You’re Fired
Donald Trump has made us look at the meaning of “you’re fired” in a whole new light.
We’ve all heard and seen people who find themselves in the same situation as those young professionals on his show. Hopefully they weren’t fired in quite the same way as Donald does it. Many times you just don’t see it coming with him. Even though everyone knows they could be the next to go on his show, it sometimes just happens when they least expect it.
So how is work for you? Does it all seem to be going well? Are there any hints that you may “get the ax” at some point? Does your company continually talk about cutting back? Could that mean your job?
While we can not live our lives worrying about this kind of occurrence, it can happen to the best of us.
One thing this should do is keep reminding us that we need to have a high integrity level at the workplace. You know what I mean, not so long at the break room, getting back on time from lunch, doing quality work, not doing personal things on company time, etc.
Making the boss think he/she simply can not do without you and giving it 150% instead of 50% is a good goal to have if you’re an employee. I always like to set a personal goal of making my boss think he is getting more than his money’s worth out of me.
For those of us with a high work integrity level who are working hard each day, have you given any thought to what you WOULD do if you were called into the office to be given a pink slip? In other words, besides being stunned, what would your plan of action be?
Let’s think about that for a minute.
A friend of mine is working in a very negative environment. She knows things aren’t going well. There are signs that she could be fired any minute, but she thinks they are really trying to make her quit. She sees the writing on the wall and is looking for another job but hasn’t been successful yet. She’s got lots of great experience and should be able to find something soon. Meanwhile, she hopes she can last through the escalating unconstructive situation at her office.
As we’ve talked about this, it seemed the right thing to do discuss a “plan of action” with her. I want to share some of the strategies we came up with just in case you find yourself in this position one day.
1. Always listen to the boss’s whole explanation. If you can do so, take notes. That will be helpful in thinking about what you want to say when the explanation is done.
2. Don’t get defensive. Maintain a calm attitude and be professional in everything you say. DO NOT get angry or lash out. Even if you are wronged, DO NOT use this time to “get it all off your chest.” Be smart and think about what you can do to get the most out of the situation.
3. Try to negotiate a longer stay. When possible, consider using some of the following strategies:
a. “If I am going to have to leave, let me help in the transition of a new person.”
b. “Let me get things in order for you before I leave so the initiative isn’t behind until you get someone else to do the work.”
c. I sure understand your reasons, but you are going to be in a bind if we don’t get this done. What if I stay until we complete the effort?
d. “Could you give me at least 3 weeks (longer if you can negotiate it) more so I can have a chance to get another job with benefits? You know what it’s like without insurance and my family, my health insurance, etc. is important to me.”
4. Talk about what a difference you have made with the company. Be specific.
a. Discuss how many years you’ve given to them and what you’ve accomplished.
b. Talk about the projects you are still working on and what losing a person who is familiar with that project will mean for the initiative.
5. If part of the problem is your production, ask if there are things you could do differently that may cause them to change their plans.
a. Could I work with you on a plan to improve over a period of, say 3 months and revisit this again then? (If this is a performance issue, you should be aware of the problems well before they let you go.)
b. Remind the boss that letting you go means they have to start from scratch and that will take time and money. Maybe the boss will consider your knowledge base about the company and program and will try to work things out with you.
6. If there is no other way around the firing, negotiate for:
a. Several original copies of a letter of reference – addressed specifically to – To Whom It May Concern – before you leave.
b. Ask if they could pay you for your vacation time you haven’t used.
c. Ask if they will consider paying your insurance for a month or so of transition.
All the answers to these may be “NO” but at least you asked.
As hard as it may be at the time, thank the boss for the opportunity to have worked there and ask if he/she will be able to give you a good reference for the things you’ve done well for them to any future employers.
Shake hands and leave…hopefully with an extended plan for being with the company.
These are just a few things to think about. Others – like retirement and other perks you had with the company – may be part of your plan of action as well.
My wish for you today: That you never find yourself hearing the words “you’re fired” and that you produce many years of work that is high quality and full of integrity. Just in case, think about how you can personalize a strategy to successfully survive this kind of experience and you’ll be ready to manage yourself professionally – should it occur.
~Joellen