Losing a job is devastating. In addition to losing financial stability, it comes with the loss of your routine and perhaps your sense of identity. Often, there are warning signs that you’re likely to lose your job — but this is no time to resign yourself to your fate. Instead, you should take action to ensure you see the best possible outcome.
1. Get the Facts Straight
Before you do anything else, consider why exactly you think you might lose your job. Reasons range from a gut feeling to a formal warning from your company that some employees will be made redundant. If you’re unsure, don’t jump to conclusions — you’ll only suffer unnecessary stress.
2. Try to Save Your Job
If it looks like losing your job is a real possibility, figure out if there is any way to save it. Doing nothing will increase the likelihood of you being dismissed because you may (consciously or otherwise) stop putting as much effort into your work. This could lead to your performance suffering, which would give your employer more of an excuse to choose you in the layoffs, reduce your severance package, or even fire you with cause.
There are several things you should do to attempt to save your job.
First, you need to adopt a positive outlook. Hold onto the idea that you will have your job in the future. Be punctual, meet your deadlines, attend all your meetings, and carry out all your duties to the best of your abilities. It may even be worth going the extra mile to show your employer that you’re worth keeping — at the very least, this should increase your chances of gaining a good reference.
Next, talk to your boss. This is especially important if there are rumors circulating that there will be job cuts but you haven’t heard anything official from someone in a position of authority. Plus, your boss may be impressed by the initiative you show to try to save your job.
Have a frank conversation about your performance, including about where you’ve been falling short and how you expect to improve over the coming year. In addition to explaining what you intend to do, you may like to ask for support, such as through mentorship or training.
As well as giving your boss your suggestions, be open to receiving feedback. There may be issues you have not been prioritizing but that you could easily fix. Create an action plan together and schedule regular check-ins to monitor your progress.
3. Explore for Opportunities for an Internal Move
A solution if you’re unable to save your current position could be to move into a different position within the same company. This may be a viable option if the company is changing direction and your position is no longer necessary or if it has become obvious that your current position is not right for you.
Moving internally could allow you to save your job at the same time as taking advantage of the rapport you’ve built with your teammates and your understanding of processes at the company. Plus, you may find it motivating to have different responsibilities, especially if another role would better fit your skills.
4. Look for a New Job
You should start searching for a new job even if your boss says your job is safe — there are good reasons why an employer may not want its workers to know that terminations are on the horizon. Dedicate a few hours a week to checking job boards and applying for positions. Bear in mind that you have a better chance of receiving an offer if you’re employed than if you’ve already lost your job.
If you feel hesitant to accept another position when you’re unsure about your future, consider searching for contract work or a part-time position you could do alongside your current job. Offering to change to a part-time contract could also be a solution to save your job.
5. Gain New Skills
You’ll improve your chances of landing a new job (or finding a different position at your current company) if you have a wide range of skills to offer. Look into online courses or classes at a local institution.
6. Negotiate Your Severance
Sometimes, losing a job is inevitable, such as if your company goes through a merger or faces budget cuts that mean it’s unable to maintain a team of the same size. If you’ve done all the above, you’ll be prepared for this — but this still isn’t the end. To receive the best outcome from your termination, negotiate your severance.
To put yourself in a good position to negotiate, never volunteer for a termination, even if you don’t like your position and are confident you’ll find another job. Volunteering to leave will make it seem like the termination is a mutual agreement between you and your employer, which will lead your employer to offer you a less-favorable severance package.
Furthermore, don’t feel pressured into signing any severance documentation immediately — give yourself time to think about whether the terms are fair. Your employer may offer you a large amount of cash in exchange for a promise that you won’t sue the company or talk publicly about your dismissal. This is common when the employer has broken the law, such as if you have acted as a whistleblower. It’s important to think carefully about what you want to do before signing anything.
In addition, make sure you’re receiving everything your employer owes you, including your final paycheck as well as any overtime, bonuses, or commissions. Confirm that all these are included in your severance agreement. If you’re unsure about your options, it may be worth consulting with an employment lawyer.
7. Document Everything
Your employer may use tactics to make the termination easier for the company — but this won’t necessarily be beneficial to you. For instance, your boss may try to encourage you to resign to avoid needing to deal with a termination. Alternatively, your employer may want to fire you, which (unlike being laid off) means you don’t collect unemployment benefits.
To make sure you receive fair treatment, it’s important to document everything in writing. Ask for a summary of your meetings — simply recalling what someone said to you is not evidence.
If your employer fails to provide you with a complete written record, send an email yourself. Lay out what the employer said in your conversations about your termination and ask for confirmation of these events. This will provide you with protection in the case you are being dismissed unfairly, such as if the employer is making false accusations about your performance, there is no evidence that you violated company policy, or if the employer is discriminating against you based on your belonging to a protected class.
Lastly, make sure you gather all the information you are legally entitled to. This includes:
- Your contract
- Pay stubs
- Timesheets
- Your performance reviews
- Insurance benefit policies
- Vacation time calculations
- Work emails — as these won’t be available after your employment is terminated, make sure to keep your own copies
You should not attempt to take any information non-employees have no rights to, including client lists, accounting ledgers, and anything that falls under your nondisclosure agreement.
Starting Your Search for a New Job
No matter what happens — whether you end up keeping your job, transferring to a different position within the company, or actually being dismissed — it’s a good idea to keep your options open. It makes sense to apply to positions even if you’re uncertain that you will lose your job. This may reduce the time you are unemployed, give you negotiating power (such as in the case your employer was never going to dismiss you), or even lead to a position you prefer.
Want a job in HR? Remote People is hiring. Our international recruitment agency is changing how businesses recruit — and we need people like you on our team. Contact us to let us know what you have to offer. We’ll help you take charge of your career.
Author: Susan Snipes
Susan is an experienced, certified HR and compliance professional who provides HR and compliance strategies to companies with global and US-based teams.
