Are you worried about getting fired? If so, you have something in common with technologists at a number of tech’s biggest companies, according to a new survey by Blind, which anonymously queries its audience about a number of issues.
Overall, some 21 percent of respondents said that getting fired crossed their mind every day. Combine that with the forty percent who thought about it on either a weekly or monthly basis, and it’s clear that many technologists are really concerned about their employment prospects. Overall, just 33 percent said that getting fired never crossed their mind.
On a company-by-company breakdown, things are even starker, with roughly one-third of Amazon employees saying they’ve worried daily about getting fired. At Cisco and PayPal, it’s 29 percent and 26 percent, respectively. From a mental health perspective, that’s… not good. Here’s the full chart, courtesy of Blind:
As one anonymous user put it: “Why would anyone think of getting fired unless they did something really bad? What kind of psychological safety does Amazon instill?”
Controversies about Amazon’s corporate culture have persisted for years, although the company insists that it’s been misrepresented, and that many employees really enjoy working there. But it’s not just Amazon; it’s very clear that many technologists at a variety of companies are preoccupied with getting pink-slipped.
If you’re worried about being terminated, there are steps you can take. Start with increasing your communication level with your manager and your broader team. Share your concerns, and see if there are any problems in your professional relationships that you can address. Your manager may assure you that your fears are overblown—but if there’s something you need to work on, you’ll need to talk through an action plan.
It’s also important to communicate your accomplishments early and often. Whether it’s through a face-to-face meeting or just a monthly email, show what you’re doing to your manager and other stakeholders. And keep racking up those accomplishments—by delivering consistent, solid results, you can hopefully persevere in your job.
