Layoffs Coming - Be prepared the signs and signals
The most obvious signals to be aware of when layoffs are coming:
You're expected to do more with less and budgets dramatically cut or reduced.
Executives hint at layoffs using other terms, like 'restructuring' "downsizing," "reorganizing," "incremental synergies," organizational efficiency," "offshoring," "streamlining," "headcount reductions" "workforce rebalancing." "simplifying structure," "organizational improvements," "right-sizing," "simplification," and "delayering,"
Company is trying desperately to save its dying flagship product or business
Company starts giving 'non-negotiable' job offer, assignments or projects to employees and or retirements are forced, benefits cut, packages or incentives offered to resign.
"Rumors and speculation of possible layoffs coming"
"Synergy" is a word that should terrify employees: "Synergy is what you get when you eliminate redundancies in your efforts to cut costs."
A WARN notice has been issued. If more than 250 full-time employees are being let go a company must file a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with the state's Department of Labor (DOL) 90 days prior to the layoffs. This is public information that can be found on a state's DOL website.
Company or specific businesses gets acquired or has a merger or talks about a merger or IPO flops. Mergers frequently lead to layoffs to eliminate duplication.
Company is aggressively hiring new employees in a business that is not growing at a similar rate. Normally these new employees are hired at lower cost to replace older and higher cost employees.
New H1B hires or transfers and training of overseas functions, branches and employees.
There's already been a round of layoffs. The first round of layoffs is rarely the last.
You're invited to a group meeting with the department head, and ther personal assistant confirms with you that you'll be there.
Internal job postings get taken down or not filled
Your role and responsibilities are shifted, split or to be shared with a coworker.
People are told they can't work from home or must report to the office on a specific day.
The higher-ups take steps to 'improve efficiencies' and eliminate redundancy.
Bringing in consultants to examine processes.
Company brings in a new board-appointed CFO to look over the books.
Higher-ups start quitting or if they start heading for the exits.
If you start to get ton of questions about what you do.
Requests to share passwords, training documents, and other things that may not be written down are sometimes done to smooth impending dismissals.
The discretionary stuff is eliminated or starts to go are signs reduction-in-force is coming.
Cost control policies implemented and expense accounts very closely monitored or curtailed
Company bills aren't getting paid or supplier payments terms are ever increasingly over due.
The uprooting of plants, offices and functions, shifts to overseas in low wage countries.
Conference rooms are booked by HR all day meetings or HR off-site meetings are signs big changes are coming.
Managers are suddenly pulled into a series of meetings that span a few days.
HR folks prefer to deliver bad news like layoffs in private and behind closed doors.
You notice ramped-up security.
Your access to work accounts and work related info begins to be limited or denied.
If you're locked out of password-protected, company-monitored accounts.
If managers find it difficult to directly answer questions about what is going on with all the meetings, this could serve as confirmation.
Upper management avoids eye contact or try to avoid you.
You stop getting invited to important meetings.
There are more tissue boxes than usual around.
There are a lot of empty boxes around.
Memos to employees detailing imminent layoffs.