20 Signs A, Um, Involuntary Change In Employment Status Is Coming

The days of "last hired, first fired" seem long gone. Today's downsizings seem to take a disproportionate chunk of middle aged employees out, leaving behind only the young and inexpensive.

If you're worried about those closed-door meetings your boss is having with HR, financial blog Wise Bread will increase your stress level with "You're Fired! 20 Signs a Pink Slip is Coming."

It's both tongue in cheek, and spot on. For instance,

#16 -- Have you recently been asked to work on a “special project?”

This could have many other names. “New company initiative” or “Confidential research assignment” are other known terms for this. But it basically comes down to one role…the project takes you away from REAL work and puts you on something that’s either mildly important, not important at all, is going nowhere, or is just plain useless.

“Hey Smith, how is that special project on frozen concentrated orange juice coming along?”

“Fine Sir. Can I ask what this has to do with the IT department?”

“Oh, you’ll find out Smith. You’ll find out.”

Rule of thumb. The second you are asked to leave a project you know is important for one that sounds like a bunch of bologna, your career is heading south quickly.

Others that hit the target are:

• Has your company recently been sold or merged?
• Has your office, cubicle or working space recently been down-sized?
• Has your immediate boss or mentor gone bye-bye?

Read the whole thing ... unless you're self-employed.

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H/t: LifeHacker