Canned or Not, Layoffs Affect Everyone

Whew! The good news is that you just survived the most recent round of layoffs. The bad news is that your job just got bigger. Your title hasn't changed and there's no raise in sight, just more work for you to do, since there are fewer employees. How do you keep up with your workload when more is being piled on?

1. Keep Things in Perspective -- You may have more work to do, but at least you're still drawing a paycheck. If that doesn't give you comfort, it should. It's better than the alternative, being laid off and trying to find a job in a tough economy. Another plus to taking on new responsibilities is that it's an opportunity to increase your skill set, which can make you more valuable internally and externally.

2. Set Your Boss's Expectations -- Just like David Letterman has his "Top 10" list, you and your boss should agree on yours. Meet with your boss and let him/her know that you are going to do your best under the circumstances. Have in mind your list of top projects and the rationale for why they are important. Get agreement from your boss on which projects can be assigned a lower priority. It's likely that your boss is under additional pressure as well, and your approach to your new workload will be one less thing for them to worry about.

3. Be More Efficient -- There's a saying "work expands to fill the time allotted." There's also a saying "If you want something done, get a busy person to do it." Land somewhere between these extremes. This is a great time to look at your job with fresh eyes. What can you do more efficiently? Are there reports that can be shortened, combined or deleted all together? Examine every component of your job -- don't take anything for granted, as there is always an opportunity to streamline processes.

4. Use Outside Resources -- It's not unusual for companies in the aftermath of a layoff, to allow the use of contract/temporary workers to pick up the slack. Even a part-time extra pair of hands can help. Only by asking will you find out if your company is willing to go this route.

5. Be a Nicer Co-Worker -- Cut backs affect all departments and it's likely that many other employees are doing more with fewer resources. Recognizing that your co-workers may be feeling the same psychological pressures that you are, make the extra effort to be even nicer to them. The nicer you are, the more they'll do for you. After all, you can't say "The hole is on your side of the boat." You all succeed or fail together.

It's all in how you look at things. More work doesn't have to mean more stress. Just take a one-day-at-a-time approach and do your best. The old axioms in business don't hold true anymore. Like Yogi Berra said "The future ain't what it used to be." Look on this as an opportunity to shine in difficult times.

Fred & Gladys
Whelan Stone
Executive Search and Coaching
www.whelanstone.com

Comments

[Printingguru]

I'm all for #5! I'm tired of people with bad attitudes. Things are tough on everybody now and it only makes it worse when people get super stressed because they have more work. Like you said, at least we have a job.

[MaryMacRap]

I feel better after reading this. More was dumped on my plate and, yes I get that I'm lucky to have a job. Can't wait until this recession is over so I can get back to my normal routine that gives me time to check my Facebook and read blogs on HuffPo. :)

[joebaggadonuts]

You will never get back to that time. There is no normal routine. All is change. Be the change or you will find yourself looking for another job. Better still, look for the best work you can find while getting your job done; just in case.

I am not saying this because I think you have something wrong or to judge you, just to give you fair notice that in all the places I have worked and all the hard times that happened for the companies I worked for, things never got easy again. It was always do more with less, until you could rightfully claim that you could do everything even when you are given nothing. Ultimately that's what they, the bosses, want.

There may suddenly be some respect for the obligation to pay living wages so that the economy can get going again, but I am not holding my breath.

As for Facebook and HuffPo, it's also your job as a citizen to keep informed, and as an employee, to keep up your network. If your employer won't give you the right to do a modicum of this, you need to find another one or eventually the layoff bell will toll for you anyway and you not only will be out of a job, but will also be uninformed and without a network to go to to find new work.