Wes Bucey
Prophet of Profit
If you get laid off this Friday, what's next?
So why did I start this thread?
I am amazed I hear from so many folks who have been laid off in the last six months who claim the layoff came as a big surprise. Hello!? In this economic climate, those who aren't deploying Deming's theory about the System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK) are making themselves vulnerable to just that sort of surprise. You owe it to yourself and family to learn as much as you can about your organization, the bosses, the products, its competitors, where it fits in the supply chain, how healthy its customers are, how healthy its suppliers are, how it stands with government regulators. You especially need to know where you stand with the bosses who hold your future at your present organization in their hands. If things seem to be going south in your organization and your bosses are leaving you out of the loop, you are vulnerable. This is NOT the time to hunker down and try to be invisible - invisible people are the easiest to let go because there are no emotional ties.
Action by readers:
What are you, personally, doing to insulate yourself if your organization seems bent on "right sizing" the operation?
If everything you learn in SoPK points to your termination for whatever cause, you should have a good "what if" plan ready.
- Are you ready to negotiate for severance pay?
- Negotiate for good [great] references?
- Do you know how and where to apply for unemployment compensation?
- Do you know how much you will get in unemployment pay?
- For how long?
- Do you have to demonstrate an effort to get another job?
- Do you know what kind of free or subsidized training or schooling is available?
- What kind of counseling is available to help you search for openings, rehearse for interviews?
- Do you have someone you trust and respect to review your resumes and cover letters?
- How's your personal network?
- Who and what kind of references can you get?
- Do you have any idea what skills and experience you have which will be valuable to the next employer?
- Why? (How do you know what the next employer will need or think is valuable?)
- Are you desperate? (Desperate people are usually vulnerable to scams and exploitation by unscrupulous employers.)
So why did I start this thread?
I am amazed I hear from so many folks who have been laid off in the last six months who claim the layoff came as a big surprise. Hello!? In this economic climate, those who aren't deploying Deming's theory about the System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK) are making themselves vulnerable to just that sort of surprise. You owe it to yourself and family to learn as much as you can about your organization, the bosses, the products, its competitors, where it fits in the supply chain, how healthy its customers are, how healthy its suppliers are, how it stands with government regulators. You especially need to know where you stand with the bosses who hold your future at your present organization in their hands. If things seem to be going south in your organization and your bosses are leaving you out of the loop, you are vulnerable. This is NOT the time to hunker down and try to be invisible - invisible people are the easiest to let go because there are no emotional ties.
Action by readers:
What are you, personally, doing to insulate yourself if your organization seems bent on "right sizing" the operation?
If everything you learn in SoPK points to your termination for whatever cause, you should have a good "what if" plan ready.
