100 Signs of Layoffs: Your Company is On The Verge of Laying You Off

startup layoffs - 100 Signs of layoffs

Signs of layoffs may be hard to spot, but there are a few key things to look for. It’s better to be prepared than not, so here are 100 signs that your company may be laying off employees soon or shutting down.

It’s hard to face the possibility of being laid off, but it’s important to be aware of the signs that may indicate your company is preparing to let go of employees. Rapid growth and contraction are now the norms for businesses, especially in the digital world, so you can’t prevent layoffs from happening – but you can see them coming.

According to Layoffs.fyi, more than 30,000 workers from tech startups have been laid off since the beginning of May 2022. And while that figure is shocking, it’s not entirely surprising given the current state of the economy.

Signs Of Layoffs

What’re layoffs? A layoff is a reduction in the workforce of a company or organization. In other words, people are losing their jobs.

There are a number of reasons why your company may be considering layoffs. It could be due to financial difficulties, changes in the marketplace, or even new technology that makes certain positions obsolete. Whatever the reason, there are usually warning signs that layoffs are imminent.

startup layoffs - 100 Signs of layoffs

While we can not predict the future, there are certain signs that may suggest your company is considering layoffs in the near future. Here are 100 signs that your company may be preparing to lay off employees soon:

  1. Your company has stopped hiring for new positions
  2. There have been recent changes in upper management
  3. Your company is suddenly tight-lipped about its plans for the future
  4. There have been recent budget cuts
  5. Your team’s workload has increased significantly
  6. You are no longer being invited to important meetings
  7. Your projects have been put on hold
  8. You are being asked to do more with fewer resources
  9. The company is no longer providing training or development opportunities
  10. There has been a decrease in company morale
  11. You are no longer being given new assignments
  12. Your performance reviews are suddenly much more critical
  13. You are no longer being given raises or promotions
  14. Your position has been eliminated from the company organizational chart
  15. The company is offering voluntary buyouts
  16. The company is hiring temps or contractors to do your job
  17. Your company is outsourcing your work to another country
  18. You are being asked to sign a new employment contract
  19. The company is instituting a hiring freeze
  20. Your benefits have been cut
  21. Your hours have been reduced
  22. You are no longer being reimbursed for business expenses
  23. The dress code has changed and you are now required to wear more casual clothing
  24. The company has stopped providing refreshments or snacks
  25. The office temperature has been turned down to save money
  26. Your company is no longer paying for your parking or public transportation costs
  27. You are being asked to take a pay cut
  28. Your 401k contributions have been suspended
  29. You are no longer allowed to work from home
  30. Your company is downsizing its office space
  31. Layoff rumors have begun circulating around the office
  32. You are suddenly being excluded from important conversations
  33. You are no longer copied on important emails
  34. Your projects are being reassigned to other people
  35. You are being asked to train your replacement
  36. You are being asked to sign a non-compete clause
  37. Your job description has changed and you are now being asked to do tasks that are outside of your skillset
  38. You are no longer allowed to take vacation days
  39. Your sick days have been eliminated
  40. The company is offering early retirement packages
  41. You are receiving less positive feedback from your superiors
  42. You are being micro-managed more than usual
  43. Your projects are being put on hold indefinitely
  44. You are no longer invited to important meetings or conference calls
  45. Your office space is being relocated to a different floor or building
  46. Your company is instituting mandatory furlough days
  47. Payroll errors have begun occurring more frequently
  48. You are being asked to sign a severance agreement
  49. The company has stopped providing health insurance benefits
  50. The company has filed for bankruptcy
  51. Your position has been eliminated and you have been laid off
  52. Executive team, especially when CEO steps down with no clear replacement
  53. Your company is being sold or acquired by another company
  54. An unexpectedly large number of people have quit recently
  55. There are more empty desks and cubicles in the office than usual
  56. The mood in the office has changed from optimistic to pessimistic
  57. People are talking about looking for new jobs more than usual
  58. There is an increase in the number of people working from home
  59. There is an increase in the number of people taking sick days
  60. There is an increase in the number of people taking vacation days
  61. The office noise level has decreased significantly
  62. People are leaving work earlier than usual
  63. Company founder(s) are no longer involved in day-to-day operations
  64. New hires are not being made to replace those who have left
  65. Your email inbox is full of messages from recruiters
  66. You are being asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
  67. Your email is not working or you are not able to access certain company files
  68. The company has stopped providing food for meetings and events
  69. The company has stopped sponsoring team building and social events
  70. No more business travel is being approved
  71. Your company has stopped advertising and marketing itself
  72. The cleaning staff has been laid off or replaced with a cheaper service
  73. There is an increase in the number of security guards or security cameras in the office
  74. Packages and mail are no longer being delivered to the office
  75. The marketing team is no longer working on new campaigns
  76. The sales team is no longer making new sales pitches
  77. The product development team is no longer working on new products or features
  78. The customer service team is no longer responding to customer inquiries
  79. The company has stopped attending industry events and conferences
  80. Your company website has been taken down or is no longer being updated regularly
  81. The parking lot is empty during the day or there are fewer cars in the parking lot
  82. There is an increase in the number of people working late at night
  83. Your building or office access card no longer works
  84. You are no longer able to log in to your computer or the email account
  85. Company phones have been disconnected
  86. Your office key no longer opens the door
  87. The company has stopped paying rent for its office space
  88. Your company has moved out of its office space or is no longer using all of its office space
  89. Internal emails are vaguer and less informative than usual
  90. There are more closed doors in the office than usual
  91. New people, likely consultants, are working in the office but you don’t know who they are or why they’re there
  92. You see people carrying boxes of personal belongings out of the office
  93. Social media accounts for your company have been inactive or deleted
  94. The Company LinkedIn page has been taken down or is no longer being updated
  95. Employee LinkedIn profiles are being updated to remove references to your company
  96. No one is talking to you or will make eye contact with you in the office
  97. Unable to get on any chat or collaboration platforms being used by the company
  98. See bad press online or in the news about your company
  99. An increase in the number of people being escorted out of the office by security
  100. Your HR schedule a meeting with you and won’t tell you what it’s about

How Does A Company Decide Who To Layoff?

Once a company has made the decision to layoff employees, it must then decide who will be laid off. This can be done in a number of ways, but most companies use some combination of the following criteria:

Position Elimination

The company eliminates positions that are no longer necessary due to changes in business operations. For example, if a company stops selling a product, it will no longer need the employees who were responsible for that product.

Last In, First Out (LIFO)

The company lays off the most recently hired employees first. This is often used in conjunction with position elimination. For example, if a company eliminates the positions of customer service representatives, they will lay off the most recently hired customer service representatives first.

Performance

The company lays off employees who have poor performance reviews or who are not meeting expectations.

Skills

The company lays off employees who do not have the skills that are required for the remaining positions. For example, if a company eliminates the position of marketing manager, they will lay off the marketing employees who do not have management experience.

Compensation

The company lays off employees who are paid more than the remaining employees. For example, if a company has two employees with the same job title and one of them is paid $15 per hour while the other is paid $20 per hour, the company will likely lay off the employee who is paid $20 per hour.

Seniority

The company lays off employees who have less seniority. For example, if a company has two employees with the same job title and one of them has been with the company for two years while the other has been with the company for five years, the company will likely lay off the employee who has been with the company for two years.

Final Thoughts

Layoffs are a fact of life in the business world, especially in the digital world. If you are concerned that your company may be planning a layoff, keep an eye out for the signs listed above. And if you see one or more of these signs, don’t panic – just be prepared.

Remember, being laid off is not a reflection on you as an employee. It is simply a business decision that is often out of your control. So do your best to stay positive and keep looking for new opportunities.

We launched StartupLayoffs.com because we want to be here for you during these tough times. We are here for you whether you’ve been laid off, are looking for a new job, or just want to stay informed about the latest layoff news.

Email us whenever – hello@startuplayoffs.com, shit we can even hop on a call if you want.

Hang in there!

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