In these unsure economic times more and more employees are being faced with the possibility of layoffs. The economic forecast cannot be controlled and maintaining employment is not a guarantee, however, there are some tips that can help maintain employment and avoid the layoff line.
Employers aren’t happy about having to lay people off from their jobs. They are keenly aware that families are impacted greatly when one income is cut off. However, they are also aware of the financial strains the current economic situation has placed on business and have to find ways to cut expenses. So how do employers decide who to lay off and who to keep?
Strategies for Avoiding Layoff
Everyone would like to think that it is always a case of seniority, but this is not so. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to layoff. Employers who are laying off are doing so for financial reasons so it could just as easily be the man who has been there 20 years and makes a six figure income but is not producing as much as the newer employee making considerably less.
According to Donna Rosatto, senior editor of Money Magazine, in an article for AOL, there are some tips that can help employees dodge the layoff crisis; though not guaranteed, they are good ideas.
- Become noticed: Arrive a few minutes early, leave a few minutes late. Be noticed for being in the office all the time. Don’t be out unless it is absolutely necessary. Make being in the office a top priority. Employees who are never noticed are typically those first to be laid off.
- Claim projects: Don’t let projects that were toiled over be credited to others, stand up and take ownership of the work. Spending weeks completing a project only to have it claimed by someone else does not advance your cause. Speak up and be heard. But, don’t overdo it. No one likes being around a self-promoter.
- Generate income: Look for opportunities to bring clients to the company or ways to generate cash savings. When companies lay off people they are doing so to save money, beat them to the punch by saving money in every possible area or by bringing in new work.
- Volunteer: Be the one to volunteer for the not-so-fun jobs around the office. Show a willingness to get the job done no matter how big or small it may be. Be known as one who goes the extra mile to pick up the slack left behind. This goes a long way in being left out of the layoff group.
- Leave negativity at home: No one wants to spend the day listening to every little problem in life. They have enough of their own. Negativity, just like happiness, is contagious. Leave it at the front door so it doesn’t spread throughout the building.
- Job first: This may seem hard to do when balance has been stressed for so many years. For the present time, it is time to put employment above personal time. This doesn’t mean that all personal time should be sacrificed, but for the most part dedication to employment is a key in surviving layoffs.
There are no surefire ways to avoid being laid off, short of buying out the company. Since that is not a realistic goal, following some basic strategies can help. Maintaining employment and avoiding the layoff line is on the forefront of everyone’s mind. Keep performing at the top of game and maintain employment for longer than some of the more unfortunate.
 |
 |
