A firing is rarely a surprise event, at least for the people in power. In most cases, a variety of small and large factors lead up to the decision to fire a person. Employees, on the other hand, may not expect to get fired and are often unprepared. By paying attention to the warning signs, you can anticipate a termination and start searching for a new job in advance.
Negative Relationship Changes
Your relationship with your employer is an important indicator of your employment status. When the relationship shifts, either suddenly or gradually, it can be a sign that you are about to get fired. Pay attention to your instinct, as concrete changes may be difficult to identify. Do you suddenly feel less comfortable being alone in a room together? Do you feel disrespected or undervalued? Do you feel like you can't please the employer, no matter how hard you work? These emotional reactions can be a sign of subtle shifts that point to a degrading relationship.
Changes in Communication
Most employees fall into a pattern of communication with their bosses; a shift in the pattern is a red flag. If your gut tells you that something is wrong, stay alert for signs that your boss is pulling away. If your supervisor suddenly stops asking you for a weekly team assessment and turns instead to another colleague, start looking out for other problems. Before you get fired, your boss may also start avoiding you, missing regular meetings or leaving you out of the loop.
Acquisitions and Mergers
If your company has been acquired or if it is in the middle of a merger, examine your job functions. If you have a staff position that is covered adequately by the other company, you may get fired in the consolidation process. The same is true if your job responsibilities are being absorbed into a different department or if the new company plans to divide the workload in a different way. While it can be difficult to predict the outcome of a merger, you can look out for clues. Your bosses may deliberately avoid talking about your future with the company, for example, or they may express uncertainty about the new corporate structure.
Negative Performance Reviews
Poor performance can be a major factor in a termination for cause. If this is the case, your employer has likely been providing clues: offering negative feedback on projects, calling you publicly in meetings or giving bad performance reviews, for example. When you notice that your work is no longer getting a positive reception or if your boss has stopped offering feedback entirely, you might be about to get fired.
The warning signs that happen before you get fired can be difficult to catch, but they are almost always present. By staying aware at work and watching out for the telltale clues that your company wants you to leave, you can take corrective action or find a new job.
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