled labor to be the biggest concern. "Obviously, the recession hg given businesses something e to be concerned about. Unfortuâ€" nately, lack of skilled labor is still under utilization. The survey suggests this could indicate furâ€" ther financial trouble and more layoffs in the year ahead. â€" The new year, says Murray, will be a time for businesses to