Buzz
Facing the possibility of losing your job can be deeply unsettling. How would you manage your responsibilities or continue your lifestyle without a paycheck? Unfortunately, the fear of being fired can often become a self-fulfilling prophecy. This anxiety can harm your performance, leaving you less productive and too paralyzed to make meaningful progress at work. To reach your full potential, you’ll need to release the fear of being dismissed.
Actions to Take
Controlling Your Anxiety
Evaluate your current situation. Is there any valid reason for your fear of being fired? Look for clues at work that might indicate job insecurity. If you can't find any, your worries may just be imagined, and there's no need to stress. Some warning signs that your employer may be considering letting you go include:
- Your workload decreases.
- New management arrives with a different vision for the company.
- Your boss starts avoiding you.
- You’re excluded from key meetings.
- Your supervisor becomes unusually critical of your performance.
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Dr. Adam Dorsay, PsyD
Licensed Relationship Therapist
Licensed Relationship Therapist
Our Expert's Advice: Begin by asking yourself key questions: Is this fear based on something real? Have you been given a warning or placed on probation? It's helpful to have a trusted friend to discuss your concerns and separate fact from fiction. If there are clear signs that your job is in jeopardy, take action and work to improve your performance.
Reframe your fear. If you can’t find any tangible reasons for your job insecurity, try to trace the origin of your anxiety. Often, these fears stem from past experiences. Identifying the root cause of irrational fear is the first step toward overcoming it.
- Were you unexpectedly let go from a previous job without warning?
- Did you witness someone close to you go through a tough period after losing their job?
- Do you equate being fired with a personal failure or rejection of your worth?
Discuss with your colleagues. If your fear of being fired seems justified, check in with your co-workers about their own job security concerns. You may find that many of them share similar anxieties. Some employers do use the threat of termination as a misguided tool to control their staff.
- If you suspect your company is using this tactic, it might be time to explore other job opportunities.
- Avoid venting to your co-workers, as it could eventually reach your boss.
Have a conversation with your manager. Politely request a private meeting with your boss to discuss your worries. Express that you value your position and are committed to doing your best work. Your boss will likely appreciate your proactive approach and might help alleviate your concerns.
- Offer to take on additional responsibilities to ease your boss's workload.
- Remember that any criticism from your manager is usually about company growth and not a personal attack on your performance.
- Bring a list of your work accomplishments to the meeting.
PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT
Dr. Adam Dorsay, PsyD
Licensed Relationship Expert
Licensed Relationship Expert
Have a conversation with your supervisor if you have a trusting relationship. A performance review provides the perfect opportunity to discuss your progress and areas for improvement. Ask your boss where they believe you can improve and what strengths they think you should continue building on.
Planning for the Worst-Case Scenario
Refresh your resume. Update it with any new skills or experience you've acquired in your current role. A current resume will boost your confidence and allow you to act quickly if you do find yourself without a job. Being prepared can alleviate some of the anxiety about job loss.
- Discreetly send your resume out. You don’t want your current employer to know that you're looking for a new opportunity.
Review your employment contract. Check if your position offers a severance package and what compensation you might receive if you're let go. Having this information can provide a sense of security as you search for a new job.
- Severance pay can sometimes amount to as much as six months' worth of salary.
Explore unemployment benefits. Unemployment payments can help ease your transition while you search for a new position. Check if you're eligible for benefits in your state.
- Typically, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you voluntarily leave your job or are terminated for gross misconduct, you may not qualify.
- In most states, you must have worked for at least half of the previous year to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
You also won’t be eligible if you’ve been terminated for severe misconduct (e.g., theft at the workplace).
Secure references. Before leaving your job, gather strong references that will assist you in finding a new position. You’ll need individuals who can speak to your work ethic. It’s also wise to maintain communication with your references, whether through occasional emails or phone calls.
- Ensure your references remember you, so they’ll be more inclined to provide positive recommendations for future employers.
Make yourself open to opportunities. Position yourself to be discovered by recruiters from other organizations. Reach out to human resources departments of companies in your field to inquire about available roles. Let them know you’re actively looking for new employment.
- Keep your job search discreet and don’t alert your current employer about your search for new opportunities.
Viewing Job Loss as a New Beginning
Take time to reconnect with yourself. Clear your mind of the stress tied to your job. If you are let go, you'll have the time to focus on what truly brings you joy. This could be a chance to explore new passions and reassess your career path. You might even discover that you're ready for a completely different direction than the job you were laid off from.
- Prioritize your well-being. Start an exercise regimen. Adopt a healthier diet. Ensure you're getting enough rest.
- Experience new things. Go on affordable adventures like a hike in nature.
- Develop new skills that you didn’t have time for while working.
Spend quality time with your loved ones. Make time to enjoy the company of your family. Being too focused on work can make you forget the truly meaningful aspects of life. If you get fired, you'll suddenly have more time to reconnect with your children, spouse, parents, or anyone else important to you.
Read stories of those who thrived after being fired. Many of the most successful individuals in the world have faced the challenge of being fired. Sometimes, losing a job that wasn’t the right fit can push you toward your true passion.
- J.K. Rowling was let go from her job as a secretary and faced homelessness for a short time before writing the ‘Harry Potter’ series.
- Michael Bloomberg was dismissed from an investment bank, using his severance pay to create his own financial data company. Today, Bloomberg L.P. is one of the most successful firms globally.
Rebuild your confidence. Constantly fearing that you’ll be fired can have a damaging impact on your self-worth. Once you're out of that job, you’ll have a chance to remember your true value. The only thing that changes when you're fired is your job title; you remain the intelligent and capable person you were before, and soon, another company will recognize that.
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Don’t let the fear of losing your job prevent you from doing your best work. Fear can cause paralysis, which inevitably hurts your performance.
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Be courageous. While it may be hard to accept criticism from your boss, they will appreciate your initiative to improve and develop in your role.
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Practice meditation. It can help clear your mind of workplace stress, ensuring you don’t carry the fear of being fired home with you.
Important Notice
- Always leave on good terms. Even if you feel wronged, it's important to part ways respectfully. You never know when you might cross paths with the same people in your industry again.
- Don’t resign before being let go. Quitting to avoid the stigma of being fired will immediately disqualify you from severance pay and unemployment benefits.
- Keep your complaints to yourself. You never know who might overhear your frustrations.
