Okay, so to be honest, it likely doesn’t take ten signs to know it’s time. But because of the practical considerations in “firing” a company–food, rent, bills–the signs need to be a slam-dunk open-and-shut case of compelling and cumulative “stuff.”

There. I’ve said a mouth-full.

Let’s paint the scene with a few “fun” facts to add a bit of context.

• The world’s ten wealthiest men saw their wealth increase during a pandemic. (eight of the ten are in the U.S. and are melanin-deficient)
• The “masses” aka 99% of humanity experienced lack, “newfound” poverty, and food insecurity during a pandemic.
• The pandemic has served as a catalyst for more people “seeing” the performative commitments to DEI and anti-racism, the funding of the J6 insurrection and “tourists,” the resistance to transparency in pay, etc.
• Exploited, underpaid, ill-treated employees are continuing to ditch their companies.
• The number of new entrepreneurs spiked in 2020 and has been rising ever since.

Scene painted.

People haven’t been quitting jobs. They’ve been “firing” companies.

That’s the “inconvenient” truth driving the ongoing “Great Resignation” of the last two years.

There have been no worker shortages. There have been shortages of decent employers.

There has been no worker laziness. There has been the justifiable unwillingness to be at the mercy of companies more vested in growing profits than paying and treating people fairly.

Each employee has a right to feel appreciated, valued, and included. If a company is consistently underperforming in these areas, employees owe the company nothing and are not obligated to stay.

If a company’s DEI statement is BS, run.

If a company’s BLM commitment is DOA, run.

If a company has engaged in discrimination, run and punch back….legally.

Lip service without corresponding action is like a stack of three-dollar bills–worth absolutely nothing. Pay the most attention to what companies DO (or don’t do), not what they say. Any company can speak smooth words. In fact, they all do. In this, there’s no distinction. Looking past the words is what’s most revealing.

Turning Points

The pandemic is still exposing and revealing. Part of that is the realization by many that certain practices and behaviors are culturally entrenched with guards and gatekeepers in place to preserve “company culture.”

Is it no wonder that unheard, unseen, marginalized employees are “speaking” with their feet and “firing” these companies.

How many of these ten signs would get a “yes” from you?

#1

Do you feel disrespected, unappreciated, under-valued or unsupported at work? (i.e., being routinely microaggressed, disappeared, decentered, etc.)

#2

Are you constantly speaking negatively about work to family or friends? (i.e, exhausting every synonym for “bad” in existence and even making up a few words of your own)

#3

Are your feelings about work creating a negative impact on your personal life? (i.e., not making it through dinner with family and friends without work overshadowing things; not being fully present)

#4

Do you use derogatory words and expressions when you talk about work? (i.e., channeling Samuel Jackson and his signature term to talk about your mutha-effin’ company, that mutha-effin’ boss, and all the rest of them mutha*uckas)

#5

Do you have feelings of dread or anxiety prior to the start of your work day or the start of the work week? (i.e., experiencing an unsettling visceral reaction when waking up in the morning or when Sunday evening hits)

#6

Do you receive more negative feedback than positive feedback and recognition? (i.e., hearing from and seeing the boss is always tied to your hearing about or being asked to explain “what went wrong”)

#7

Are your boundaries between work and personal routinely disregarded and violated? (i.e., being expected to accommodate the *dominant* players’ time zones and preferences)

#8

Have you developed a “what’s the point” attitude and hold back from giving your best at work? (i.e., adopting a DGAF stance and exerting economy of effort)

#9

Has the stress of work created notable changes to your health and well-being? (i.e. experiencing bouts of headaches, depression, sadness, burnout, ulcers, rage, numbness, rashes, etc.)

#10

Do you consider a non-anesthetic root canal or non-anesthetic colonoscopy preferable to being at work?

Whew……That last one is self-explanatory. If you find even the most undesirable experiences to be preferable to work, that’s the BIGGEST sign that it’s time to “fire” your company.

Takeaway

Just like societies are NOT meant to be shaped through the subjugation of others, the workplace is NOT meant to be a place that de-prioritizes people.

When people cannot change or tolerate a situation, people will take action to eliminate the situation.

“Firing” a company is not a failure that lies with the employee. It is the failure of a company and its leadership.