Anyone who’s ever worked a white-collar job and faced a pending layoff knows what a bizarre world the workplace becomes; rumors, management evasiveness, secrecy, employee denials, fear. It sucks. There are several groups of people who hold your future in their hands, in order of direct impact on your continued employment:
Photo Credit: Mark J Sebastian
Immediate Supervisor: In a non-union, white collar environment, getting along with your boss is often your top job priority. He or she can either get you laid off or protect you at their discretion. You screw up but are friendly with the boss, you get a pass. A superior performer who pisses off their supervisor by parking in his assigned space, start updating your resume. If there is someone who can do your job cheaper, better upgrade your skills.
Leading up to a layoff, your boss is one of 3 types: a player in the layoff discussions, a survivor but not in the discussion (at that point you better have a good relationship with the boss’s boss), or on their way out. We’ll talk more about these different scenarios in a future article.
Company and Board of Directors: In most firms company loyalty is as obsolete as typewriters. Across the board 10% cost reductions become the roulette wheel of continued employment. If you are in middle management, work in Sales or Marketing, out of favor with a power player, or are a contract worker, you wear a target on your back every board meeting when the numbers are down. Expect new owners or a new board to do something drastic, and expect the worst.
Senior Management: Your reputation is your career credit card; get a good rep with the C-level execs and Sr. VPs and your career can rise fast, get known as the office party drunk and don’t expect much cover when the lay-off gun fires.
Also keep a close eye on your company’s political sumo wrestling matches. Even if you don’t play directly, when your boss (or boss’ boss) loses a tournament you may be the one squashed.
HR: They love their power. Don’t trust them. Rules are made to be monitored. Performance reviews and salary info are their weapons of choice.
Your Own Performance: Oh yes, what you do on the job actually does matter. Sometimes.
Consultants: Leading up to a layoff, consultants get paid to steal your ideas then get rid of the witnesses. Make nice, nod your head and let them do the talking.
Co-workers: The word “team work” is misleading, the work place is really a league. Some people are on your team, and others are on their own team. Try to draft as many people to your side as possible, the others you need to play defense against or run a better offense than they do.
Industry: Lemmings to the sea. If other companies in your industry are laying off people, then expect your company to start making its own “naughty and nice” list.
To survive and thrive during layoffs, one should identify which players in the game hold the most threat and offer the most support to you.
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