What To Do When Faced With the Possibility of a Layoff
The news that PepsiCo is planning to lay off hundreds of workers at its three main divisional headquarters has sent shockwaves through the nation. As we face an uncertain economic future, many people are now asking themselves if they will be next in line for a layoff.
What can you do about this?
Be Proactive About Your Professional Development
The best way to protect your job security is by improving your skills and knowledge in your field. The more valuable you are to the company, the less likely they will let you go. Take a class or two, read industry publications, and attend conferences or workshops related to your profession. Doing so will not only keep you informed about current trends and best practices in your field, but it will also demonstrate to employers that you are committed to professional development and self-improvement.
Be an Active Member of Your Team
In addition to developing yourself professionally, make sure that you’re contributing actively within your team. Offer up ideas during meetings; volunteer for projects; take on additional responsibilities; help out coworkers when they need assistance; be proactive about solving problems, and always strive to exceed expectations. Not only will this make you more indispensable as an employee, but it will also improve morale among your colleagues and boost team productivity—both of which can help keep layoffs at bay.
Look for Opportunities Elsewhere
Even if you’re doing everything above, layoffs may still happen—which is why it’s important to have a backup plan should things take a turn for the worst. Start networking with other professionals in your field and look into potential career opportunities elsewhere. This way, if something does happen at work, you won’t panic about finding another job because you already have one lined up! You can also look into freelance opportunities or consider starting a side hustle to supplement your income should layoffs occur.
With all the uncertainty surrounding us right now and signs that the recession is here, it’s understandable that people fear for their own jobs—which is why it’s important to remain proactive in protecting yourself against possible layoffs by continuously working on professional development opportunities, actively contributing within teams, and looking for alternative job opportunities elsewhere just in case something happens at work.