I have consistently recommended to workers that they stay prepared in order to be able to start a job search in a moment’s notice. This mindset allows you to quickly jump into search mode and hopefully expedites your finding new employment. This is especially important if you feel that your employer may by considering an involuntary employment decision impacting you.
A few years ago, management consultants and writers came up with a cute new phrase to describe employees who are looking for work while maintaining their current employment. The term that was coined for this was called “quiet quitting” and it quickly gained traction to describe an employment losing engagement (productivity, enthusiasm, etc.) while still employed.
The phrase has now come full circle, however, and has come back to describe the behavior of an employer in a specific situation. The term is “quiet firing,” and it refers to stealth actions taken by an employer PRIOR to actually terminating employment. This is the opposite of when your employer is openly managing you in a documented manner.
If you are in this situation, then you KNOW you need to take immediate action, as your employer is actively working to remove you and may be hoping you quit prior to being terminated. Your employer may be doing all of this to avoid having to properly document a termination or perhaps to avoid having to pay severance. You may wonder just how prevalent this type of activity is in the workplace. Several studies have shown that 50+% of employers/managers acknowledge using these type of tactics.
As mentioned earlier, your timing is everything in terms of a job search. You want to find new employment BEFORE you are officially “quietly fired.” This is important because continuity in employment leaves zero gaps in pay, plus it is much easier to find a new job when you are currently employed. You may be thinking to yourself that this gives your current employer exactly what they are seeking. Possibly but, sometimes you need to place pride aside and do what is best for your long-term career (unless you are OK being miserable while at work and then having to explain to hiring managers why you were fired).
Identifying the possible signs of being “quietly fired” as quickly as possible is essential to making sure you control your timetable. So, what are some of the signs that you may be in the process of being “quietly fired?” Let’s take a brief look at some of the most common situations or actions.
• Your Manager Avoids You: A sign of concern is when your manager is not as communicative or engaged with you as they usually would be. This is usually because they know something and feel a bit guilty of the situation. It is generally easier to avoid the person than manage them as normal. This can be especially noticeable if you do a great job on something and receive little to no recognition regarding the achievement.
• Your Manager Over Manages: You could also find yourself in the opposite situation where suddenly your manager is everywhere. This type of micromanagement can be a sign that your manager thinks your work is subpar or they are just trying to frustrate you.
• Assignments Go To Others: Here, you are being passed up for assignments or opportunities that are going to your co-workers. This can be especially telling if they are highly visible projects, in particular, where you would normally receive the nod.
• Your Work Changes: If the work that you normally do is now going to others and you are left with the more routine and/or less challenging work, then perhaps your employer is preparing for life without you. This especially can be true if you are suddenly asked to train others in what you do under the guise of “cross training.” While “cross training” is a legitimate business strategy, it is often used as a preparatory step in eliminating a position.
• You Are Being Omitted: Exclusion is a telling sign of being “quietly fired.” If you find yourself being left out of meetings or off of e-mails that you would normally be part of, then you should be concerned. Similarly, if your ideas and opinions begin to fall on deaf ears, then you may be on your way out.
• You Receive Vague Answers: Seeing some of these “quiet firing” actions may cause you to ask your manager about what is going on. If asking this person appears to make them uncomfortable and you receive a vague answer that does not seem to make much sense, then sound the alarms.
It would be great if all employers were open and transparent regarding their plans and future employment actions. Unfortunately, for employees, this is rarely how the process transpires. Often, an employer will work quietly or indirectly before making you aware that either your job is in jeopardy or is finished. It is always better for a person to be proactive in their career rather than waiting for their employer. So, identifying when you may be in danger of being “quietly fired” is critical to the timely start of your job search.
As always, best of luck in your job search.
The following has been prepared for the general information of WNYJobs readers. It is not meant to provide advice with respect to any specific legal or policy matter and should not be acted upon without verification by the reader.
Joe Stein
WNY Human Resources Professional
Feel free to contact Joe Stein regarding questions or comments at:
Joe Stein
