Signs

[Novemberstorm]

To ask anyone who has lost their job, can you share the warning signs?

How do you mean warning signs? Like a company going bust or being sacked?

@askingforafriend80 yes to both. General signs that with hindsight you would have realised that your job is at risk.

A firm in financial difficulties:

People in the accounts department leaving for other jobs - especially if they haven't worked there long enough to qualify for redundancy.

Managers and supervisors leaving and not being replaced, with their workload shared out among other staff with no increase in pay to match the increased responsibility.

In shops - a marked decrease in the amount of stock for sale on the shelves, and regular deliveries being fewer and further between.

Stressed-out bosses taking their annoyances out on the workforce.

Long-serving members of staff being encouraged to take early retirement.

New staff members being let go before the end of their probationary period. Permanant staff not being replaced by other permanent staff with a proper contract, but by zero-hours temp staff instead.

A lot of incoming phone calls asking for 'accounts payable', which is usually a sign that bills are not being paid on time.

Getting the sack:

Well that could be anything really.

In a company who usually doesn't do staff reviews all of a sudden having an evaluation, where you are scored - this happened in mine and 9 months later there were redundancies where they used exactly that scoring sheet

Management deciding to decrease the salary of employees

@askingforafriend80Cruiser123
Management deciding to decrease the salary of employees

Didn't think that was legal.

@Novemberstorm

It happened in my company. I'm not sure about the legality of it, but I suppose it is possible if managers argue there is not enough business to justify paying you that kind of salary or they could also say your responsibilities have changed

Managers and supervisors leaving and not being replaced, with their workload shared out among other staff with no increase in pay to match the increased responsibility.

^this

In a company who usually doesn't do staff reviews all of a sudden having an evaluation, where you are scored - this happened in mine and 9 months later there were redundancies where they used exactly that scoring sheet

^and this, was called a ‘skills matrix’ in our place.

New senior management coming in from outside, likely tasked with reducing staff, outsourcing.

bit vague OP - why are you concerned generally? concerned about your own performance/feed back from managers - or fall in levels of business for the organisation?
Hate threads with a long long saga, but a bit more info might elicit more helpful/targeted responses

Concerned for my role and looking for pointers of others experiences

• A 'consultant' of sorts being bought in to make things more 'efficient'.

• Made up things like 'XYZ Matrix' which you will be scored against but for whatever reason is very open to interpretation.

• People leaving / being laid off above you but not being replaced.

• ANY SORT OF RESTRUCTURING.

• Random reviews and team meetings which appear to serve no purpose.

• Management talking about a 'change in direction'

Generally you will feel a certain uncomfortable atmosphere; you won't be able to place your finger on it exactly but things will feel different.

In my experience job losses have never really been about the individual (I.e performance issues etc) and have always been about the role.

So wanting signs:

• references to "strategic reviews" - usually means unprofitable divisions will be closed down, or product lines which arent a good business fit might be sold. The latter can mean staff go too but can impact other teams which support the departing team.

"restructuring" - nearly always means trying to get fewer people to do the same work, therefore redundancies "synergies" - see restructuring "cost cutting" - well duh

• hiring freezes - these happen when you are over staffed already or struggling financially thus redundancies

I find that long term staff leaving without alternative employment lined up is usually a bad sign.

Changes in behaviour from boss or Co workers?

Offices being relocated to somewhere smaller/cheaper - although now that might not apply with WFH being more available.

Management issuing new contracts specifying reduced notice periods - was 3 months, became 1 month.

Delay to salary being paid. Only a few days, but twice.

Senior management telling you there is nothing to worry about

The word ‘restructure’, the word ‘consultation’ replacing the word ‘meeting’, phrases like ‘our people are important to us’ any kind of future plans that seem convoluted and almost nonsensical (designed to confuse you and throw you off the scent!)

Talk of "increasing shareholder value"

Oh yes - that old chestnut 'restructuring'.

You can get information about Ltd Companies and their directors from the Companies House website, but unless you are experienced in the interpretation of financial information and really know what to look for, you won't be able dig deep enough to spot the signs that things aren't quite what they should be.