Share this
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Googlize this
Blinklist
Facebook
Wikio
Print
E-mail
Tags
In today’s economic breakdown, it is not uncommon to hear of massive layoffs around the country. No matter how hard you may work, or what industry you happen to be in, the reality is that layoffs are happening and could happen to you. Remember those old high-school basketball days? Remember what the coach always said? The best defense is a good offense.
If you think for a minute that the economy is not in trouble, then you need to pull your head out of the sand and take a look around. Even if you are sure that you are not going to be laid off, there is a good bet that someone you know has been or will be laid off soon.
The best way to prepare for a potential lay off is to know when it is coming. Offense is key. There are ways that you can tell if you are going to be handed that dreaded pink slip. If you have noticed people, especially those higher-ups, talking about the company’s money problems or making tough choices due to the economic downturn, then it is a good idea to keep your eyes and ears open. To help you out, here are some warning signs that you should look out for.
Your boss has begun to avoid you. If your boss, who used to be so talkative, now avoids you like the plague, refuses to make eye contact, etc., then you may want to brush up your portfolio.
You are no longer invited to brainstorming sessions. This can be a major revelation. If you were once at the top and now are not even being invited to the meeting to plan your secretary’s birthday party, then you may be in trouble.
Your boss starts giving you impossible tasks. This can be a sign that he is looking for a way out. If your boss gives you projects to do that even Superman himself cannot finish in time, then he may be looking for the opportunity and motive to boot you out.
You work in an over-inflated department. If your department has more people than Noah had animals, then someone will likely be heading for the unemployment line soon, particularly if you have noticed the above scenarios happening as well.
You have recently messed up. Now this does not mean that you were fifteen minutes late for that all-important meeting. If you lost a ton of money on a big account or maybe were caught with your pants down in a less than perfect scenario, then you could be in big trouble. You should know if you have committed a company crime. If you know that you have screwed up, then chances are that the powers that be know it too.
Your last performance review was worse than your eighth grade report card. Most of the time, performance reviews are just filled with fluff. Bosses typically just want to praise you within reason, without making you look too good. Keep in mind that there is room for improvement in everyone. But - If your review paints a picture of you that leaves you looking more stupid than Peter Griffin, then you may really be in trouble here.
Your company has recently been sold. This is normally the axe-bearing announcement for many employees. Management may be okay because chances are they helped to seal the deal. If you are a mere employee however, then you may be looking at many changes coming your way, none of them good. When a company is sold, the new owner typically brings on their own employees. A company merger can be just as catastrophic, as duplication of many jobs will be evident, so be sure and take heed if your company has met either of these scenarios.
If you have noticed three or more of the above instances, then it may be a good time to get out that old resume and give it a once over. Your job may be secure, but there is nothing wrong with being safe. Remember, offense is the best defense. Pay attention to what is going on around you and get yourself prepared, just in case.
Last Friday our president sent a corpoarte email to let us know that our salary will be cut 5 %. My boss wanted to talk to me in his office. He told me that the pay cuts are just a start. He said that if the cuts did not help then they would have to start to layoff office workers. He said that if it was up to him I would not be the one to be laid off. He told me this in confidence. He also said his job may be in jepordy. Then a few days later the HR manager was training one of two of our accounts payable employees how to fill out unemployment forms. Then the next day the girl whsipered in my ear that she wanted to learn about payroll. So I guess that is the sign. I suggested she ask the contoller as she was more knowledgeable then me. She said, i only wanted to learn something new. She has been working in accout for two years and now all of a sudden she wants to learn payroll. I also beleive that my boss was giving me a heads up that I was going to be laid off. Or he was just trying to cover himself. I have started detaching myself from some co-workers so it will be less upsetting when it happens.