The Taboo of Seniority…

I’m finding in my travels that offices all throughout the city and out-lying areas are still closing, regardless of the industry. This means the swell of workers into the marketplace is continuing to grow, without any sign of relief, or place for them to go.

Unfortunately, one of the things to come out of my conversations with managers is that ‘even when the economy is back on its feet, released jobs won’t be coming back’. Companies have found that people are willing to do more for less to ensure their own position, so there won’t be the need to hire back those they’ve let go.

Now, I’m sure you’ll be able to guess the answer to this, but who do you think companies want to get rid of first? Those with the most seniority, the reasoning behind this being:

•    They get paid the most to do a single piece of work;
•    All their new and fresh ideas have already been wrung from them;
•    They’ll have the largest pension outlay;
•    They are most likely to suffer an illness ~ due to age.

From the companies perspective, it just makes good business sense. For the individual, you just feel like you have a target on your back.

What can be done? Regardless of your position or seniority, people need to have an exit strategy. MSNBC, CNN, The Times and dozens of other agencies have reported that we now need to enter into an age of the small business and entrepreneur. Historically, the large company is a new concept, and has proven to be one that won’t work in isolation. Simply put, people can’t rely on their company, government or cuddly toy to ensure their prosperity. They need to seriously consider other streams of income, with one of the easiest and cheapest to establish being the home-based business. Whether it be something totally new and original, or something bought into (carefully researched beforehand, of course), this avenue could hold the greatest return on investment.

At the end of the day, create an exit strategy for yourself ~ some way of ensuring you won’t be left out in the cold.