Dear Camille,
Things are really unstable out there in the world of work...and I am afraid I will be one of the next to join the ranks of the unemployed. There are rumors of a "restructuring" coming in my company. How should I make sure I don't get picked for layoff?
-Waiting for the Hatchet to fall in
Ah...that dreaded feeling - manager's doors are closed, there are unfamiliar "consultants" signing in at the reception desk and offsite meetings are the norm. You can smell a layoff coming from a mile away. Problem is that we never, ever REALLY think it will be US.
There is absolutely, positively no way to avoid being laid off. Honest. Companies look at numbers, select the positions they are most able to combine with other jobs, outsource or eek along without and if yours is one of them, there is no magic life raft.
The fact is, with employment law being what it is, sometimes a person is selected for layoff just to avoid any one gender, age group or other protected category from being discriminated against. You may be just minding your own business performing exceptionally as always and if you are the only one of your gender on the team, you can be selected for a reduction in force. That's why career planning is like a chess game...always plan what your next move is going to be.
