Settling In For A Storm of Layoffs
Proof that the country is in a recession was reported yesterday as figures show that December of 2007 was the beginning of what now seems to have a stronghold on America’s economy.
Consumers are defaulting on their home loans in alarming numbers and those who are not defaulting on their loans are borrowing against their equitable portion.
Americans are resorting to various types of short term installment or payday loans to keep their heads above water on a regular basis. Surpassed by only two other recessions in the last century, this one, I’m afraid, is settling in for the long haul.
Counting The Losses
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Job cuts soared 61% higher last month than the month before as employers reported 181,671 job cuts compared to the 73,140 cuts in October. This represents the second highest on record. A report from the Department of Labor on Friday is expected to report total cuts at a staggering 325,000 for last month.
Employers everywhere are cutting the fat and tightening the belt in order to brave what may be the worst recession since the 1930’s. Severe downsizing, bankruptcy and going out of business sales are what we are starting to see. Major retail chains have not been immune, see “Is a Great Depression Coming” for a list of major retail suppliers going out of business.
Citibank reported job cuts of 50,000 last month from their workforce totaling around 352,000 employees. With over a million jobs lost this year alone, cause for worry is justified among consumers as the outlook for the immediate future doesn’t look good either. This month is expected to produce some dizzying layoff numbers as well.
Layoff are being reported in record numbers. Could your job be next?
Job Layoffs And You
Layoffs are an unfortunate event of the economic recession; companies don’t like to layoff their employees but for the good of the many, they sometimes have to layoff a few.
There are some practical tips that you as an employee should observe and do to increase your chances of survival in and uncertain economy. If your company is forced into downsizing their staff, where will the ax fall?. Here are a few things that you can do yourself to improve your chances of survival.
Remember Who You Work For And Why
It is easy to get complacent over time with the position you were hired to perform. Most jobs will have a high degree of repetition. In the beginning things tend to be new and exciting but after time you may tend to start spinning your wheels a little more and be less productive then your potential allows. Attitudes and policies that didn’t affect you when you started, may now be driving you crazy.
If this sounds like you, it’s time to take a new approach, Chances are your negative attitude and body language has already revealed your displeasure to both your managers and coworkers. Employers see this as infectious. One employee’s disapproval will bleed over to other staff decreasing both workplace moral and productivity.
Being more thankful for the job you have in such a troubled economy and focusing more on the aspects that you do enjoy will help change your attitude and outlook. If you have to go to work each day, you might as well try to enjoy it.
Words Can Kill
Chances are you can remember very clearly a rude comment or some negative insult that was thrown at you on the playground years ago. Negative talk or gossip of others, especially co-workers and management, will eventually come back to haunt you. Gossiping about co-workers and management in the lunchroom or on the job floor may make it back to the person it was directed at, resulting in a written complaint against you or worse.
When it comes time to make those workforce layoffs, your file will bear some unfavorable and highly visible scars that may put you in the front lines, especially if your gossiping was directed towards your superiors.
Making Yourself More Visible And Valuable
You would choose a Porsche over a station wagon, and so would your employer. The more visual and valuable you become in terms of performance and production, the better your chances will be in keeping your job when tough times hit.
Always show an interest in the job you are performing and if you have grown bored of the position, meet with your superiors to explain your willingness to learn something new. Your employer will be delighted in your ambition and most likely start taking small steps to cross-train you in other tasks or promote you altogether when the opportunity arises.
The more you know, the more valuable you will become. Also, Be sure to keep up on professional appearances as well. Despite what you know, if you lack a professional appearance you will not be placed in a position of leadership where others may be looking to you as an example.
Give Your Employers An Invested Interest In You!
Chances are your employer may offer a profit sharing program that will match funds or reimburse you on advancing your education. This is one of the best ways to show both your ambition as well as your willingness to learn new things that will help push the company forward.
When it comes to weeding out the staff, your employer will want to keep the motivated individuals that they have a financial investment in for future growth and profits. Make yourself an asset that they cannot afford to lose and you will have a great chance of making the cut in even the hardest of times.
Mixing Business With Pleasure
We all want to have fun a work, but if fun entails doing at work what should be reserved for when you get home, you may find yourself home full time without a job.
Personal email correspondence or web chat should not be performed at your workplace unless permitted by your employer. Remember every minute you spend at work is being paid for by your employer and they are not paying you to talk to your friends all day.
Much of what is said in email and chat rooms may also be monitored by IT staff as a security and profit loss measure. Don’t risk it! When at work, work! Playtime should be reserved for when your at home.
If your employer sees you as an employee cutting into their profit margin you may be the next in line come layoff time.
Be Quick To Listen And Slow to Speak
Know one likes a know-it-all and if that sounds like you, your employer may be looking for a good reason to get rid of you. Listen carefully when you are spoken to and don’t go outside the lines of what you are told to do, even if it makes more sense to you. It is o.k. to make suggestions as your suggestions are valuable to improving productivity in the work place, but because you don’t know the full ramifications of everything that is involved in the decision making processes, don’t pretend that you do or your ego will get in the way of putting food on the table. Even if you have a sidekick who agrees with you, don’t try to be a Lone Ranger.
Heart Thumping Is Not Allowed
Office affairs and workplace romance will spell disaster for all both parties involved, 99% of the time. Not only is it not permitted by most employers but when intimate relationships end, things can get ugly. Don’t develop a relationship that may tarnish your reputation as an upstanding employee. You have heard it said before and I will say it again for good measure, “There are plenty of other fish in the sea”. You don’t want a ill-advised relationship to put you on the unemployment line and out of contention for payday loans if you need them.
Feelings for a coworker can quickly get in the way of what is important to your future goals within the company.
What To Do Now?
Get started right away! Analyze what yourself and your behavior and be brutally honest with yourself. Then do what is necessary to change. Chances are you will find new motivation and perhaps a little inspiration to keep your head off the chopping block.
If this seems impossible, then perhaps you ought to start sending out resumes!
Posted courtesy of the Personal Money Store Blogging Team,
Your source of education on payday loans, credit repair, and a host of other financially related topics.
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Thank you for this piece of reminder. I know the one thing that will always be there; gossipers. People will be people, whether at work or home, everyone finds themselves sharing a little gossip at one point to another. Whether it’s true or not, that’s just how it is. However, what people can do is limit the amount of gossip they throw out or surround themselves with.
Another thing I’m glad you pointed out is why people should be thankful to have a job. Whether you’re cleaning toilets or filing paper works, remember there are tons of people out there looking for a job (any job) and would be happy doing whatever it is you’re doing to get a little cash flow in their lives – be thankful to have your job.
These are some good tips. Everyone has to be a bit more cautious and productive during harder times; its in their own self interest. The better a company can do when the chips are down, the better they will do when things are good again.
Besides, everyone knows that office romances are bad news. If it is indeed true that 99% result in one or the other (or both) parties getting fired, you’d think it would happen less.
I agree.. Never, ever a good idea to spark a flame in the work environment.. No, no, no, no, no.
This article has great advice on how to keep your job and make sure your employer doesn’t just view you as another employee but as an asset to their company. Very helpful in showing others what guidelines to follow well at work but still allowing them to see work can still be interesting just show how you want to make advances and your supervisor should be able to help.
I really like this article, it reminds you not to panic because of the recession. Employers definitely look for the complainers and people who are unhappy with there work environment. Showing ambition and pride in what you do always looks good in the eyes of the people who sign your pay checks.
As temping as it may be some times it is usually not a good idea to tempt romance in the workplace. This can really spell disaster.