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.

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!