Reasons Your Boss will Fire You

A common job concern is getting fired. In uncertain times and fluctuating economies, the reality becomes more intense as we see colleagues being terminated or laid off all around us. Fear of job loss can be intense as we stand to lose income, security, health insurance, retirement contributions, self-worth, confidence just to name a few.

Sadly for some who are fired, it comes as a total surprise because their managers never mention that their performance is not up to par, they just dismiss them or come up with a reason to lay them off.  

Don’t be caught off guard. Always evaluate your own performance to make sure you are on good track.

While there a lot of reasons employees get fired, we have highlighted some of the more common reasons for your review:

You constantly make mistakes

Are you not focused, or simply don’t care about your work? Do you distract yourself with personal issues or waste time gossiping, making personal calls, texting or resorting to social media during work hours? Do others constantly having to clean up after you?

You are not a team player

You don’t’ participate in meetings, you don’t volunteer to help co-workers in times of need, you take credit for work that others have performed, you brag about everything you accomplish even if those tasks are just part of your standard job duties, you always rat out other people.  You don’t follow instructions/directions from your manager.

Your behavior and conduct are unprofessional

When a colleague upsets you or you disagree with you, do you yell? Do you roll your eyes when colleagues or boss is speaking to you? Do you blatantly flirt with co-workers?  Do you walk away or leave the room when others are talking? Do you constantly cut people off and never give them a chance to articulate their thoughts? Do you dress inappropriately? Do you use profane language?

Waiting until the last minute to complete or delaying an assignment

Do you wait until the last day or hour to complete projects and then end up producing a poor quality and incomplete product?  Does your procrastination create burden on others?  Are others always waiting on you to complete tasks before they can do their part? 

Reputation for being Negative

Are you always complaining to your boss and colleagues about something? Are you always pointing out problems but never solutions?  Are your colleagues complaining to your boss about your negativity?

Being Tardy / Absent

Are you always late to work in the morning and full of excuses? Are you late to meetings? Late returning from lunch? Are you calling in sick on Fridays and Mondays at least once a month?  

Misrepresenting Yourself

Did you lie in your interview about your qualifications, credentials? Did your boss find out that you really don’t have that Bachelor Degree?  Or the license needed to perform the duties of your job?  

Harassing Others

Are you insisting that your co-worker go out on a date with you? Are you using sexist or racist language in the workplace? Are you touching colleagues in inappropriate places? Have your colleagues asked you to stop behaving or stop saying certain things because she finds it inappropriate and insulting yet you continue to carry in the same vein?

Stealing from the company? Are you stealing supplies from the supply cabinet? Are you using the company credit card to buy gas for your personal use? Are you using the company vehicle during non-work? Are you lying on your expense report about the true nature of the charges?

Divulging Confidential / Proprietary Information

Are you in sensitive role such as HR, IT or Finance and sharing confidential and proprietary information with colleagues? 

Moonlighting

Are you working for the competition on a part-time basis during weekends and evenings? Have you started your own side business providing the same services as your current employer and selling to the same clients?

Bad Attitude

Are you always complaining and unloading your problems on others? Constantly arguing with everyone? Are you bad-mouthing your manager or the company?

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Links to Good Reads on Reasons Why Employees Get Fired

Why Do People Get Fired by Karin Eldor

MONSTER contributing writer Karin Eldor puts a positive spin to getting fired as she shares, “Whatever the reasons why you get the pink slip – it’s better to recognize them so you can work on yourself and make sure the next job is a smashing success”.   She provides ample opportunities for the reader to become aware of 11 top reasons they can be sacked…

Top 10 Reasons 21st Century Employees Get Fired by Patty Inglish

Author Patty Inglish takes a deep dive on a plethora of reasons individuals can get fired. An important observation she makes is stating, “Some employees are sloppy and not invested in doing a good job. Unless their attitudes change for more productive beliefs, they will likely be fired”.  Review her other observations…read more

3 Reasons You Were Fired and What You Should Learn from It by Steve Tulman

Sometimes we are not the problem as Steve Tulman reminds us when he shares, “In some instances in our lives we do encounter bad luck and budget cuts are definitely one of them. Albeit a natural part of a business’s economy, it is painful when you are on the receiving end of the termination process”. Curious to know the other reasons he lists..…read more