How to tell if a layoff is coming?

What is the 3 month rule in a job?

The "3-month rule" in a job refers to the common probationary period where both employer and employee assess fit, acting as a trial to see if the role and person align before full commitment, often involving learning goals (like a 30-60-90 day plan) and performance reviews, allowing either party to end employment more easily, notes Talent Management Institute (TMI), Frontline Source Group, Indeed.com, and Talent Management Institute (TMI). It's a crucial time for onboarding, understanding expectations, and demonstrating capability, setting the foundation for future growth, says Talent Management Institute (TMI), inTulsa Talent, and Talent Management Institute (TMI). 

What is the #1 reason people get fired?

The #1 reason employees get fired is often cited as poor work performance or incompetence, encompassing failure to meet standards, low productivity, or poor quality work, but issues like misconduct, attendance problems (lateness/absenteeism), insubordination, violating company policies, and attitude problems (not being a team player, toxicity) are also primary drivers, often overlapping with performance. 

What month do most layoffs happen?

Historic trends , data consistently shows December and January have the most layoffs of any months.

What is the rule of 70 for layoffs?

The "Rule of 70" in layoffs isn't a universal law but a common informal guideline or contractual clause where an employee's age plus years of service equals 70 or more, triggering enhanced severance or special considerations, especially for older workers (typically 55+) facing redundancy, often tied to age discrimination protections like the ADEA in the U.S. Companies use it to structure better severance, sometimes as part of voluntary separation programs, to potentially avoid age bias claims, as older employees often receive more weeks of pay per year of service based on their age. 

Do good employees get laid off?

High performers are not necessarily safe from layoffs. The misconception that job performance is a shield against layoffs can often be misleading for high performers. As mentioned earlier, the need for swift budget cuts may lead to layoffs where even the best employees have to be let go.

What is a silent layoff?

Quiet cutting is a strategy from employers where employees are reassigned to a different role rather than being laid off. The term arose in 2023 to describe a phenomenon seen in the American labor market.

What are the 5 stages of losing a job?

The 5 stages of losing a job, based on Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's model of grief, are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance, though people may experience them out of order, skip some, or linger in certain phases as they cope with the shock, emotional toll, and identity shift from job loss. Understanding these stages helps normalize feelings like shock (denial), frustration (anger), self-blame (bargaining), sadness (depression), and eventually moving forward (acceptance).
 

Do high performers get laid off?

Top performers get laid off all the time. In most instances, companies will let go teams based on skill sets needed in that moment, not because employees weren't demonstrating the skills they were initially hired for.

Is 2025 the worst year for layoffs?

2025 was a brutal year for layoffs. Even perceived winners in the AI-fueled economy, like Meta, announced workforce reductions.

How far in advance do companies know about layoffs?

Under certain circumstances, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires businesses to provide notice 60 days in advance of plant closures or mass layoffs. The WARN Act is intended to offer protection to workers, their families and communities.

How do you tell if you are being quietly fired?

8 Signs of Quiet Firing

• Lack of Promotions or Career Advancement Opportunities. ...
• Denied Raises, Bonuses, or Other Financial Benefits. ...
• Micromanagement, Mundane Work, or Reduced Responsibilities. ...
• Overly Critical — or Lack of — Feedback or Recognition. ...
• Isolation or Exclusion from the Team.
• No Support from Management.

Who is most at risk for layoffs?

Employees most likely to be laid off are often newer hires, high-salary earners, those lacking in-demand skills (especially AI), underperformers, and workers in vulnerable sectors like tech, construction, and business services, while contractors face higher risk due to lower commitment costs for employers, with factors like poor performance, lack of critical skills, and reduced role necessity often leading to job cuts. 

What is considered a generous severance package?

Many employers use a simple rule of thumb: one to two weeks' pay for every year of service. Some companies offer more, however, particularly for more senior roles or for long service. Severance can come as a lump sum or installments, sometimes with extras like health coverage or outplacement services.

Who goes first during layoffs?

When layoffs happen, who goes first varies but often includes newer employees (last-in, first-out), underperformers, and those in non-essential or easily outsourced roles, though strategic shifts, high salaries, lack of new skills (like AI), and even middle management can be targeted, with companies balancing cost-cutting with future needs and legal compliance. 

What is the #1 reason that employees get fired?

The #1 reason employees get fired is often cited as poor work performance or incompetence, encompassing failure to meet standards, low productivity, or poor quality work, but issues like misconduct, attendance problems (lateness/absenteeism), insubordination, violating company policies, and attitude problems (not being a team player, toxicity) are also primary drivers, often overlapping with performance. 

What is the hardest month to get a job?

December (4/10 Hiring Score) December is traditionally the worst month for hiring. Companies want to wait until they have their budgets for the new year to make hiring decisions. The combination of holiday focus, budget uncertainty, and vacation schedules creates the year's most challenging hiring environment.

What is the biggest red flag at work?

The biggest red flags at work often signal a toxic culture and poor leadership, with high turnover, communication breakdowns, lack of trust, blame culture, and unrealistic expectations being major indicators that employees are undervalued, leading to burnout and instability. These issues create an environment where people feel unappreciated, micromanaged, or unsupported, making it difficult to thrive and often prompting good employees to leave.
 

Is it worse to be fired or quit?

The choice depends on what matters more to you—your reputation or your finances. Quitting gives you control over the narrative but may forfeit unemployment benefits or severance. Being fired can hurt your confidence and reputation, but it often makes you eligible for unemployment or other protections.

Do good employees get fired?

Below are some common reasons why good employees might face termination: A New Supervisor Sees Them as a Threat: When new supervisors take over, they may perceive established employees as competition or a threat to their authority, particularly if those employees have a solid track record.