Left out of meetings? Hours being scrutinized or work harshly reviewed? Or has the vibe with your boss changed? (Either she is acting distant or is all over you for details.) You may be experiencing “quiet firing,” the new way companies are phasing out head counts and downsizing while trying to save themselves from paying severance, hoping that if they give enough clues, the person will quit.
Forbes has covered this trend of quiet firing several times (with helpful advice and tips from readers whose companies attempted to downsize this way), and the magazine points out that quiet firing can take a toll on your mental health and self-confidence. Here’s what to do about it, and how to react.
But realize that even if you do everything right, and offer to take on new tasks, the writing may be on the wall that you are being quietly fired. And it’s not your fault. When a company wants to shrink and shed head counts without paying severance, they do it any way they can, and not paying severance is a way to save money. But first they have to make you feel like quitting is your best option.
Our take: Use ithis change in your work status as a chance to volunteer for new projects, take on extra work, or initiate ideas. If you continue to be left out and stimied at every turn, you need to see the writing on the wall, and start sharpening up your resume. Set up coffee and lunch dates with industry contacts, get the word out that you are looking for a change, and make your exit plan.
Bottom Line: If they don’t appreciate you where you are, then you’re in the wrong place. Unfortunately there is little you can do to change someone’s mind. Downsizing is painful for all involved and employers don’t always get it right (by thanking someone for their hard work and explaining that the company is going through a lean time). This is like a breakup and once things go south, in the other person’s eyes, you should have one foot out the door already. Time to move on.
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One response to ““Quiet Firing” is a New Trend As Companies Attempt to Downsize. Could You Be Next? What To Do About It.”
Painful when it happens to you. You’re not alone, but you gotta get out of there.