Survive Back-Office Layoffs

4 November 2008

3 minute read

Okay, both Wall Street and the economy are tanking. While a healthy dose of concern is warranted, don't get caught up in all of the negative hyperbole. Instead, take some concrete steps to become an even more valuable employee who is less of a layoff target.

Remember, those "lucky ones" who survive belt tightening are often less "lucky" than you might think. Like anything else, value in a company is relative - in this case relative to your fellow employees.

In finance, the first tier of survivors are always the "producers" - those who possess a healthy book of business. Even if you aren't a producer, the closer you are to dealing with revenue-generating clients and influencing their decision to go with or stick with your firm, the greater your job security when times get tough.

The following advice is aimed primarily at support staff in information technology, administration and other areas whose "clients" are exclusively internal.

To survive a layoff, you need to create enough value that you stand out. You need to be more productive than your colleagues. Think about it: If you had to choose between cutting Employee A, who merely gets the job done, and Employee B, who seems to achieve a great deal more in a week, you'll probably come down on the side of the overachiever.

Of course, you don't want to kill yourself working 60-hour weeks, so you'll need a way to do more in the same 40 hours. That's where time management comes in. Find and master a time management system. Franklin Covey works well for a lot of people, but there are other systems out there, too. Choose a program that's right for you and stick to it with religious zeal.

Once you're able to squeeze more out of your time, make those extra hours to work for you. Look for problems that can be solved within your area of expertise. Once you find a problem, solve it. If you can't directly implement the change yourself, bring the problem - and your proposed solution - to your boss. If there's a potential return on investment, chances are your boss will go for it - and you've associated "problem solver" with your name.

This is just one of many strategies to keep you working in lean times. Even if layoffs never come to your company - and, remember, they may not - getting more done has benefits when your annual review and raise come around.

Chad Broadus is a tech professional based in the Pacific Northwest.

AUTHORChad Broadus

Insider Comment

3 comments

Ja
Jay
6 November 2008
Here's the problem. I do a lot, not just get the job done, but a problem solver. Yet, it seems the more I do, the less I pay attention to thoroughly understand and absorb my work. I may miss a few research stats and was too busy to think of analyzing it further. In addition, other depts are pushing work towards me and if I don't do it, management will say I'm not being a team player. Yet, that is the reason why we have different depts and hierarchy to establish responsibilities and duties. To check and review other's work. To be efficient and lessen mistakes.
Sometimes, the more you take on, the more you jeopardize your position and open yourself to disappointment. One can manage time to a certain degree. The rest is up to management. Management is there to make sure work flow is efficient and accurate.
Reply
Ch
Chad Broadus
5 November 2008
Joe - Good comment
The main point that I was trying to make is that, through applying time management skills, you can work smarter and get more done than others working longer and "harder".
As a Regional IS Coordinator for Whole Foods Market at the turn of the century, I was "forced" to attend a Franklin Covey workshop. I thought it was the biggest load of bollocks I'd ever heard....until I actually tried it. I have since been able to accomplish a great deal in less time than it would have taken me prior to acquiring the skill.
If you find that your work week is consistently crazier than other tech departments 52 weeks a year, either you or your boss is doing something wrong on a number of levels. Through the application of time management skills by both myself and the Teams I've led over the years, we were able to get our jobs done within a reasonable work week, spent time with our loved ones, and left indentured servitude back in the 1800s where it belongs.
Reply
Jo
Joe
5 November 2008
"Of course, you don't want to kill yourself working 60-hour weeks, so you'll need a way to do more in the same 40 hours"
This is funnier than the daily dilbert cartoon; the era of 9-5 workday is gone particularly in IT. You stay later because the business demands it (more so in the troubling times). You come home and, likely, login to do some support work.
Based on my 10 year experience in IT, being efficient in the 40 hours may be enough. While you certainly want to be labeled as "problem solver", you don't want to be the one who is sneaking out of the backdoor at 5pm. More so than not, most people will try to work harder and longer during tough times.
Reply