Even though there are laws in place to protect workers, including seniors, from unfair treatment and discrimination, this doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of losing your job. It’s an unfortunate truth that some managers may look for loopholes to bypass these protections.
Sometimes managers see senior employees as being too expensive in terms of salary and benefits. They will often look to lay off a senior employee and hire a younger one for less money. There are things you can do to protect yourself from losing your job if you are a senior that’s not ready to retire. In this article, we will go over several tips to help before you need to get an employment lawyer such as one at HKM.
1 – Stay relevant
To keep your job you may need to go the extra mile to show your worth to the company. Always learning is the first step. You don’t only have to go to classes for this. You can stay up-to-date by reading about your job online, watching helpful videos, or trying new things that relate to your work. The main idea is to not fall behind as things in your job change.
Being ready to change is another big part. If your job changes or your company needs you to do something new, being open and ready for this is important. This might mean learning new things or doing parts of your job that are different from before.
Networking is another important part of staying relevant. Building and keeping up professional relationships can open doors that you didn’t even know existed.
2 – Embrace technology
One of the common tropes about senior employees is that they are slow to learn new technology to do the job efficiently. Although this is mostly untrue, you should make sure that you are up to date.
First off, find out what technology is most important in your job. This might be certain software, websites, or devices that everyone in your field uses. Learning what these are is the first step to getting better at your job.
Then, look for ways to learn more about these technologies. There are lots of online courses, workshops, and classes that teach you how to use new tools. Many of these are easy to join and can even be free.
3 – Increase your visibility
Making yourself more visible at work and in your industry can really help your career. This means creating a strong personal brand, helping your organization succeed, and connecting with others in your field.
First, building a personal brand is about showing who you are and what you stand for in your work. One way to do this is by being active online. You can write about your work experiences and share your thoughts on industry trends on social media or a personal blog.
Next, you can help your organization by taking the lead on new projects or suggesting new ideas. When you show you’re willing to do more and bring new things to the table, you stand out.
