Written by Vaclav Koranda

How to Avoid Getting Fired

The recent years witnessed significant layoffs, and despite hopes for improvement, there are no signs of a slowdown. Companies are letting people go at an alarming rate. In my previous article, I shared invaluable strategies for spotting and preparing for a layoff, focusing on maximizing your chances of finding a new job quickly. However, wouldn’t it be better to avoid being fired altogether? Yes, of course!

The Layoff List

During a layoff, employees aren’t selected randomly; they are chosen based on various criteria and placed on a layoff list. The key person behind these nominations is — your boss.

Whether he admits it or not, every manager has a potential layoff list in his head. And honestly, he should. In today’s unpredictable market, you never know when the axe might fall, and they will be asked to share their nominations with upper management and HR.

Your goal is simple: stay off this list. Since you’re reading this article, you’re in luck — I know how you can do it. Not just in the case of layoffs, but in any situation that could put your job at risk. It’s true that employment laws and requirements for firing employees vary across jurisdictions. However, the fundamental principles somehow always prevail. Most companies prefer to risk a legal dispute rather than take actions that could harm their business or set a negative precedent.

So, here’s the secret:

Stay With One Company for a Long Time

Yes, you can object that job hopping can lead to faster salary increases, and various independent studies support that, but in terms of protection from being fired, stability is unquestionably better. While legal frameworks differ in different jurisdictions, in most cases, years of service play a role in selecting redundant employees. Those who were hired last usually get kicked out first. Also, whether dictated by law, a collective agreement, or just company policy, the severance payment sum often depends on your years of service. The longer you work for the company, the more expensive (and therefore difficult) it becomes to fire you.

Build a Good Working Relationship With Your Boss

Direct supervisors are usually not the only decision-makers in employment matters, especially in big corporations; however, they always play an important role. Obviously, a strong relationship means your boss is more familiar with your contributions and value you bring to the team and the company. He’ll be more likely to recognize your achievements and advocate for you when layoff decisions are made.

Learn more: Build a Strong Working Relationship With your Boss to Propel your Salary and Career

Become Indispensable

A sure thing to prevent being fired is to secretly accumulate key knowledge the company cannot do without. But companies are sensitive to this kind of behavior, so you have to do it unobtrusively. Share knowledge with others whenever unavoidable, but keep the most important bits for yourself. When you feel your position is in danger, subtly hint at what you know and let them come to the conclusion that it would cost them dearly if they let you go.

It is also a smart tactic to get assigned to strategic projects or key customers. During economic downturns, employees working on nonessential projects, product lines, or customers are often the first to be let go. Successfully delivering results on a crucial project or for an important client is an excellent way to set yourself apart from the rest and stay off the layoff list.

Develop In-Demand Skills

Employees with outdated skills are naturally the first to be targeted for layoffs. Therefore, you should monitor your industry and area of expertise in terms of the latest developments, and actively seek development opportunities. Don’t wait for your employer to sign you up for a course—learn proactively, e.g., from free resources like Coursera, edX, or even YouTube. As I mentioned in the previous issue of my newsletter, there are signals that can help you anticipate layoffs, but sometimes things happen too fast. There may not be enough time for you to learn new skills when the layoff wave hits, so don’t hesitate and learn continuously.

Be Flexible

Companies like employees that are flexible. Take initiative, volunteer for challenging projects, pick up tasks no one else wants to do. When your boss asks you to do something out of your scope, do it. If there’s a conflict in priorities or if prerequisites are missing, communicate it and proactively seek a resolution. If you see the clouds gathering over your team or department, don’t hesitate and seek opportunities in other departments. Even if it should cost you a pay cut, you will stay employed with the same company and continue accumulating years of service (see above).

Be Loyal

Companies have hierarchical structures for a reason. Your boss hired you to help him fulfill his goals, and his boss hired him to help him, etc. Therefore, you should always work for your boss, not against him if you don’t want to be at risk of getting fired. Seek regular information exchange with your boss to ensure you are on the right track. If he doesn’t have regular one-to-one meetings with his subordinates, ask him to have one with you.

Be the Solution, not the Problem

I have seen many employees that insisted they knew the best way to do their job, as if there was one ideal way to do it, and ignored everyone else, including the agenda of their boss and priorities of the company. Of course, their fate in the organization was sealed. You have to keep yourself informed about the company’s, your boss’s, and your team’s main issues and strategic priorities, and always position yourself as (a part of) the solution.

Market Yourself

It is great to bring a lot of value to the company, but if no one knows about it, it is worth nothing. It is equally important to tell them about it as it is to actually do it. Don’t overdo your self-promotion though; too much boasting without delivering would work against you in the long term.

Develop an Internal Network

Companies often use 360° feedback, where your boss, colleagues, and subordinates (if you have any) all contribute to your performance evaluation. Even if there is no such system in place, information about your work, contributions, and successes tends to circulate naturally. That’s why creating a strong network within the company can be incredibly beneficial.

Network with your colleagues: make new friends every week, join different groups for lunch, and engage in water cooler discussions. Focus on what you and the other people have in common. Make sure you make acquaintances across teams and departments, not within your own team only. When you engage with others, hold your breath and ask about themselves first, then listen actively, and finally subtly spread the word about the good job you are doing. Make sure you do this mainly with your customers (including internal customers). Find out who the recipients of your work outputs are and how your work is impacting others in the company. Make sure you are perceived as a valuable and reliable contributor. The more supporters you get across the organization and outside, the better.

Save every piece of appreciation you receive — whether it’s official recognition, a complimentary email, or a WhatsApp message. These can become valuable later, especially if you face a separation discussion or consider legal action due to what you believe was an unfair dismissal.

Learn more: The Power of Networking

Perform Well

Although the legal rules for layoffs (as applicable in your jurisdiction) tend to prioritize factors like length of service or family situation, managers generally try to keep high performers off the layoff list because these individuals are too valuable to lose.

To be one of them, always deliver high-quality results on time, and ensure you complete tasks with minimal oversight. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the big picture—how the company’s business model operates and how your team and role contribute to its success.

Behave Well

If you commit misconduct, you make yourself an easy target to get the boot. No labor law is protecting misbehaving employees. Hence, you should avoid elementary mistakes like tardiness, alcohol abuse, missing easy deadlines, etc. Some mistakes may be more tolerated than others, though. Study your company’s policies and listen to water cooler stories to find out which are the non-negotiable offenses. If you overstep one of those, they will get rid of you no matter what because otherwise, you would be setting a bad example for the rest.

HR Is Your Friend 🙂

Many people don’t think very highly of HR. Whether they are right or not, they are actually undermining their own position in the organization. You should realize that when you get into trouble, it will be HR who will be involved in handling your case, and often also in the decision-making. Of course, HR must remain impartial regardless of how close you become to them and cannot disclose confidential information, including whether you will be fired or not. But if you have a history of causing troubles to them, guess what is likely going to happen.

Signs Your Boss Might be Secretly Thinking About Firing You

While there may be some signs that your boss is thinking about getting rid of you, such as negative body language, the communication towards you becoming more formal, and being sidelined from team activities and development opportunities, it is easy to misinterpret them. If you think too much about the possibility that your boss might fire you soon, it can not only make you paranoid but mainly have an adverse effect on your performance, which paradoxically indeed may bring about what you wish to avoid. Instead, keep a positive mindset and focus on  deploying the above strategies consistently.

If Things Already Go South…

You may think it is too late, but I suggest you don’t give up. Even if you are already in the meeting room, face-to-face with HR and termination papers on the table, stay positive and try to turn the situation around. Own your mistakes, draw lessons learned, and show your willingness to improve. Don’t forget to defend your position by showing documentation of your contributions and achievements (see above). If you are given an improvement plan, make sure you fulfill every milestone and comply with all the rules. Remember, it is never too late until it is too late. I have seen some unbelievable things happen!

Conclusion

No strategy is one hundred per cent, and sometimes, being laid off is unavoidable, e.g. in case the company is being shut down completely. However, if you apply all the above advice, it will significantly increase your job safety and make it less likely for you to get fired.

Good luck!

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