Job board site Monster describes some cues regarding your company that might try to spur you into quitting. Monster reported: “If your company no longer has a need for you, why wouldn’t your boss just let you go? Well, from an employer’s perspective, it’s much easier for them if you can be encouraged to leave on your own. Whether via a firing or a layoff, if a company takes the initiative to cut an employee loose, there’s more paperwork involved and it creates a stressful atmosphere for those left in the office.” Here are five signs your company is hoping you will quit your job:
- Your boss is turning into a micromanager: “You’re used to being left alone to do your work and have enjoyed the supportive feedback of your boss for as long as you can remember. Suddenly, your boss begins nitpicking all your work and doling out frustratingly vague criticisms. Bad sign.”
- Your company now wants to document everything: “Most employers have some sort of progressive discipline process that, when used properly, gives an underperforming employee the opportunity to improve,” says Lowman Smith. However, if the company wants you gone and implements this with little advance notice, it may be an attempt to psych you out—or “a form of intimidation to make you feel insecure or stressed enough to start looking for a new job,” she says.
- You’re not being groomed for the future: “When you’re not getting new projects assigned to you, it’s a sign the boss isn’t interested in your future with the company,” says Jim Thibodeau, president and owner of StaffScapes, an HR consulting firm in Denver. “Similarly, if you see others in your office receiving more professional development, it may be time to reassess your career path.”
- You’re getting the silent treatment: “Communication is vital to every department in every company. Your presence at meetings, on calls and at events, as well as on email correspondence, gives you access to this constant flow of information. When you’re abruptly cut off or pushed out of the circle, take note—especially if other co-workers remain in the loop.”
- Your boss is taking your work away: “A company is like one big team, so if you’re used to being a starting player and then all of a sudden you get benched in favor of other players, you’re right to feel suspicious.”