Nearly two million US jobs have been lost in the past year as the nation slides deeper into a recession. Millions more layoffs are likely.
In an economy this bad, even doing one’s job well is no guarantee of job security. Many skilled, hardworking employees will find themselves out of work. How to decrease the odds that you will be among them…
Be “low maintenance.” You will be among the first shown the door if your boss considers you a complainer… thinks you require handholding or special attention… or fields complaints about you from your coworkers. Bosses don’t lose sleep about laying off high-maintenance employees such as these — they dream about it. Cutting such people loose makes life easier for them and everyone else in the office.To avoid the “high maintenance” label, accept without complaint all assignments that come your way… do not ask for special treatment or argue about your rights as an employee… learn to endure your workplace’s minor annoyances in silence… and get along well with all of your colleagues.
Stay upbeat. Black humor is common when layoffs loom. Don’t join in — others might not have any sense of humor about this economy or the business’s current struggles.Speak with optimism about the company’s future — especially when the boss is around. It sends the message that you want to be part of that future.
Make sure your boss knows you as a human being. It is easier to fire an employee whom you don’t know. Share details of your life with your boss. Your goal is to humanize yourself to make it harder for your boss to fire you.Also, be sure that your employer is aware of your personal financial responsibilities. Your boss might be less likely to lay you off if he/she knows that the layoff would mean financial catastrophe for you because you have kids… a spouse with a serious health problem… a parent who is financially dependent on you… or some other major financial commitment.
Sparing the job of someone who is especially unable to afford unemployment allows the employer to think of himself as a big-hearted boss who is doing his best to look after his employees during difficult times.
Best: Do not sound desperate or needy when you discuss your financial situation. Just mention it in a conversation with your boss should a natural opportunity arise.
If you are single and debt-free, don’t advertise this. Your employer won’t feel as guilty about firing you.
Make a friend in the human resources (HR) department. HR employees often know about layoffs months before they occur. If you have an ally in HR, this colleague might be able to warn you about which departments will be hardest hit in time for you to transfer to a safer position. In some layoffs, HR employees even have a say in who stays and who goes.Volunteer to take on tasks that your boss dislikes. This might mean managing a headache project… training employees who transfer in from other departments… or representing your company at conferences and charity outings. If you don’t know which aspects of your boss’s job cause him the most displeasure, ask.If you’re in charge of these tasks, your boss won’t be able to let you go without worrying that he will have to take on these unloved responsibilities once again. That’s powerful motivation to keep you around.
Don’t let your boss catch you not working. Employees who are seen as slackers usually are among the first to be let go. Don’t take long lunches, and don’t get caught shopping online… playing computer games… or making long personal phone calls.Arrive at least five minutes before your boss every morning, and stay five minutes after he leaves.Add value to the company. Employers lay people off to save money. If it’s clear that you earn or save your company more than you are paid in salary and benefits, there’s nothing to be gained by letting you go.If you are not in a sales position and cannot easily bring more money into the company, search for ways to help your employer contain costs. Take on additional responsibilities to save the company the cost of hiring an additional employee. Brainstorm creative ways to trim company expenses.
Become your employer’s specialist on a crucial chore. Your job is much safer if your boss sees you as the one person in the office who can keep the computer system running… the most important client happy… or the files organized.Watch for warning signs that your specialized role might become obsolete. Have a plan in place to transition to another vital role if this occurs.Example: You always have managed a particular client’s account, but this client is struggling in the recession and could go out of business. Start cultivating a relationship with another key client so that you will not be expendable if the first one disappears.
Build allies. Layoffs are rarely distributed evenly across large corporations. One department might lose 30% of its staff, while a more profitable department might lose no one at all.Give colleagues in your company’s most promising departments reason to like you. If your own department appears particularly vulnerable to layoffs, contact your allies in these safer-seeming divisions and ask them whether a transfer might be possible.
Try to negotiate a layoff into a pay cut or a part-time job. If you are laid off, tell your employer that you would consider a pay cut or a part-time position if one were offered. In this economy, an underpaid job is better than no job at all.
