Don’t Fear Thy Employer – Commit to Yourself and Your Profession

In the past few months there have been many announcements of layoffs. Cisco, Intel and John Deere just to name a few.

Employers no longer make a commitment to their employees. Rather they are committed to the bottom line, their stock holders and over-the-top salaries for top management. Also, most reputable investment advisors have fessed up that 401(k)s won’t last through your retirement. Employer pension plans are a thing of the past.

This leads me to Employment at Will. As defined by Wikipedia: “At-will employment is a term used in U.S. labor law for contractual relationships in which an employee can be dismissed by an employer for any reason (that is, without having to establish "just cause" for termination), and without warning.”

As Liz Ryan writes in Can They Fire You When You’re Doing a Good Job: “Yes, you can be fired when you’re doing a great job, if you scare somebody who wishes you weren’t quite as bright and shiny an object as you happen to be. That’s okay. You have no time to waste with fearful ninnies. Your future is big and bright, and it’s right in front of you. Go find it!”

Remember, you no longer have an employee/employer relationship. In reality you are an independent worker who is responsible for your future. No longer are there any guarantees of a job for life. You’re on your own. Make a commitment to yourself, your profession and what makes you happiest.