Archive for February, 2009
Dear Readers,
If you’ve survived almost the entire first quarter of 2009 with your job intact, congratulations. But before you raise a glass of champagne, let me remind you that experts predict nearly 1 million members of the working class – at all levels of the organizational chart – will be laid off by the end of the year.
A key question for most of the employed, then, is: What can I do to give myself the best chance to hold onto my job through the end of the year?
During such a depressed economic climate, there are no guaranteed ways to ward off the dreaded pink slip. But there are several steps you can take to make your position as recession-proof as possible. The secret to success – always, but now more than ever – is to be seen as a valuable, if not indispensable, contributor.
To be seen is the first order of business. If they don’t already, your bosses need know about you and your talents. That means increasing your visibility. In dangerous times, you don’t want to make risky moves, using some outlandish scheme to attract attention. But you shouldn’t be invisible either. “Being risk averse does not mean trying to hide and hope nobody will notice you,” says John Challenger of the Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. You should attract attention with the basics: outstanding work habits. “Be there early and stay late. Up your performance level so they can’t do without you,” Challenger advises.
Then take it up a notch. Learn new things and advertise what you know by sharing it with your colleagues. “Are you the ‘go-to’ person for advice, insight, and support?” Are you a tech guru? Are you keeping up to date on the latest technology?” These are among the questions savvy employees should ask themselves if they want to solidify their position, says executive recruiter Lynn Hazan, of Chicago-based Lynn Hazan & Associates.
Don’t attract attention for the wrong reasons. Avoid unnecessary fights. If conflicts arise, address them promptly, says Challenger. “If you feel like you’re getting into conflict-laden situations, examine them carefully. Understand what the downside might be.” If taking a side is too dangerous at this point in time, retreat, at least temporarily.
Do call attention to your great new ideas. But, here again, exercise caution. Certainly, finding new ways to contribute to the bottom line is one of the surest ways to demonstrate your value, and ultimately keep your job. Still, it’s important to be strategic. “If your idea could help the company but might threaten your boss, think through the many ways you could present the idea,” Challenger advises. “Could you approach it in a way that makes it his or her idea?” You’ll need to assess your own situation, but often employees need to make sure that their agendas work in concert with those of their managers.
What if you were employee of the year two years ago? Doesn’t that mean you are most likely viewed as a valuable player? You can’t count on it. Polish your winning ways, for sure, and then add tasks that are valued in a financial downturn: providing leadership and strength, spotting trends and opportunities, and building alliances. Employees who can do all this, notes Hazan, “are often promoted when the economy picks up again.”
© CTW Features
Do you have questions about your job or the best way to handle a workplace challenge? Leslie Whitaker would like to hear from you. E-mail Leslie@ctwfeature.com and join the conversation at her Web site, www.lesliewhitaker.com.
Dear Readers,
Are you lying awake at night worrying about your bank balance? Or the way your husband’s blood pressure rises in proportion to the number of layoffs in his company?
Obviously, you’re not alone. The “Stress in America” survey conducted last year by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that almost 50 percent of Americans are increasingly stressed about their ability to provide for their family’s basic needs. Money and the economy were the top two stressors for 80 percent of Americans. Thirty-four percent experience chronic work stress. And that was last year. One can assume the numbers have climbed since then.
Women apparently feel it more than men. Slightly more female than male respondents reported stress about money (83 percent vs. 78 percent), housing costs (66 percent vs. 58 percent), and job stability (57 percent vs. 55 percent).
This is not good for our health. With money worries on the rise, stress-related symptoms are showing up more frequently. Americans who reported feeling irritable or angry jumped to 60 percent, up 10 percent from a year ago. Fifty-two percent of respondents said they lie awake at night, up from 48 percent in 2007. Headaches are also on the rise. How are people coping?
One of the most common outlets is food. Almost half of respondents reported overeating, eating junk food or skipping meals. Almost one in five reported turning to alcohol and smoking for stress relief. Repeated over a prolonged period, these bad habits can lead to serious illness.
Exercise, talking to spouses, friends and co-workers and seeking professional advice are more productive ways to manage stress. Exercise does double duty, relaxing and toning you at the same time. Confiding in others is another way to find relief. They can offer sympathy, perspective and even some creative ways for dealing with your challenges. Often people will respond to your vulnerability by sharing something personal about themselves. That you can help others even while you are feeling low is another morale booster.
The APA found that 58 percent of respondents would feel uncomfortable seeking professional advice to help manage stress. That’s unfortunate. If you are severely stressed and you have a job with benefits, find out if mental health services are covered. For a small co-payment you can get valuable professional advice. Trained therapists can help you strategize about the things you can control and the things you can’t.
Smart employers know that during tough economic periods sometimes the entire staff needs a boost. This sort of institutional wisdom is honored each year by the APA, which hands out the “Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards.” The winners typically excel in several of the following five categories: employee involvement; health and safety; employee growth and development; work-life balance; and employee recognition. A 2008 winner, Georgia-based accounting firm Porter Keadle Moore, for instance, advertises its atmosphere to potential recruits as “characterized by autonomy, freedom and flexibility.” The firm also offers “impromptu gatherings that provide much needed moments to relax and refresh as a group.”
Porter Keadle Moore even delivers organic fruit to its staff. It’s a small thing, but on a dark day, the sweetness of an orange or the brightness of a strawberry can lift spirits, if just for a few moments. Is it surprising that while 21 percent of workers at these award winners experience chronic work stress, their rate is significantly below the national average?
© CTW Features
Do you have questions about your job or the best way to handle a workplace challenge? Leslie Whitaker would like to hear from you. E-mail Leslie@ctwfeature.com and join the conversation at her Web site, www.lesliewhitaker.com.
