You may be hearing a lot about layoffs lately. What you don’t know is that companies engage in sneaky ways to get rid of workers without having to let them go officially. They basically create an environment full of circumstances that make employees want to leave.
If a person resigns of their own volition, there is no need to pay hefty severance packages or worry about possible discrimination lawsuits alleging that they were terminated because of their race, religion, age or sexual orientation.
Here are some signs that you’re being ushered out the door.
Demanding People To Return To The Office Will Cause Quitting
When businesses order people to return to the office, it’s not just a Boomer boss exerting control to micromanage employees and look over their shoulders as they work. The return-to-work mandate is also a tool to cause attrition.
For those who strongly want to remain working remotely, being told to commute several hours round trip to the office and back home is unacceptable. Losing your work-life balance and disrupting the flow of the last two years is an affront to loyal employees.
They’ll resent the abrupt policy change and seriously consider quitting. Even those who like the company will start updating their résumés, contacting recruiters and actively searching for a new job.
Increasing The Workload Without Any Raises Or Promotions
It’s a warning sign when you start noticing that your boss is dumping more work on your desk—much of which wasn’t mentioned in the job description or interview process. Instead of explaining the additional workload burdens, the supervisor doesn’t acknowledge or discuss the extra time and energy it will take.
If this continues for a length of time without the manager offering to increase your pay or provide a promotion or other financial incentives, you have to worry about what’s really going on.
To be fair, it could be due to the company going through tough times and not having the budget to hire new people or there could be a hiring freeze in place. To ensure you know what’s happening, request a conversation with your manager. Point blank, ask them why you’re getting all the extra tasks without any commensurate reward.
If the boss can’t offer a straight answer, is evasive and dances around the subject or acts as if they don’t care and it’s too bad for you, then you know it’s time to start looking for a new role before you’re let go.
Stripping Away Responsibilities And Getting The Ghost Treatment
You may find yourself in the opposite position of getting too much work. All the important and mission-critical projects you’ve been working on have been stripped away and given to others within your division. Another thing to watch out for is when you get uninvited to meetings, video calls and informal social events.
Your manager once paid rapt attention to what you were doing and offered advice, guidance and feedback. Now, you feel like a ghost. The manager doesn’t bother checking in with you anymore. On the rare occasion the supervisor does speak to you, it’s curt, cold and devoid of any warmth or empathy.
You feel that the manager can’t run away from you fast enough. The rationale is that they know you are slated for future layoffs and feel terrible about it. Unfortunately, the person doesn’t have enough empathy and manners to let you know.
Their discomfort results in rude and indifferent behavior, which is indicative that you need to start taking action on either salvaging your job or preparing to move on to another opportunity.
Snooping Software And Being Moved To A Cubicle
You are unceremoniously moved from an office to a cubicle in what feels like a slap in the face. There is some talk about changing the floor plan to a more open hot-desking environment, but you feel targeted.
There’s a feeling of shame and embarrassment, as you pack your belongings in cardboard boxes and carry them across the office to a cubicle by the restrooms. To add insult to injury, you notice that software has been uploaded to your laptop and is monitoring your keystrokes, internet browsing and daily activities.
Actions You Can Take To Empower Yourself
The sad part is that when things get tough, you see a person’s real character. When the boss and leadership act cold and distant, purposely making your life difficult and treating you rudely, their true nature is revealed. You’re better off seeking a new opportunity rather than enduring months of mistreatment, just waiting to be downsized.
If you’re unable to switch jobs for various reasons, take proactive measures by asking your superiors why they are acting in such a hostile manner. Then, try to ameliorate the situation by bargaining for some sort of reasonableness, so that you don’t have to feel afraid and miserable every day.
Source: Forbes
