From an employee's standpoint it's simple: You should do every possible thing to put your interests and those of your family or dependents first and foremost ab

From an employee's standpoint it's simple: You should do every possible thing to put your interests and those of your family or dependents first and foremost above all else, especially your job. Once you've done this to the best of your abilities, you politely give the company or companies you work for what you can based on how reasonably they're compensating you, while never being ashamed of taking a mercenary option as soon as it seems necessary. Taking all questions of labor law fairness aside (you won't solve them alone in a workplace anyway), reality is what it is and while it's still imperfect, hedge yourself against those imperfections to your own benefit as well as you can, legally. Secondly, companies that vomit platitudes about "we're all a family here" and "we look out for each other" are by default spewing lying, superficial PR bullshit. They should never be trusted for a second on such nonsense unless you've secured a written contract of provisions for how you'll be treated, have your healthcare taken care of or be compensated if dismissed for any reason. If you can't secure those things, then tread carefully and keep hedging. edit: couple extra words.