Clues You Are About to Be Fired
Subtle and Not So Subtle Signs that You're Going to Get a Pink Slip
Unless you're really inattentive these signals will not be hard to miss and will be passed on to you by different people at the company. The reasons for an impending layoff will depend on your actions or lack thereof, but there are other factors beyond your control that will prompt a release from the company, i.e. if the organization is sold or merged. In any case, if one or more of the following statements applies to you at work, it's likely that the writing is on the wall and the message is this – you're fired!
Nobody is Telling You What's Happening in the Company
This might be the first sign that your dismissal is on the way. If you knew everything about the internal goings on of the company but are reduced to pulling teeth to get any information, it's a good bet you will not be asked to attend important meetings and your boss will not be interested in hearing your opinions.
Your Boss Only Communicates by E-mail
It could be that your boss is creating a paper trail to build a case against you – before you are fired. If an employee is going to be dumped human resources departments require supervisors to document every conversation, every remark and every screw up no matter how small so that there are no legal repercussions for the company. If messages in your inbox become increasingly terse, it means your time is running out.
Everybody's Mood Changes When You're Around, and the Office is Unusually Silent
When things were good at work, and you were a popular guy/girl at the office, it was easy to chat with your colleagues around the watercooler and occasionally at their desks. But now your closest acquaintances don't seem to be available. If they are talking, the conversation turns into a hushed sort of football circle when you appear. Why is everyone keeping their distance? Because your ship is sinking and they don't want to get caught in the undertow.
The Company is About to Be Sold
This will be bad news for just about everyone, with the possible exception of the highest ranking members of management. When there is an unfamiliar man or woman sitting in the office where your old boss once worked it's a clear signal that the new management has arrived. When this happens an entirely different set of objectives will be introduced for the company. None of the employees will be sticking around much longer and neither will you. It might be best to bail out early to avoid the inevitable.
Your Responsibilities Are Shrinking Day by Day
If your daily tasks are being re-assigned to other employees and the boss says that he/she wants to reduce your workload, don't take this at face value. What is the boss is really doing is asking you to leave quietly and diplomatically because he/she believes you no longer have what it takes to get the job done.
You Are Paired with a Company Coach
This all by itself may not be that bad. Perhaps you have lost sight of the company's objectives and the boss feels that some re-training is in order. But the flip side to this coin is the company is trying to cover its collective behind and demonstrate that they did everything possible to save the poor worker, i.e. you. Most of the time that same poor worker is let go anyway.
Make a decision about whether you want to keep the job you have, or to look elsewhere. If you talk to your boss and re-open the lines of communication it may be possible to salvage the situation. But, if you sit on the sidelines and do nothing expect to be shown the front door.
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