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Do you feel like you’re being pushed out of your job? Here are five tips to manage it without losing everything.
It really sucks when you’re being pushed out of your job. Whether you’re good or bad at it, you need this job. You may not even like it, but you want to see it through. The problem is people around you are making your life miserable.
So, you need to find a way to manage the problem. If you react, you know it will look badly on you. And that’s possibly what a manager or a boss wants you to do. Instead of reacting, here are five tips to deal with being pushed out.
Create your own exit strategy
They want you out, and eventually, they’re going to find a reason to get rid of you. Remember in the U.S., most people have “at will” employment. There are all sorts of ways a boss can get you out, even if you’re good at your job.
So, you want to be able to leave on your own terms. Well, that is unless you want them to fire you for the severance. If you’ve been there for decades, try to see it out because they want to push you out of your job so they can avoid the severance package. If you’re not going to get a big severance, look at an exit strategy of your own.
You need another job lined up. It needs to be better pay than the one you currently have. They are out there!
Make it clear you know you’re being pushed out of your job
Trying to force you to quit is a way to avoid you being paid severance. You also won’t be able to collect unemployment while you find another job. So, you want to hold on as much as you can. That means finding a way to prevent your boss from continuing the attacks.
Make it clear in writing that you know what is going on, and make sure you CC HR. HR isn’t there to protect you but the company*, and they’re not going to want the company to face a lawsuit because you’re suing after you leave. Once you point out that you know what they’re doing, there’s a chance they’ll back off. If the situation escalates and you find yourself wrongfully terminated, consider consulting with an employment lawyer who can guide you through the process of filing a wrongful termination claim to protect your rights.
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Make a note of everything going on
Keep track of your working day. Track everything that you do, the project expectations, and any comments that are made. Your boss is likely to try to keep everything out of writing. You have a way to bring things back on them.
If there are any face-to-face meetings about your performance, you can ask them to put it all in writing. You can also follow up with an email to break down everything that was discussed. If they don’t want something bad written down, they will follow up with what they “actually meant.” This can sometimes protect you as you have it in clear writing what they want.
For those in a one-party state, take advantage of it. You can record any conversations that you have with your boss. Make sure you ask for clarification for anything that looks to be a way to push you out.
Request a performance review if you’re being pushed out of your job
If you are going to be fired, you want to make it clear that it isn’t on your performance. A great way to do this is by getting a performance review. This is also a very clear sign that there is something else going on as you continue to be pushed out.
You can find out where your boss thinks you need to improve. You can then also put in targets and discuss the needs of the business. It’s a chance to share if you haven’t been getting new projects as a sign that you’re not doing enough, or if you’ve been given too much in an attempt to prove you’re not good enough.
This performance review may not save your job, but it’s a great thing to have so you can go up against the company. No company wants a legal battle on their hands.
Continue to prove them wrong
Don’t go out of your way to burn it all to the ground. Don’t badmouth your boss* or take to social media to share problems going on. This doesn’t look good on you, and it can end up causing problems in the future. You want to keep your head down when you’re being pushed out of your job.
Keep looking for somewhere new. As you continue to do your best work, you can prove to another company that you’re loyal but there’s nowhere to grow. When it comes to the “why are you leaving your current position,” don’t tell them the real reason. Focus on what’s great for you at the new place and what you can offer this new place.
As you do it, continue to prove to the old place that they’re losing a valuable player. Show how everything will go downhill when you’re gone. They’ll regret their actions. As much as it sucks to do it at the time, it feels good when you do eventually leave for better pastures.
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Are you struggling with being micromanaged? Are you dealing with bad bosses? Share your tips on dealing with them in the comments below.