Even with the economy’s recent recovery, the threat of losing ones’ job is forever looming. In the past, infrequent restructuring and layoffs were the only things that an employee had to worry about, but that’s changed quite a bit. For instance, as companies continue to go through bankruptcies and downsizing, job security could very well become a thing of the past. While some job layoffs can come completely out of left field, there are certain warning signs that you should look out for. I recently came across an article that shared 7 of these signs.
1. No work pressure: In the corporate world, work pressure through plenty of job responsibilities and projects is a given. However, if you seem to have less work than your colleagues, this could be because you’re on the way to getting fired. It’s a clear sign that our skills aren’t valuable any more, and your superiors see no future prospects for you in the company.
2. You’re out of the loop: If you no longer feel like you know what’s going on in the company or your office, this could be a major warning sign. If important decisions that you previously would have been consulted on are made without your knowledge, then these are strong signs that you’re being left out of the loop. For example, if you used to be consulted during important recruitment decisions, and then you walk into your office and find that somebody new has been hired without your knowledge, you should view that as a major red flag.
3. Friction with your boss: When things get bad, then people tend to run in the other direction, and the corporate world is no different. If your boss seems standoffish or unfriendly, this could be a sign that your job is in jeopardy, since they don’t know the best way to break the news to you.
4. Your job is posted on the job boards: While this may seem impossible, but if you see an ad for your job on the Internet, then beware. In most cases, when you ask your boss about this, they’ll give you an excuse about expanding the department or something on the same lines. Nonetheless, seeing this job placement period should accelerate your search for a new job.
5. Your company is sold: In the current economy, mergers and takeovers are becoming ever more rampant. Mergers and acquisitions can imply that the deck will be shuffled by the new bosses.
6. Massive mistakes: Everybody makes mistakes, but if you make a particularly noticeable one, then your job could be in real danger. There are some mistakes that employers simply can’t overlook, such as stealing or sharing company’s confidential information. Making a colossal mistake that costs your company’s reputation will definitely get you fired, but you can take responsibility by dismissing it as a minor slip.
7. Bad work reviews: The best way for employers to document their employees’ performance is with reviews for work done. Whether or not a bad review is warranted, they have the tendency to put your work at risk.
