Employees should read this,
One
of the biggest concerns for many people is that we might suddenly lose our job.
Even the thought of losing a job is stressful and frightening, simply because
this would cause us to lose the financial freedom we have been accustomed to.
The fear of losing your job is particularly intense if you have a family, or if
you have a mortgage to pay – this is precisely why it is essential to be well
aware of all the main signs that could indicate you will be fired soon, so you
can start to devise a ‘Plan B’ right away. Here are the top five signs that you
may get fired in the near future:
1.
Your Boss Suggested That You Take Some Time for Yourself
Did
your boss or supervisor just recommend that you take some time off, perhaps to
go on a holiday and let off some steam? In some cases, they may simply be
concerned for your health or your overall performance, especially if you have
been working a lot lately. On the other hand, it is also possible that your
services are no longer as satisfactory as they used to be, and your boss is
trying to prepare you for what is next. If you know that you made a mistake
recently or that you did not rise to the description and requirements of your
job over the past month or two, then you have reason to be
concerned. Either way, as the saying goes, it is important to never put
all of your eggs in one basket. This is why you should keep an open mind and
consider other income alternatives if your boss recently suggested that you
take an unexpected or unplanned vacation. This might well be a sign that your
boss or coworkers do not really want to have you in the office.
2. You Have Made a Mistake
If you have made a major mistake at work and you
are aware of it, then you should prepare for the worst. A common error some
employees make is that they wait for their boss to figure out that they messed
up, and see what happens next. Why wait to get reprimanded or even fired when
you can start working on your Plan B immediately? In the end, it is always
better to have a Plan B that you never rely on then to wait for your boss to
discover your mistake and fire you on the spot. Incompetence and mistakes
are not well tolerated in most jobs, especially if you work in a highly
corporate environment or at any company with a reputable brand to protect that
does not cope well with lack of responsibility from their employees. Even a
minor slip-up can wreak havoc on your career if you are not careful and
prepared. If you are lucky, your boss might give you a second chance, but if
you are not, your mistake could lead to your dismissal from the company. It’s
always better to be safe than sorry!
3. Your Company Has Been Sold or Is in
Decline
If your company has recently been acquired by
another company, or if it shows signs that it might be going downhill (for
instance, if sales or hiring are not as steady as they used to be), then you
should consider the worst-case scenario, which includes you losing your job.
Thousands of companies all around the world have declared bankruptcy amid the recent
financial crisis, and some of them are still doing so today. If the
company you are currently working for is no longer profitable or it has been
purchased by a larger organization that plans to implement a radically
different business strategy, then you should take into account the possibility
that you might lose your job. Besides this, another common problem with newly
acquired companies is that the corporation that makes the acquisition usually
has somebody who already does what you are doing, which means your services may
no longer be needed.
4. Your Job Involves Fewer Responsibilities
Have you noticed that the scope of your job got
smaller and smaller in recent months, and that your duties and responsibilities
have diminished significantly? If so, this might be a sign that your presence
is no longer required within the organization, especially if you used to cope
with a large work volume before this sudden change. If you notice that your job
description and duties get smaller over time or that your company is in
financial trouble and is trying to cut costs, then perhaps it is time for you to
polish up your resume. It is not uncommon even for the largest companies
to implement various budget cuts and strategies designed to minimize their
expenses in the long haul. Unfortunately, this often involves firing a
significant number of staff as well.
5. You Have Been Disciplined Recently
If your supervisor or boss has disciplined you
lately – either for a mistake you made or because you are not meeting your job
requirements – this should sound an alarm, since it may be a sign that you are
about to get fired. Best-case scenario, your boss decides to give you a second
chance or to let you go away with only a small salary cut for a couple of
months. But if you have done something seriously wrong, your boss may apply the
equivalent of the real-life ‘death penalty’ which, in the corporate
environment, means getting fired. If you are routinely late for work, you
are constantly arguing with your coworkers, you fail to be a good team player,
or if you know that you are not the ideal employee for your job, then you
should start working on your resume and call your references, just in case
disaster strikes in the near future.
These are five of the more obvious signs that
something is wrong at your job and that your superior might consider firing you
and hiring somebody more suitable for your position. It is important to take
action as soon as you notice any of these signs – you might be overreacting,
but at the same time, you might be getting it right!
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