Eight steps to follow when you’re fired or laid off
If you’ve ever worked at a company where there’s even a hint of a threat that layoffs could be coming, you need to make sure that you’ve worked your way into a position where there is as little of a chance that your name would be written down onto The List of Those To Be Let Go as possible.
That’s right – in order to not give them a reason to lay you off, you need to lay the groundwork ahead of time by following at least these TIPS FOR HELPING TO AVOID GETTING LAID OFF.
- It goes without saying – be good at your job. If you can, be the best at doing your job compared to the other people around you. The company would prefer to keep The Best workers over The Mediocre ones. Don’t be the slacker in your group.
- Show up 5 minutes early. Being seen at work for more hours than the boss doesn’t necessarily mean that your work is better than other employees – but if you can be counted on to be there when the boss isn’t, then you may be seen as turning into “the go-to person” just because you’re available. Being asked to work on special projects are always worthwhile for career advancement.
- Don’t gossip. Sure, gossip is fun and there’s nothing wrong with socializing with your co-workers. A light-hearted friendly workplace is always preferable to one that is not, especially if you spend more time in the office than you do at home. But gossip never leads anywhere productive, and those who gossip may not be trusted with vital information. What’s that old saying, “loose lips sink ships”?
- Be the peacemaker. Learn to negotiate and manage projects through consensus. Playing office politics isn’t always fun, but ensuring that everyone is one the same team makes work easier for everyone. There isn’t anything wrong with playing devil’s advocate and taking the opposite side of a discussion, but the people who regularly question authority and cause projects to stall will not always find themselves on the “keep” side of the layoff equation.
- Share information. Everyone wants to be “in the know”. So bring people into the fold and teach them what you have stored up in your noggin. Withholding information for your own personal gain may give you short-lived satisfaction, and could make you out to not be the team player you thought you were.
- Make other people look good. Especially your boss. And your boss’ boss. And the other members of your team. Your job should be to help everyone advance, not just yourself. Scratch their back by throwing a well-deserved kudo their way, and they’ll scratch yours with proper credit for your work too.