Dead Man Walking - Warning Signs of Getting Laid Off

The Milton Report

Dead Man Walking – Warning Signs of Getting Laid Off

November 19, 2009

Volume 13: issue 7

“They hail me as one living,

But don't they know

That I have died of late years,

Untombed although?...”

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), excerpt from his poem, “The Dead Man Walking”

The term “dead man walking” is used to describe the call of the prison guards as the inmate is escorted along death row to the place of execution. It is the catcall of imminent death – a sort of twisted reminder that these last moments will precede your demise. It is the final reminder that you are alive now, but not for long.

You may remember the movie from 1995. It was the story of a man on death row, portrayed by Sean Penn, and his advocate working on his behalf to save him, played by Susan Sarandon. I don’t remember if Penn’s character actually got executed in the movie or if he was really guilty of the crime for which he was convicted. I’ll have to watch it again. But, I do remember the phrase and movie title stuck with me and it seemed a fitting way to describe what happens when you get the eerie sensation that your days on the job may be numbered.

When I worked at Enron in 2001, which at the time was the seventh largest company in America, I had the sensation of being a “dead man walking”. It hit me every time I saw the stock price plummet. There is a strong correlation between financial ruin and job loss, similar to the relationship between loss of life and committing a heinous crime worthy of death in a death penalty state like Texas. If you commit the crime and you are convicted in a death penalty state, the consequence eventually will be execution. Similarly, if you lose your job, it could lead to financial ruin. Then, my sense of financial ruin was based on the knowledge that if the stock price continued to fall the company would cease to exist and so would my job.

In September 2001 I was a “dead man walking”. In December 2001 I got executed (in a manner of speaking). Enron went bankrupt. In 2009 it happened to me again. I thought I saw it coming, but I did not react. Fortunately, it was the job that got eliminated and not me.

People on either side of the death penalty debate may take exception to my use of the phrase “dead man walking” as a metaphor for someone who is targeted for a layoff.

They may be right.

However, I am frankly not sure of a better way to describe it. The environment, whether it is the cubicle or the boardroom, takes on a different air when workforce reductions are imminent. I have been amazed throughout the years, when I have observed the experiences of others or considered mine, when the environment is abound with signs, but either due to a lack of recognition, denial, or a covert plot by management to ensure there are no signs of the conspiracy to reduce the workforce, a failure to see the separation from the job exists.

The person on death row knows their fate unless there is a last moment miracle and a stay of execution is granted. Conversely, the person who gets laid off possibly may not have seen it coming. Management sees it, but they don’t walk around the office shouting, “Dead Man Walking.” Some might suggest management behaves like prison guards sometimes, but I suppose it depends on your company. I don’t want to paint all managers with the same brush.

Unfortunately, and I have personally experienced this, the person who gets laid off or fired is often expected to have seen it coming. This is particularly true if the separation is tied to performance and not simply an exercise in budget redistribution. Please note my use of the term budget redistribution. Budget cuts are somewhat of a misnomer, as they relate to reductions in work force. Managements always makes decisions on whom to sever or more appropriately, whom to keep. Your salary is simply redistributed to someone else. If you don’t believe that, check for job postings for the job you just lost.

I mentioned the other day of hearing about the layoff of a former colleague. When I heard the news, I wondered if he saw it coming. I wondered how many days might he have been a “dead man walking”. After thinking about it I decided I would compile a list of things to look for if you find yourself in the unenviable position of imminent job loss due to management budget redistribution.

1. You are assigned projects and tasks that are high profile, high risk and low reward opportunities.

This is not a good sign for long term career growth. Projects that have high visibility (meaning that management is keenly aware of their success or failure) can only go one way. If you do a great job, you did your job. If you don’t do a great job, you are in peril.

Part of your job is to make your manager look good. If you have been assigned a project or task that runs the risk of manager or supervisor not looking good, please reference the term “scapegoat”. A scapegoat is not a long term position. This is a sign.

2. Your sponsor is transferred and/or promoted to another department.

This is a little trickier. Your sponsor is the person who hired you or someone who mentors you within the company. When that individual no longer has direct influence on your performance evaluations or they choose not to take you with them, this is a sign of imminent doom. Individuals are expected to manage their own careers. No responsible person would argue that point. However, if the person who hired you does not make provision to extend a life line as he or she navigates the company, you are left to fend for yourself. Other management personnel will see this. Consider it a sign. The question must be asked. If your manager moves to another area and they don’t take you along, “why did they leave you behind?”

3. You are assigned to a special project.

This should be self explanatory. Special projects are sometimes euphemisms for “We are going to lay you off eventually, but we have to justify it first.” Justification may be in the form of ensuring adequate return on the investment for your energy and expertise. Or, it could mean that management needs to build a sufficient case to document performance deficiencies, or it could simply be that the special project is like that explained in #1 – high profile, low reward; in other words, a setup. Consider this a sign.

Special projects are probably like the “dead man walking” last meal.

4. Your performance review is not positive.

I have managed employees in the past and I have worked in human resources. I know from experience that employees who are targeted for separation are sometimes “managed out”. One of the steps in the “managing out” process is documentation illustrating substandard performance. Whether it is accurate or not, when you receive a performance review that is less than stellar, it is a sign. Your days are numbered.’’

5. Management avoids you or communication is minimal.

This is another one of those tricky things. Avoidance of conflict is sometimes a sign that bad news in on the horizon. In personal relationship couples experience this when they are not talking to each other. Business relationships thrive when there is clear, honest and timely communication. When communication becomes infrequent or it is always wrought with criticism, or worse, does not exist, this is a sign. You can not have any insight into what one is thinking without communication. Just because your manager does not tell you that you are doing a bad job, does not mean he or she thinks you are doing a bad job. It is probably being documented, or the case will be made in your next performance evaluation. Lack of communication from management is a sign. You should heed the warning.

Finally, trust your instincts. My Enron experience taught me that if you feel something is wrong, but you can not quite connect all of the dots, something probably is wrong. Sometimes you don’t need all of the facts or information to make a decision. You only need to have the signs. Granted, you don’t want to be premature. But, you don’t want to be a “dead man walking” where everyone else knows about your imminent doom except you.

You can avoid the long walk along the “Green Mile” to unemployment. You just need to heed the signs and act accordingly.

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“It is calming to know that when the final trumpet sounds,

My life will not have ended in vain.

I will run out of time before I run out of words. God has given me the gift of my thoughts.

He has given me the gift of the pen.

I need to use them both to show His will does win….” 1

(1) Excerpt from the poem “ The Things That Matter” –

Included in Voices Inside My Head – Poetry Inspired By God To Heal Pain

Copyright © 2009 Milton A. Brown