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Is your Job in Jeopardy?
- By Lily Eastman
- Published 06/13/2008
- Jobs & Careers
- Unrated
Lily Eastman
Lily was born in the back of a station wagon to traveling circus performers. They left her at a rest stop in Polk County when her fear of tigers made her a nuisance. A nice family adopted and tried to make her feel welcome, but sometimes, late at night, when the bullfrogs called, she wondered if she might be different. Not really, she sleeps like a rock, so she never heard the bullfrogs. She now plots world domination. And takes naps.
View all articles by Lily Eastman
Maybe friends of yours have been laid off. You've seen articles in the newspaper about rising unemployment. But you've been at your job for years! Surely you don't have to be worried...right? Right? Well, that might not be true.
In these tough economic times, companies are doing whatever they can to cut expenses, and that might include letting go employees who make more. New hires don't have to be paid as well, and may not expect the benefits you've come to expect. If your boss is looking to cut from payroll, he may skim off the top first.
-What can you do? Well, there's not much. Any chance you get to communicate with your boss is good, be polite and friendly, make sure you state how much you love your job. It's harder to fire someone you know and like than it is a faceless name on payroll.
Are you bored? Does it seem like no one is giving you any work to do lately? Well, be careful. Sometimes this lull is because senior staff doesn't want to give you any big projects right before they ask you to leave. Occasionally, they will even use the fact that you haven't been busy as an excuse to lay you off.
-If you can, look for something to do. Ask! Ask your direct supervisor how you can help on a project, or what assignment you need to tackle next. Don't say "can I help you?" Because that question leaves "no" as an option.
Is your office hiring? You might want to do a little nosing around on craigslist.org and other employment web sites. If your
office is looking for someone to do your job, for less money, you might want to start working on your resume.
-What can you do? Well, in this case, not much. They already seem to have their minds made up. Again, just try to do your best to prove your worth, maintain a friendly relationship with your boss. If you feel up to it, you might want to head straight for him or her and ask, in a non-confrontational way, if everything is all right. You might say you've sensed some tension in the office, or that he or she looks worried. Your boss might be hoping to let you know unofficially before the official fire date so that you can start looking for something else.
Are they meeting without you? If you realize that you are now being excluded from meetings you used to attend, or that projects you were involved in are going on without you, start tidying up your desk. Your office is trying to make you obsolete.
Sometimes the only thing you can do is leave with grace. You do want this company to give you a good reference. Don't search for other jobs while you're at work at your present job. Don't be updating your resume on your work computer on your lunch break. If they do let you go, try to be polite. It's okay to ask why. Take mental notes. You're allowed to ask questions, and make sure you find out anything you need to know about your 401(k) and health insurance. How long do you have before health benefits expire?
And finally...perhaps most importantly...thank them for the opportunity they have given you. If you can't bear to do this in person right after you've been fired, a polite e-mail or note will do.
In these tough economic times, companies are doing whatever they can to cut expenses, and that might include letting go employees who make more. New hires don't have to be paid as well, and may not expect the benefits you've come to expect. If your boss is looking to cut from payroll, he may skim off the top first.
-What can you do? Well, there's not much. Any chance you get to communicate with your boss is good, be polite and friendly, make sure you state how much you love your job. It's harder to fire someone you know and like than it is a faceless name on payroll.
Are you bored? Does it seem like no one is giving you any work to do lately? Well, be careful. Sometimes this lull is because senior staff doesn't want to give you any big projects right before they ask you to leave. Occasionally, they will even use the fact that you haven't been busy as an excuse to lay you off.
-If you can, look for something to do. Ask! Ask your direct supervisor how you can help on a project, or what assignment you need to tackle next. Don't say "can I help you?" Because that question leaves "no" as an option.
Is your office hiring? You might want to do a little nosing around on craigslist.org and other employment web sites. If your
-What can you do? Well, in this case, not much. They already seem to have their minds made up. Again, just try to do your best to prove your worth, maintain a friendly relationship with your boss. If you feel up to it, you might want to head straight for him or her and ask, in a non-confrontational way, if everything is all right. You might say you've sensed some tension in the office, or that he or she looks worried. Your boss might be hoping to let you know unofficially before the official fire date so that you can start looking for something else.
Are they meeting without you? If you realize that you are now being excluded from meetings you used to attend, or that projects you were involved in are going on without you, start tidying up your desk. Your office is trying to make you obsolete.
Sometimes the only thing you can do is leave with grace. You do want this company to give you a good reference. Don't search for other jobs while you're at work at your present job. Don't be updating your resume on your work computer on your lunch break. If they do let you go, try to be polite. It's okay to ask why. Take mental notes. You're allowed to ask questions, and make sure you find out anything you need to know about your 401(k) and health insurance. How long do you have before health benefits expire?
And finally...perhaps most importantly...thank them for the opportunity they have given you. If you can't bear to do this in person right after you've been fired, a polite e-mail or note will do.