1. Are you always being put on the bad limelight? Anything and everything of errors and blame will be pointed at you.  Even little things that are insignificant have its roots pointing to you.
2. Have you always or mostly been denied courses even there are ample amount of training budget for everyone? Training budget is used for your co-workers but not you.  Is it because the bosses find that you will not be able to provide benefit to the organisation after you attended the course?  Or is it something else?
3. Have you always or mostly been denied from career progression? You like to progress in your career but always being denied the rights to it.  You are always not being considered for career progression as well.  You are always the last to be shortlist.
4. Are you always NOT selected for any new assignments? Whatever new assignments or projects are not given to you.  You are always not in the “fighting” list but always on the bench list.
5. Are your co-workers being invited for lunch and dinner with the bosses except you? Are you always being left out for any social events initiated by the boss?  The boss is exercising favoritism or has some negative opinion about you.
6. Are you been given unfair treatment? Rewards and punishment are always and totally different from other co-workers.  Is it the system that is having problems or is it favoritism at its best again?
7. Are you always the last to know in the organisation? Why are you the last to know?  Is it because you are not in their “fighting” list?
8. Are you always NOT included in meetings? Again, you are not in the “fighting” list.  You need not know all the on-goings of the company.  You can be sent off anytime if times are bad as you do not have any critical information pertaining to the organisation.

Yes, you are a potential candidate for the next retrenchment exercise.  Don’t fret.  Make effort to correct your “position” in the office.  If it doesn’t work or it’s really too late for that, be prepared for the worst.  Yes, that is the axe on your head.  The world is unfair and that’s why we need to be stronger to adapt into such situations.  Be sure to find alternatives.  Head out and talk to your network of friends for any opportunities.  Be open to what the outside can offer and not dwell into topic of the axe for too long.J

Ask yourself the following questions.  Are you comfortable and confident after going through the questions?  If you are then you are more likely that you are safe and ready from another recession-initiated retrenchment.  If you are not, then it’s time to buck on your skill set before any recession sets in!

1. What have you achieved till date in the organisation? Are the achievements significant that most senior management knows your name?
2. Are you a key contributor to the organisation? That is, the organisation cannot do without you?  Are you one of the key decision makers?
3. Have you been producing results annually? Have you been delivering what you are supposed to every year?  Have you been generating sales for the company or been delaying deliverables?
4. Have you always met your superior’s work target?  Simply put it, have you always met your immediate superior’s expectation?
5. Have you constantly improved your skills and competency? Have you been sharpening your skills or are you still the same after 5 years in the organisation?
6. Are you always the under-dog of the team? You are always the last in delivering results.  You appeared slower than your peers.
7. Are new rookies and co-workers been over-taking you? You are always compared on performance with the new guy sitting beside the pantry or Alex who had been transferred from the other department.
8. Are you redundant in your organisation? Are you in the mid-level management or functions that can be easily removed in the event of a merger or acquisition?
9. Are you on non-permanent employment? That is, contract, part-time or free-lance?  Contract staff will be the first to go as there are no legal obligations. Of course, not all part-timers and free-lancers are removed first.  It may be more effective to employ part-timers and free-lancers during the bad times instead to cut cost!

Knowing all these DOESN’T GUARANTEE that you will not be retrenched, however it does give you a level of assurance that you will not be in the top list and reduced the likelihood of being shortlist for being axed in the next retrenchment exercise! J