What are the signs that you’re getting laid off? And how quickly can that decision be made? Is it possible to have poor performance today, then laid off as soon as tomorrow?

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Getting terminated for Poor performance is not the same as a lay-off.

Layoffs tend to be larger groups of people being let go due to a large client loss, a restructure, an office closing, etc. People being laid off aren’t necessarily low performers. Plenty of solid/high performers are laid off.

Being terminated for your own poor performance is personal to an individual and rules around it are spelled out in your employment contract.

Either one could potentially appear to happen “overnight”. Although there’s a lot of behind the scenes planning that generally happens.

If your poor performance was a breach of contract (say, client confidentiality) or ethical standards (lying, stealing, etc) it could be immediate.

Just “poor work performance” tends to at least give an appearance of documentation through a performance improvement process, even if a short one with an inevitable conclusion

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We all have bad days. Personally ive made some monster mistakes in my career.

As long as it's not common and your bosses don't hate you, you'll be fine. Learn and grow.

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If other people seem really busy but you havent gotten any new assignments lately...you might be laid off.

If your agency lost the client you worked on, but they tell you thats a good thing and they have lots of irons in the fire...you might be laid off.

If your digital agency with a one-syllable-noun-name-like-Spoon-or-Stove just got bought by another one...you might be laid off.

What youre talking about is getting FIRED, and thats different. Theyre supposed to give you a warning. But it really depends on how you get along with your boss.

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They put you on a PIP. You look at the PIP and you realize "wait ...but I do all of this already"

Go get your resume out.

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Performance Improvement Plan

How adorable that people think being over 40 is a protected class. I want to work where they are working.

Sincerely, laid off and over 40 in an ageist industry

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Legally. Companies just lay off the same amount of young/entry level employees to hide the discrimination.

But in answer to your actual question, here are the signs you’re doomed:
1. Not invited to critical meetings
2. People seem to ignore your direction
3. People look the other way but smile when you pass them in the hall
4. More and more feedback is given via email or slack

When you start to feel this, start looking

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So isolating, also signs of a poor team structure

Agree with all above. However, if layoffs are planned and your name isn’t on the list, having a catastrophe right before the layoffs are handed down might result in a last minute swap of names on the list...

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Definitely. Layoffs tend to be used as opportunities to clean house.

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When your boss stops making eye contact with you.

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Let us know how tomorrow goes. Sending good vibes.

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Tbh it’s been toxic and a lay-off would be a godsend. I’ve had a number of good friends laid off by surprise while on this account so I’m not discounting the possibility for myself.

likeupliftinghelpful

Depends on how important your position is. Sometimes you get put on a PIP.

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“Restructuring” is another reason besides lack of business.

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It’d be highly unusually to fire someone after one bad performance, and probably pretty dumb move by whoever the manager is. Expensive and time consuming to find talent, particularly at director levels.

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If you are a protected class (ie. Over 40 years old for example) you may get put on a PIP purely to restructure you out to avoid any possible legal backlash.

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Our company seems to get by with firing so called protected classes. The most heartless was a woman out on medical leave who was termed. It's all legal. The company only needs a feeble reason to fire some in an employment at will state

Been there. Ended up being switched to a different group. Was nothing more than personality differences IMO. Not based on ability at all. I was doomed from the start. Worked out for the best though.

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Having a bad day and getting let go the following day would be more of a “firing” than a “layoff”. A layoff is your company cutting back on budget after a loss of revenue. And it can happen the day after losing a client or it can happen in rounds over weeks/months.

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Slow work from one side of the business was mine

Many company’s will leave it vague as to whether or not you were fired (and so not eligible for unemployment) and laid off (so you are). Don’t worry about this distinction. You’ll sleep better.

If revenue is not creating value for shareholders and you’re not tied to paying business that covers most
of your salary, you’re gone. Over 40 or female doesn’t matter. Are you overhead and do they need you? Being valuable isn’t good enough anymore

What did you do to warrant asking this question?

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