Will you lose your job? What are the signs and how to prevent it

NEW DELHI: One of the biggest uncertainties in an employee’s life is triggered by two small words: “You’re fired!” With a family to support, bills to pay and EMI liabilities to take care of, the sudden truncation of income can let loose untold trauma. One must understand that losing a job is not only a function of macro factors, but could also be due to the company’s or your own poor performance.Whatever the reason, dismissals seldom come without warnings. Here we list six indicators to show if you are on the verge of losing your job and the steps you should take to mitigate this risk.
You have got poor appraisal & increment
Have you got consistently poor appraisals and less-than-average increments for two-three years running? It is a red flag that is hard to miss. It could also reflect the industry or sector trend. Low increments must not be seen in isolation. If these are low across the board, it could be due to company’s underperformance or cost-cutting measures. If not, take the hint.
What to do: The first step is to talk to your boss or HR official to know the reason for the poor increment.“Have another chat to fix targets that are linked to the next promotion and obtain commitments and resources for the same,” says Devashish Chakravarty, CEO, QuezX.com & Head Honchos.
You are losing out on plum projects
Are important assignments that you handled earlier being passed on to others? Are you being left out of meetings that used to give credence to your inputs? It’s also possible that budgetary constraints are being imposed on you. All these are surefire indicators that you are no longer in favour. A common culprit is competitiveness. Insecurity or rivalry could see your immediate boss or team member taking credit for your inputs or creating an impression that you are not contributing well. You may have said or done something that has not gone down well with the bosses.
What to do: Firstly, introspect if you have been the cause of your own downfall. If you can’t pinpoint it, talk to colleagues or your manager.
Have a candid chat with your boss to understand and what you can do to change the situation. If the fault lies with you, accept it and rectify it. If, however, the problem has become deep-seated and you can’t resolve it, start looking for a new job.
You are not learning new skills at work
You should start to feel concerned if you have been performing the same tasks at work for more than a couple of years. If you are not innovating, improvising and outperforming to contribute to the company’s profits or visibility, you are likely to be branded a non-performer, which could translate to an early exit.
What to do: “It makes sense to ask for intervention if one has hit a plateau in one’s career” says Paul Dupuis, MD & CEO, Randstad India. You could also shift laterally in the organisation to fit into a role that suits your skills. Make sure you upgrade your skills. To ensure that you stay ahead of the curve, learn to exit the comfort zone. “Volunteer new stuff, suggest initiatives, help colleagues, look for lateral transfers, and train to up your game,” says Chakravarty.
Machines are starting to replace you at work
Automation and artificial intelligence have signalled distress for many employees. As per a survey on the future of jobs in India by EY and Nasscom, technology adoption will change the job scenario by 2022. So what are the indicators that you could be replaced by a machine? “The roles that require manual intervention, follow a standardised procedure and are repeatable will be impacted. Machine learning and robotic process automation will reduce number of people required for customer service, back-office and testing roles, impacting ITeS, IT and consumer-facing industries,” says Dupuis. The other jobs include those in BPOs, data entry and basic banking operations.
What to do: “AI is here to stay and the sooner we understand it, the better it will be. The one way to combat it is to acquire new skills,” says Neeti Sharma, Senior Vice-President, TeamLease. You will not only need to keep up with the pace of digitisation by improving tech skills, but also focus on more niche segments. Another way is to upskill yourself by opting for in-house courses or getting fresh degrees.
Your relationship with boss is deteriorating
Has your boss started ignoring your suggestions and mails, or is criticising your work? Are you having verbal spats with him in front of colleagues? If the disagreement is healthy, ignore it. But if the problem is deeper, spawning from personal or professional reasons, you will either have to fix the relationship or quit.
What to do: The first step is to identify the problem. If it is professional and you are at fault, take responsibility and find ways to improve. Seek a role or job where you can add more value because if you don’t trust your boss, or vice versa, you will never be able to deliver your best.
“If, on the other hand, the problem is personal, be outstanding professionally and impeccable in social behavior,” says Chakravarty. It’s difficult to get rid of an over-achiever or a popular person.
Your firm is cutting costs, has hiring freeze
Your job could be in danger not for any fault of yours, but simply because the industry or your company is going through a bad phase. In such a case, it could impose temporary cost-cutting measures in the form of withdrawal of perks or a hiring freeze. If things become worse, the firm may even consider letting go of its employees. If this happens, the staffers in non-core functions will be the first to exit. You could also lose your job if the company undergoes a change in business strategy, or if it witnesses a merger and reorganisation. Another indicator is the loss of senior-most employees or star performers. A new boss could result in firings as well.
What to do: To prepare youself better, keep tabs on the company’s performance, as well as the sector, in the broader context. A gradual exodus of staffers and persistently low increments could also indicate danger to your job. If you suspect firings, update your resume, circulate it among head hunters and start the search for a new job immediately.
What not to do if you are at risk…
To protect your job and reputation, don’t react impulsively and remain professional
Don’t bad-mouth the boss
You haven’t lost your job yet. Talking ill about your boss or firm on social media may hasten your exit. Or worse, it will reflect poorly on your ethics if seen by prospective employers, scuttling your chances of a new job.
Don’t rush to quit your job
There’s a chance that you may not lose your current job. By acting hastily and accepting the first job offer that comes your way, you may find yourself saddled with a worse job without recourse to an easy exit.
Don’t be unprofessional
Even if you think you are losing your job, don’t stop working. If at all, work harder and put in your best performance. Your work ethic and professionalism may be noticed and things may turn out differently for you.
Update your resume
Don’t preempt your dismissal, but be prepared. Update your resume and circulate it. Start a discreet search for a new job without letting others know about it.
Control emotions at work
Don’t be frazzled by the negativity in office or rumours about your impending lay-off. Remain calm and don’t talk about your fears or feelings to colleagues. Don’t become offensive or defensive and certainly don’t grovel before your boss to save your job.