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City copes with layoff fears
Special to amNewYork
No news is not necessarily good news.
Many New Yorkers are being left in the dark about how the economy will impact their jobs.
Indeed, the worst part is the mixed messages.
A financial consultant at American Express says that although he received an email from management touting how strong the company is, he has yet to hear from his boss on how his job will be impacted by the economy. The consultant, who declined to be named, has decided to look for work before the holiday season just in case he’s let go.
Yet no long after this interview, American Express announced deep cuts — 10 percent — late last week, so the writing may well be on the wall.Employee frustration is reflected in a recent study by Weber Shandwick, which found that 71 percent of those surveyed said that their company’s leadership should be informing them about the current economic problems. More than half of those surveyed have not heard at all from company leaders on how the financial crisis will impact their companies.
Asher Adelman, who founded the boss-rating Web site, www.eBossWatch.com, confirmed these findings. “There has been a significant decrease during the past month in the number of workers who feel like there is open and honest communication between their bosses and themselves.”
Daniel, 30, who works at a large New York based financial firm, says he still feels nervous despite a recent conversation with his boss who said, “ we were safe until spring.” Moments later though he received an email from management focusing on cost-cutting.
“I’m not sure what to believe,” he adds, not wanting to give his last name for fear of losing this job.
Mixed messages are common, according to Lynn Berger, a Manhattan based career counselor, who advises employees to stay busy and not to focus on the rumors. “You have to try to realize where it’s coming from and until something is confirmed from management, it’s not a fact.”
Watercooler talk and rumors are inevitablem, said Sarah Stamboulie, a Manhattan based career consultant.
Her advice for managing the anxiety: “Every time you get anxious go meet with someone influential in your industry. It will reduce your anxiety and may directly or indirectly lead to your next job.”
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