Everyone dreads the boot that come flying out of nowhere. I’m not just talking about a flying shoe in the air. I’m talking about termination, pink slips, bye-bye letters, or whatever you want to call it. I hardly believe that anyone would be “pleased” when and if (God forbid) that happens. Layoffs are difficult to deal with considering the amount of extra time you end up having during unemployment and explaining the unexpected termination to everyone you know.
Is there a way to reduce the pain? Is there a way to know even before is happens? There most certainly is. Here are six signs you are about to get fired which will allow you to right your wrongs or take action before you get the boot.
Your Boss/Manager Starts Avoiding You:
One of the most obvious signs of being on the short list is when your manager starts avoiding your calls, messages, emails, and even stares. Your boss might be well-aware of what he is about to do, but is having a difficult time dealing with how or when to do it. It’s best to confront your manager at this point to clarify what you should/shouldn’t be expecting.
Your Responsibilities are Being Cut Down:
For some reason, your boss doesn’t seem to trust you anymore with the work he gives you. Previously, you would handle large projects and take part in the “big things”. Now, however, you’re just doing easy paperwork or fetching coffee. This could be a clear sign that your boss is “preparing” to give you the pink slip and doesn’t want you to have too many pending assignments when he does.
You Recently Got in Trouble:
This should be a no-brainer but still some people fail to see it coming or blame themselves for it. If you weren’t on your best behavior and have been warned, you should know what to expect. Don’t pretend your boss is just being erratic or fussy and claim responsibility! If you’re always late, having trouble with a co-worker, went against a policy, not meeting your targets, insulted a board member, or are a poor fit from the start, be prepared for an end.
A Merger/Acquisition Happened:
Due to mergers and acquisitions, companies end up cutting down employee strength because they simply don’t need that many workers. There is a high chance that there is a duplicate position and they already have someone else doing what you do. If you’re not on the top of the list or were not one of the first few to get hired (depending on their termination policies) there is high chances of you being on their elimination list.
You are Assigned a Mentor:
If you were always doing your work without being watched under a magnifying glass and all of the sudden you are being pampered like baby, take it seriously. Sometimes, companies hire mentors to watch over you when there is problem with your performance and you are not meeting expectations. This is especially worrisome if no one else in your position is being micro-managed or watched over by a mentor. Know that at this point, you are on thin ice and need to improve.
You are Given Impossible Projects or Deadlines:
To make the layoff easier, some managers choose to handover unrealistic projects and deadlines – like dissertation writing – so that they have an “easy way out” when they hand over the pink slip. This is not a great method, but one that is definitely used. When addressed, your manager seems to ignore you concerns about not being able to meet the deadlines and expects you to hand in something you clearly won’t be able to deliver. Start signing up for other gigs, because either way, your current job’s fate doesn’t look very pretty.
