QUESTION:  There are rumors that layoff’s might be coming in my organization. Is there anything I can do?

ANSWER: by Randi Schoenfelder,

Managing Partner,
Theodolite Human Capital
www.theodolitehc.com

 There is no guaranteed way to avoid layoffs. Ultimately Lay-offs are out of your control, but there are some things you can do to minimize the possibility.

·         Position yourself – make yourself visible to your boss and your boss’s boss.  Understand your value to your company, and identify how your work contributes to the bottom line of the organization.  Now is not the time to just be a good soldier, know your value, and make sure that others do too. 

·         Little things - come in on time, stay late, don’t whine about your circumstances and stay positive.  This also sets a good example for your staff or team members.

 o   Stay networked with others in your organization, and see if there are some other internal options that might be available to you, and do the same for others.

o   Make a list of all of the job specifications, qualifications and responsibilities. Also make a list of all the job specifications for your new job. Compare these two lists and try to identify attributes that match up and are transferable from one job role to the other.

·         Stay engaged - During times of stress or uncertainty, this is easier said than done. But this is important to increase your chances of riding the storm.  The more positively you can contribute to your organization or your staff/team or coworkers, the more you increase the chance of not just surviving these challenging times, but capitalizing it.  If you are contributing, and encouraging your fellow employees to contribute, it increases the chances of the companies’ survival, and yours as well.  You could come out the other side stronger than before.

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