In these uncertain times, if you think your job is secure, you’re wrong.
More than a third of Americans report having been fired from a job at least once, and that number increases the longer people spend in the workforce, with half of the respondents over 60 having experienced being fired.
It’s not always easy to know in advance if your boss is planning on firing you, but there are some signs that give it away. Here are some telltale clues that you’re not being paranoid and that your job is at risk.
Am I Getting Fired or Just Paranoid? – 18 Signs Your Job Is at Risk
1. You Made a Huge Mistake
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Did you mess up big time? If you made a colossal mistake that cost the company a lot of money or public humiliation, or if you had a major fallout with your boss or coworkers, you may be correct to fear losing your job.
Of course, the situation may still be salvageable. You may be able to apologize, rectify your mistakes, and make amends with your boss and coworkers.
However, depending on the gravity of the error, it may no longer be an option.
Are you just paranoid? If the mistake was relatively small, you probably won’t be fired.
If you tend to be overly anxious or are a perfectionist, you may worry about being fired for minor mistakes. Most of the time, that won’t happen.
Also Read: Bad Reasons To Quit Your Job
2. You’re Not Being Invited to Meetings
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If you’re no longer being invited to meetings that all your coworkers are attending, something is probably up. Your boss may exclude you because they no longer need you at the company, and your presence is no longer wanted.
However, if the meetings have nothing to do with your line of work, and not all of your coworkers are attending those conferences, you may just be paranoid. Perhaps your boss is only requesting that people from relevant departments participate in the meeting.
3. You’re Being Left Out of Projects
Similarly, if your managers do not include you in group projects in which the entire team is involved, you may have cause for concern.
That applies to work projects and after-hour activities, such as meetups, hangouts, and other events.
Check Out: Bad Company Culture Examples
4. Your Usual Assignments Are Given to Others
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Suddenly, your workload seems to be getting lighter. You might feel relief at first – after all, who doesn’t want a more manageable workload?
However, panic soon sets in as you realize that other people are being assigned your responsibilities with no reason given to you. It’s possible that you will be removed from the team or shifted to another department.
On the other hand, if you are given special work assignments while your usual projects are given to others, you probably don’t have anything to worry about.
5. You’re Being Given Impossible Assignments
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If your manager is suddenly setting impossible deadlines or goals or giving you assignments beyond what you’re truly capable of, they might be paving the way to fire you.
Fortunately, most managers won’t do this, but some will.
Explore: Organizational Culture Examples To Inspire
6. Your Boss Starts Communicating in Writing
Suddenly, your higher-ups seem to insist on having a paper or digital trail. Instead of calling you or telling you things in person, everything has been documented in writing or via email.
Now, you may be paranoid if this is just a new company policy, and it’s being implemented across the board. Ask your coworkers if they have noticed this or if it’s just you.
If it’s just you, your boss may be putting together a case for firing you. For that reason, they want to have documentation of all your communications.
7. You Are Put on a Performance Improvement Plan
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Being put on a PIP, or Performance Improvement Plan (also called a performance action plan), is never a good sign. Such plans are designed for employees who are not meeting their job requirements.
A performance improvement plan isn’t fun, and it’s a sign your job is at risk, but it’s not usually a sign that you will be immediately fired. In fact, if your bosses put you on a performance improvement plan, they are clearly giving you a second chance.
However, they will likely identify critical areas in which you must improve. You might have to address deficiencies, get extra training to improve your skills, meet new deadlines, and improve your overall performance.
What if you don’t meet the expectations of the plan? If you don’t bridge the gaps in your performance, you may very well be on your way out of the company.
Also Read: Things Not To Say In An Exit Interview
8. You Are Passed Over for a Promotion
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If many of your coworkers are getting promotions or bonuses and you are not, you might start getting anxious. It’s essential to examine the specifics of the situation, though.
You should worry if you are the only one or one of the few not getting promotions. Your boss might not be planning on getting rid of you just yet, but they’re clearly not too pleased with the way things have been going.
On the other hand, if only a select few have received promotions, you’re probably just being paranoid. There may be limited spots for advancement, and it may just not be your time yet.
9. People Start Acting Weird Around You
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Sometimes, you might just have to trust your gut. Your sixth sense is your subconscious mind connecting the dots and understanding what your conscious mind doesn’t want to believe.
For example, if you notice your coworkers suddenly acting weird or awkward around you, they may know something that you don’t.
Perhaps they aren’t talking to you anymore, or maybe you notice hushed whispers behind your back.
That’s not usually a good sign, although it’s not necessarily a bad one. For example, they may be planning a surprise birthday party.
However, if your birthday isn’t coming up, you’re probably not being paranoid.
Check Out: Exit Interview Tips To Talk Out Bad Boss & Toxic Workplace
10. Your Boss Keeps Criticizing You
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Are your managers suddenly nitpicking you on everything you do? Do you feel micromanaged when you previously had the freedom to be creative and figure things out?
If your boss is suddenly criticizing you for every little mistake you make, you are justified in worrying about your future at the firm. At the same time, if the situation is intolerable, it might be best for you in the long run.
After all, do you really want to work at a job in which you are constantly being put down?
11. People Disregard Your Input, Opinions, and Authority
Are you getting frustrated with how people are treating you? Nobody seems to value your opinions anymore and your authority is not being respected, even by people who are not your superiors.
If you are no longer being asked for your input on important matters, even matters you have expertise in, it’s a bad sign and may signal your end at the firm.
12. Other People Are Getting Laid Off
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Sometimes, your job may be at risk not because of something you did or your negative performance. The company might simply be experiencing financial troubles, and you may have to deal with the effects of that through no fault of your own.
If people are getting laid off left and right, you may be next. Even if you are an asset to the company, they may have to make some decisions that aren’t best for you in the long run.
The only way to avoid this is to be absolutely critical to the company. If they can’t do without you, they won’t fire you.
However, not every employee can be like that. Besides, sometimes, businesses will lay off entire departments due to severe budget cuts.
Also Read: Tips For Dealing With A Difficult Female Boss
13. There Is Talk About Budget Cuts
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People might not be getting fired just yet, but there may be rumors of budget cuts and layoffs. Your boss has been talking about financial difficulties for a while now, and they alluded to needing to make expenditure cuts, even if they didn’t mention firing people specifically.
At this point, there is still some hope. Your manager probably hasn’t made any precise decisions as to whom they will fire, unlike the previous situation in which they have already fired people.
In this case, making yourself as essential as possible to the company can help you keep your job. You should still start thinking about backup plans, though.
14. There Has Been a Merger or Acquisition
Mergers and acquisitions often pave the way for layoffs.
When there is a merger between two companies, there is frequently an overlap between the responsibilities of different people. Instead of keeping two employees who are essentially doing the same thing, the new owners typically decide to discharge one of them.
This redundancy threatens the jobs not only of the average employee but even the higher-ups. In fact, senior management positions often face the brunt of what happens after mergers and acquisitions, as there is usually no need for two CEOs.
In the case of an acquisition in which the two companies remain separate but are now owned by the same parent firm, the risk might not be as high. However, many times, management will combine operations behind the scenes, even if the companies remain separate on the customer-facing side.
In that case, layoffs may also be a natural consequence.
If there is news of a merger or acquisition, you’re not just being paranoid. Not all mergers lead to layoffs, but many do.
Also Read: When Your Boss Makes You Feel Incompetent – Things To Do
15. Your Boss Advises Early Retirement
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Has your boss advised you to retire early for no apparent reason? They might be thinking of replacing you for whatever reason and are trying to get you to quit instead of needing to fire you.
Remember, you have rights. It’s illegal to fire someone due to their age, although it does happen.
There may be other reasons your boss might be planning to fire you, though, and they may be entirely legal.
16. You Are Being Put on Furlough
A furlough is a temporary leave of absence as opposed to a permanent discharge. There are laws governing involuntary furloughs, but employers are allowed to require employees to take unpaid days off.
Your boss might start with a voluntary furlough, though, requesting that you voluntarily give up employment for a few days or give up certain benefits. They may move on to an involuntary furlough.
There are two general goals of a furlough. Most commonly, it’s when the company is facing financial difficulties and is trying to stay afloat without outright firing employees just yet.
Another common reason is when there simply isn’t a lot of work for everyone. It’s prevalent among seasonal businesses that are now facing a low workload and don’t want to pay employees for doing nothing.
After the furlough ends, you may come back to work, with or without reduced hours. The break might be long-term (taking off one day a week for many weeks) or short-term (taking off an entire week and then returning).
Furloughs are often signs of financial distress, and layoffs may end up coming in the future.
17. Your Boss Hired Someone New
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If the company has recently hired someone new who is fulfilling your responsibilities, it’s not a good sign.
Some employers may even lie about the duties of the new hire, saying they are not there to replace you when they really are.
Explore: What Happens When You Complain To HR About Your Boss?
18. People Are Coming in for Interviews
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Similarly, if new people are constantly coming into interviews at the office, even when there are no vacant positions, your boss might be trying to replace some current employees.
It’s hard to know for sure, though. Perhaps the company has created new positions – for example, the CEO may have decided to shift from outsourcing the firm’s marketing needs to an agency to using an in-house team.
You also can’t know for sure which people your boss wants to replace, if any.
Can Getting Fired Be a Good Thing?
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Fortunately, getting fired isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it could lead to further career development in the long run.
It can be hard to see the positive in getting fired, especially if you really need the money. However, research suggests that getting fired doesn’t usually mean the end of your career, despite how devastating it might feel at the moment.
A study that tracked 2,600 executives over 10 years found that more than nine times out of 10, people who got fired found new jobs that were just as good or even better than before.
It gets even better. More than three out of four times, fired executives end up becoming CEOs of other companies eventually.
While the study tracked executives specifically, there are a lot of benefits that can come out of getting fired. Here are some of them.
Also Read: Simple Resignation Examples
Avoid Being Stagnant
Sometimes, it’s all too easy to just be stagnant in a job that provides comfort instead of pushing yourself to find another job. Quitting a job isn’t for the weak, especially if you don’t yet have an even better job lined up.
It requires a great deal of self-confidence and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone and face the unknown. Getting fired might force you to do that, and you may find a job that offers better career opportunities, pay, bonuses, and training.
It Forces You to Improve Your Game
Furthermore, getting fired is sometimes the wake-up call you need to improve your performance. If you got fired because you had a lousy work ethic, performed poorly, or were just not good at your job, getting fired could be the impetus you need to change.
In the long run, you can emerge more robust and more qualified than before.
You Might Consider a Career Change
If you get fired, you might start looking into other careers altogether. Perhaps your current profession didn’t really satisfy you, and you’re looking to do something different.
Whether you go back to college or sign up for an adult learning program, you can start a new career afresh. You might even decide to become your own boss and create an online or offline business.
Also Read: Resignation Email Subject Line Examples
It’s Often Better Than Resigning
There are a lot of advantages to being fired instead of leaving the job of your own will. You may be better off getting fired if any of these situations apply to you:
- The pay was too low
- You were being micromanaged or constantly criticized
- You weren’t happy with what you were doing
- There were no career advancement opportunities
- You were feeling unfulfilled
So, why is it better to get fired? First, employers are required to offer some type of benefit (the benefits vary from state to state) if they fire you.
You may be able to get a severance package, for example, that can keep you afloat for the next few months until you find a new job. Your employer may even offer to continue paying your health insurance for a few months.
Not only that, but it’s a lot easier to qualify for unemployment insurance if you were fired. If you left the job of your own accord, it’s not nearly as straightforward, although it’s not altogether impossible.
What to Do If You Suspect You Will Be Fired?
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If you suspect you will be fired, don’t let on right away. Instead, make a plan and take the following steps to secure your career.
Start Looking for a New Job
It might be hard to attend interviews if you’re working full-time. However, you will be a more attractive candidate if you are currently working.
If you are in between jobs, you will have to face questions like, “Why are you currently not working?” Or, “Were you fired from your previous job, and why?”
On the other hand, if you are still gainfully employed, you might face different questions, such as, “Why are you looking to leave your current job?”
Those questions are a lot easier to answer. Instead of being put in a position in which you need to explain yourself (particularly if your previous boss fired you), you can easily paint yourself in a positive light.
You can say that you are feeling unfulfilled at your current job, don’t like the company culture, or want to make a more positive contribution to the world.
Either way, if you feel like a layoff is coming, don’t delay. Take action immediately to secure yourself a new job.
Also Read: Indeed vs Monster
Start Collecting Evidence
If you feel like you might be wrongfully fired, now is the time to start collecting evidence. Once you are officially fired, access to your work laptop and company files will be immediately revoked.
Now is the time to start documenting emails, official notices, and other communications. You can even secretly record your conversations with your boss, whether you have them in person or over the phone.
However, be careful. In some states, it’s not legal to record a phone call or conversation without the consent of both parties.
In other states, only one person’s consent is needed (and that person can be you). You can even use those conversations to prove that your employer was discriminating against you based on your gender, sexual identification, race, nationality, ethnicity, or age.
However, it may also be banned as per company policy, which means that recording secretly could itself be grounds for termination.
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Keep your Head Up
Most importantly, don’t despair. Remember what I said before – getting fired isn’t usually a significant setback in the long run.
Try to see the bigger picture, and avoid succumbing to fatalism. Don’t give up. Instead, start updating your resume and be excited about what’s potentially out there.
Most importantly, don’t let on that you know just yet. Pretend all is fine, so your boss doesn’t know that you know.
Wrapping It Up
If you suspect you will be fired, take a trip to the doctor (if your health insurance benefits will expire). Now is the time to find out about health issues and get treatment.
You can’t prevent your boss from firing you, but it won’t be the end of your career. Start looking for new opportunities, and you may end up being thankful that you were fired.
