How To Hold Onto Your Job During A Recession

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Holding onto a job, whether we like it or not, has become essential with the country in a recession. Although many feel collecting unemployment is a good alternative, the benefits of our current job usually outweighs the benefits of being on unemployment.

For example, if your employer offers medical benefits, paying for these benefits ourselves could quickly eat into our weekly unemployment checks, as could the other perks we will no longer receive.

In order to secure our position in a company during a recession, it’s essential to do more than just show up. We need to do more than is expected of us and show those in authority, our skills are more valuable than what we’re being paid.

Some hints to keep in mind:

    1) Show up early.
    2) Have a good attitude – limit complaining, negativity and/or gossip
    3) Volunteer for extra work
    4) Be willing to learn other jobs – cross train
    5) Show respect for your superiors whether you like them or not
    6) Do not abuse your computer access – limit or completely stop personal emails (these can be tracked)
    7) Avoid incoming/outgoing personal phone calls – keep them to emergencies only. (your phone may be monitored)
    8.) Follow the rules – dress codes, use of personal cell phones, etc.
    9) Stay late when needed – be willing to help complete projects
    10) Be flexible regarding your work schedule, including working on weekends or your days off
    11) Do not abuse sick time, paid time off, or vacation time.
    12) Do not steal from your company – not even paper clips
    13) If you finish a project, ask for more work instead of just “looking busy”
    14) Learn to get along with your peers. Trouble makers are often the first to go.
    15) Remember you’re at work to work. Limit your conversations with fellow employee to breaks and/or lunches
    16) If needed, take college courses at night to increase your knowledge base
    17) Don’t assume seniority will protect you. When layoffs are imminent during a recession, companies often keep those who produce the most
    18) Don’t bad mouth the company you work for. Word gets around and others who are trying to hold onto their jobs may repeat what you said to the boss
    19) If you deal directly with customers, treat them with respect. Remember, it’s them who pays your wage. Without customers, companies will be forced to downsize or close their doors, recession or not.
    20) If your peers notice a change in your attitude and accuse you of sucking up, let them know your job is important to you and you’ve chosen to change your old ways.

Keep in mind, anything you learn on a job is something no one can take away from you. Whether you use this “free education” to procure another job, or move into self employment, what you’ve learned is yours to keep. Make the most of it.

So there you have it. If your job is threatened by a possible layoff due to the recession, put yourself in a position where you and your work will be valued and hopefully you’ll hold onto your job.

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Tags: Business, collecting unemployment, computer access, cross train, Dress code, Education, emergencies, Employment, jobs, keeping a job, Layoff, medical benefits, recession, seniority, Sick leave, Unemployment
January 23, 2009 by Barbara Swafford
Filed under: Archives, At Work, Money Issues 

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Comments

14 Comments on How To Hold Onto Your Job During A Recession

  1. Kathy @ Virtual Impax on Fri, 23rd Jan 2009 1:25 pm

    2. This post is FILLED with priceless information for anyone who’s working – either for themselves or others!!!

    My husband’s company recently went through a round of layoffs and #17 turned out to be the rule instead of the exception.

    Turns out the layoff was an excuse to cut unproductive employees who had been brought on in the wake of several acquisitions.

    The layoff was announced and at first it appeared to be a “seniority” issue because everyone hired from X date on were officially “laid off”. However, about 6 weeks later a group of 8 employees were quietly rehired without regards to “seniority”.

    My husband’s employer brought back the “creme” of the crop.

    I’m sure the 77 who didn’t get called back might call what that select group did while they were employed “sucking up”…. but from my husband’s point of view, those employees were “productive”. He mourned when they were laid off and rejoiced when he learned who had been rehired.

    Exceptional post Barbara!!!

    Kathy @ Virtual Impaxs last blog post..Your Digital Footprints…

  2. Barbara Swafford on Thu, 29th Jan 2009 5:23 pm

    3. Hi Kathy – Thank you for your kind words and sharing the story of what happened at your husband’s work. Yours is a perfect example of how that works.

  3. d.t. on Sat, 14th Feb 2009 4:13 pm

    4. Terrific article! Wouldn’t it be nice if all employees followed these suggestions at their work every day and not just when they feel their jobs are threatened. Just something to think about.
    Keep up the excellent writing.

  4. Barbara Swafford on Sun, 15th Feb 2009 2:35 pm

    5. Hi d.t.,

    Thank you. You’ve raised a good point. Work ethics are something not everyone practices, but like what you said, if they did on a daily basis, stress over losing a job might be diminished.

  5. Kenneth Sena on Mon, 13th Apr 2009 2:50 pm

    6. this is a great article. this makes me think twice of my decision on just stay or quit my job. the only thing that threaten me now is i think i am so stressed with my job that i think i am going to be sick.

  6. Davina on Tue, 11th Aug 2009 9:18 pm

    7. This is a great post Barbara. The word proactive comes to mind, not to mention these are all useful tips just to improve your morale and the morale of your coworkers. At my last place of employment, two years after they laid me and over a dozen others off, they have continued to lay off more. I consider myself very fortunate to have been in the first group of layoffs. I’m still in touch with people who are connected there and the morale in that office has been better, let me tell you.
    Davina´s last blog ..Group Writing Project: The Yogi Blogger My ComLuv Profile

  7. Barbara Swafford on Tue, 11th Aug 2009 10:13 pm

    8. Hi Davina,

    Thank you for stopping by and sharing your story. You’re right. We do need to be proactive.

    I’m sorry to hear you were laid off from your job, but I’m guessing it might be a blessing in disguise. Look at you now. You’re not only a life coach, but also have a fabulous proofreading business, and a very fascinating, well written blog.

    I wish you great success with all of your endeavors.

  8. Friar on Wed, 12th Aug 2009 3:42 am

    9. Good tips. But you forgot to mention that you can do everything here, and then some, and they could STILL lay you off. And replace you with a 23-year old fresh out of school.

    And right after that, they’ll lay off the 23-year old.

    Meanwhile, the senior managers (responsible for the company going down the drain) will still collect their bonus. Which will be many times more than both of your entire salaries combined.

    And if the senior managers ever DO get laid off…their severance wont’ be just 2 weeks per year of service. No…it will be a multiple-six-figure golden parachute, more then you could ever hope to retire on yourself.

    Sorry if I sound cynical. Just that I’ve had this happen to me before….just like hundreds of thousands of others… That’s just life, I guess.
    Friar´s last blog ..Other Wishes I’d ask a Genie to Grant Me. My ComLuv Profile

  9. Myhammer on Wed, 23rd Sep 2009 4:44 am

    10. These points are really worth keeping in mind to protect a job during recession.
    Any one of the things can become a reason for a lay off from a company.
    We can avoid it not doing any such thing.
    Thanks for sharing.

  10. Amos on Tue, 20th Oct 2009 4:31 am

    11. We always need to keep in mind that you need your company and not the vice versa that your company needs you , so we need to keep this above points in mind and to make sure that your feels that they need you.
    Amos´s last blog ..Vets Warm To Watkins and Keep Pets In Safe Hands My ComLuv Profile

  11. Lori Hoeck on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 2:19 pm

    12. Good tips for all employees! When my husband had college work-study students working for him, he had to make it clear to them over and over again that these kinds of tips are not a matter of “rule-keeping” but rather a matter of respect — for self, the job, the boss, the company, and the customer.
    Lori Hoeck´s last blog ..Self defense is seeing danger patterns early My ComLuv Profile

  12. Melody@Disposable Medical Devices on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 9:26 am

    13. These are all good reminders, but I’ve recently seen where even doing all of those things can totally insulate one from the economy.

    I’d add that when possible, help generate business. I have a girlfriend in the advertising business that was recently laid off after the firm didn’t lose any clients, but all of the incoming work dried up.

  13. Surveillance Guy on Sun, 24th Jan 2010 11:00 am

    14. A sound piece of advice for everyone. I think that company loyalty and customer care seem to become ‘old aged’ when the boom times roll, and unfortunately, it’s only recession that allows for those strong companies with great staff to really shine and do very well.

  14. Amega Products on Tue, 23rd Feb 2010 9:13 am

    15. I think for now as much as possible we should hold on into our jobs as much as possible even though we don’t really like what we’re doing. Just find some way to enjoy thing on your work.
    Amega Products´s last blog ..Amega Global AMwand – Zero Point Magic or Scam My ComLuv Profile

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