There’s no such thing as job security anymore. While our parent’s generation spent years at one company, it’s extremely rare for an individual to be at a company no more than five years.
While it is the company’s responsibility to create a good working environment for the employee, it is up to the employee to make sure they are still creating value through their role.
Here are some common (and often overlooked) ways that an employee can jeopardize their role or be considered for termination:
- Lying on Your Job Application or Resume Tell the truth from the start, because you will be held responsible for the information you provide — and your employer will check it. Generally, educational background checks can take up to a month after hire.
- Too Many Personal Calls Spending much of your work time orchestrating your own personal business can send off alarm bells to your employers. Be careful about how much time you are seen and heard calling or texting on your phone during work hours.
- Alienating Your Co-workers To do your job effectively, you’ll need the cooperation and good will of those around you. Becoming detached from those you work with could get you replaced with someone who can work well with others.
- Gossiping Keep gossip to yourself, and never repeat anything you hear.
- Show Up Late for Work (Yet Again) Rolling into the office late every now and then might get you an eye roll, but if you really want to make your boss notice, do it all the time.
- Complain All The Time There’s a saying that goes like this; “Don’t come to me with problems, come to me with solutions.” Bosses HATE when employees always come into their office to complain or gripe. It’s their job to listen to you but don’t make a habit of it. Instead, if there are issues, bring it up professionally and offer suggestions on how to improve the situation
- Violate the Dress Code Repeatedly Let’s be honest. No one is fond of being told what to wear and how to wear it. But the company is paying you and so if it’s in your employee handbook that you must adhere to a standard office dress code, then you need to suck it up and do it.
- Abuse Your Sick Days No one wants or expects you to come in the office while sick. But it gets suspicious when you call in every Friday with that “pesky cold.”
9. Spend All Day Laughing at Cat Videos A good way to let everyone know that you don’t have enough work is to spend the entire day watching cat videos and sending personal emails to your friends.
10. Don’t Put In the Work! Bosses LOVE employees who go above and beyond in their roles. If you just clock in and clock out and don’t show initiative, then you aren’t demonstrating to your employer that you WANT to be there and you are a someone of value.
As a Human Capital Strategist, I know the ins and outs of the workforce and what it takes to be successful with your job. You wanna know what it is??? Go get my tips here so you can solidify your job AND impress your bosses!