Three easy ways to get fired

Whether you want the job or not, you want to be able to leave on your own terms. However, there are some things you may be doing now that will get you the boot a lot sooner than you anticipated. Check out three behaviors to avoid in order to stay in control of when you terminate your employment.

1.) Put it off until tomorrow.

In the economy we are in today, the cold, hard truth is that workers need to perform better than ever in order to keep job security. It doesn’t matter whether your at the top of the food chain or just starting off, you need to do your best every day to be of value to the company.

Workers who are slacking on the day-to-day operations will often be seen as weaker links, and the first to go when more money needs to come into the budget, or when the company decides spring cleaning needs to happen.

If you’re comfortable with getting by by the skin of your teeth, wise up.

Start doing more than your share daily. Even if you have to get in a few minutes early, or stay five minutes late, it’s worth it. Try to become the linchpin in your organization. Be the person who can always be counted on to be there and to get the job done. Those that work hard are often rewarded in the workplace with praise, prizes and maybe even a promotion. But the best reward? Keeping your job.

2.) Be a show off on social media.

Upset about your job? Keep it off the web, people. Facebook, Twitter and any other network can easily be seen, I don’t care how strict your privacy settings are.  Also, please do not tell me about your right to free speech. You also have the right to act appropriately, too.

By bashing your employer or co-worker openly on a social media site, you’re just asking for trouble. Clearly, you don’t want to work for the company you are with if you are complaining about it. You’re bringing down morale with every keystroke you make.

How can they see it if they are blocked? How sure are you that they are not? How sure are you that there are not people that may have some sixth-degree separation from someone that works with you. If you can’t answer that you are 100% sure, then you need to stop typing out that nasty status about how no one does any work except you and you get paid less right now.

If you have to complain, complain in confidence to a friend or family member. Everyone has a bad day at work – you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. But everyone does not need to know about yours.

This also goes for your late night drinking binges, or less than appropriate behavior. If you look like a person who makes questionable decisions and openly displays them on your networks, employers may think you are not the person who has the responsibility and decision-making skills they need to run their company.

3.) Be the ‘Negative Nancy’ of the office.

The copy machine is broken and the company will never get it fixed. The coffee is cold so now it’s up to only you to make a new pot since you know no one else will do it. You have no idea why this portion of the register wasn’t counted before you got to work. Why, oh why, did they schedule a shift for you that has to include three people you can’t stand?

It’s completely okay to think these things in your head, but if every sentence that comes out of your mouth at work is complaining about co-workers, the work you’re doing or the company, then it’s about time that you start looking for something else. Constant complaining is only going to bring down the culture of the company to murky levels, something you definitely don’t want to be responsible for.

Always being negative will not fly forever in your company. Even if the problems aren’t caused by you, you’ll be the target because no one will have anything nice to say about you. It’s sad, but it’s true.

Try to keep an upbeat attitude, even when situations aren’t the best. Instead of complaining, think of and voice solutions. How can you fix, or help to fix, the problems that are bothering you at work everyday? Bring up suggestions to co-workers and managers in a respectful, helpful manner. You’d be surprised how much can change if you’re willing to be part of the solution.

Again, it’s completely okay to think the things you do. But when you’re making everyone tired from your constantly negative comments every day, you’re not doing the right thing.

Tags: getting fired, how to get fired, termination of employment, things that employees get fired for