I'm basically asking if there are any signs within the workplace that one can find that mean that that person is getting laid off? Should we look for a certain type of behavior of our manager that could point us to the answer?
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If something does not seem right it probably isn't right
Forgot the #1 sign... your paycheck says AT&T
Isolation, not being invited to project meetings and being left in the dark, giving your work load away to other work groups. Some of your peers back stab you and try to make you the fall guy for things that go wrong.
In our Tech Dev application outsourcing, 215 IT software employees went to Accenture along with the apps. Did management know you ask? Nope. I was one that stayed with T and learned not only my Ex. Dir. was outsourced buy four others under the Asst. VP. They were totally blindsided after spending months in secret on the outsourcing. I still see my former ED and he still talks about this.
Some people know, others never see it coming.
When you don’t get your vest flair.
When many applications on the laptop start to act up for no specific reason, to the point when the laptop needs to be re-imaged. This is no help anyway. Courses from the PLE are removed for no specific reason. No communication from the Ops Manager at all. Zero work load on the shift. There are many more.
When I was surplused I knew it was coming for several reasons: my boss skipped over me in meetings when asking questions or who had questions, when I pointed things out in meetings he snapped at me but when others said the same thing he would consider it, when handing out new assignments he left me out, the month before I got notice he told everyone not to take vacation and when i reminded him o had a week off planned for several months he said that's fine. His attitude towards me degraded at the year end when I moved to his department when he realized I made more than him at merit time and started ranting like a child: why do you make more than me? Why do they pay you more than me?.....I bit my tongue and said nothing but it was because I was smarter than him. After surplus i took a downgrade to work for another manager which i am sure p-ss-d him off. After 2 years withe my new boss, who gave me individual performance bonus, I will retire soon having REACHED modified rule of 75
For me I guess the first indication should have been when myself and one other started reporting to an area manager instead of the director. Second was when my manager said he would get me involved with other projects and nothing happens. Third requesting a new COU phone in June which needs to be replaced by October and the director won't approve. Final would be 10 months away from Rule of 75.
When they start sending you unexpected gifts at Christmas for the first time thanking you for all you have done for them and pretend it was from the goodness of their heart
You are probably on the bubble if you suspect that might be.
when you are on a conference call with people's names you cannot pronounce and they start speaking a different language other than english
Management gets extremely quiet and dispels any rumors that you’ve heard about getting laid off.
In addition to all the things already mentioned, when you start getting asked what you do day-to-day and how long it takes your to perform those things. What systems you use and how frequently you use them.
Not included in future projects... ...removal of responsibility.... lack of work flow... ... Boss doesn’t talk to you... ....questions regarding your plans for retirement... your work space is assigned to someone else....
Took them 18 months to figure out how to merge IEFS and TFS
all these are so true, not to mention when your boss starts to finally figure out your work is important so they can turn that into a growing project for themselves to save their a– by making it bigger and putting even more off shore resources under them for it instead of you
Big one was when a third party analyst came in the office, spent the day and basically worked up a spreadsheet of tasks the department was responsible for. You would think AT&T would know this without hiring a third party but there you go. I know who the guy worked for because he told me and he told me what he was doing. Well at least somebody was transparent.
Over the course of a year the work was streamlined or sent to another department. Another 6 months for them to put it all together- they don’t decide in September to eliminate staff and it happens in October. They don’t move that fast- the ship is too big. It takes time and resources to put it together.
If you pay attention you will see the wheels in motion.
The bigger your pension package is
the closer you get to rule of 75
you notice work your department should be doing is getting done by other groups (especially if there was previously no overlap between your teams)
leadership doesn't come to your team for answers you can provide (and have provided historically)
out of the loop on new strategic work
focus on keep the lights on/BAU only work
I would say little to no information coming down from your L3 and above, but that's normal.
Are you close to rule of 75?
There are signs. People stop inviting you to calls. You are out of the loop on decisions being made. You start getting projects that are minimal. Important work is being assigned to others. You manager stops calling on you or down right avoids you. In person, if your manager avoids eye contact. Pay attention to body language. There are always signs.
Lots of decisions are based on past employee performance. Lower performance gets you higher on the list.
When you start becoming micromanaged, and everything that hits your desk is a rush.
It means that they are trying to get the work caught up for the group they are leaving it to.
Signs of being laid off? You work for AT&T.
When your director tells your group to stop saying you're worried about getting laid off because it's going to happen anyway.
Managers don't know anything until end of day the day before they pull you into the office and give you the news
When they take your away and ask why aren’t you doing anything.