5 Signs you are about to lose your job
Hello! Are You About to Lose Your Job?
After 11 years as a human resources professional with experience in multinational companies, I would like to share my personal experience. Here’s my LinkedIn profile if you’d like to connect.
Is it possible to lose your job without seeing it coming? Unfortunately, as various reports and incidents demonstrate, it can happen. For instance, did you know that an employee can be terminated for gross misconduct, such as disclosing the company’s trade secrets to competitors?
In some cases, people lose their jobs for reasons like this. However, there are many situations, not limited to misconduct, where an employee might lose their job simply for failing to follow company policies or directives issued by their manager.
Sometimes, the warning signs are subtle; you might have a gut feeling that you’re about to be let go. In this article, we will share five signs that could indicate you are on the verge of being fired—signs that you shouldn’t ignore. Occasionally, these signs may manifest as rumours or warnings from colleagues who may have more information due to their position within the organization.
Here are five signs that may indicate you are about to receive a termination letter—these signs should not be underestimated.
5 Signs You Might Be at Risk of Losing Your Job in the Next Six Months
1. Financial Difficulties of the Organization
When your organization starts experiencing financial difficulties—struggling to balance its expenditures with its revenues—it’s a clear sign that turbulent times may lie ahead, especially regarding salary payments and financial commitments. Many organizations resort to significant cutbacks to reduce their workforce and costs without negatively impacting profitability. They often downsize when faced with declining revenues, increasing costs, poor economic conditions, dismal profit forecasts, elimination of divisions, or strategic decisions aimed at keeping the company solvent. If you learn that your company is in serious financial trouble, it’s possible that you may be laid off or encouraged to resign in order to give you a head start.
2. Exclusion from Important Meetings
If you start noticing that you’re being excluded from important meetings without a logical explanation, consider this a warning sign. When your managers stop inviting you to crucial discussions related to your department or role, it strongly indicates that they may believe your time at the organization is limited. Human Resources or line managers might assume that since you will likely be let go, there’s no point in sharing important strategies or information with you.
3. Reduced Job Role
In a healthy work environment, you should have a consistent flow of tasks and responsibilities. If you observe a significant reduction in the tasks assigned to you, this is something to pay close attention to, as it may indicate that your job is at risk. The organization might be reassessing how it can operate without your contributions.
4. Hostility Towards You
While it’s not uncommon for manager-employee relationships to have occasional disagreements, constant hostility is a cause for concern. If your interactions with management deteriorate into frequent face-offs or if you’re often sent home over minor issues, it may indicate a troubling atmosphere. If you find yourself spending more time navigating conflict than actually performing your job duties, take note—this could be a serious warning sign.
5. Mergers and Acquisitions
When a company undergoes a merger or is acquired by a larger organization, it often leads to job redundancies. This happens because the two companies may have overlapping roles, leading to the consolidation of positions. For instance, if you occupy a mid-level role, you might be reassigned to a lower position in the hierarchy or find your job eliminated altogether. Mergers and acquisitions can act like an organizational upheaval, reducing employee stability and job security. If you find yourself in such a situation, it’s worth considering that your position may be in jeopardy, especially as new management may bring different strategies and personnel that do not include current employees.
If you have experienced any other signs that could lead to job loss, please leave a comment below; I’d love to hear from you!