Watch out for these signals that your boss wants to fire you

WORRIED about your career future? These are the subtle signs that could mean your job is in peril.

10/06/2005 PIRATE: Actor Steve Carrell in scene from TV program The Office& - American version of British progra...

WE ALL know the obvious signs that your job is on the line.

When you’re handed a formal letter of warning or you’re placed on a performance management plan, you know all bets are off.

But other, more subtle signals from the boss can be a dead giveaway that your position is in peril. Be alert for any of these red flags:

YOU’RE NOT INVITED TO MEETINGS

If you have regular meetings that you’re told you don’t need to attend anymore, it could be because they’re talking about you.

Or, it could be that they no longer feel you are needed to make decisions or to contribute to any future plans. Are you still a key member of the team?

YOUR BOSS IS TAKING NOTES

Previously, when you’ve sat down with your boss you’ve always shared an informal chat.

Suddenly, they’ve started taking lots of notes, writing down what you discuss.

This could be a sign that they are creating an official record of your conversations and meetings to use later to justify the decision to fire you.

A CONSULTANT HAS BEEN CALLED IN

A review of any workplace can lead to redundancies or restructuring. Employers could be looking for ways to make “efficiency gains” or to save money.

They often think they can do so by reducing staff numbers and cutting their wages bill. This is a vulnerable time for many employees.

This film publicity image released by 20th Century Fox shows Owen Wilson, right, and Vince Vaughn in a scene from "The Internship." (AP Photo/20th Century Fox, Phil Bray)

YOU HAVEN’T BEEN OFFERED A BONUS

Sometimes employers will set you up for a fall by setting unrealistic KPIs, targets or goals that you can’t possibly achieve.

When you don’t meet these targets, they become grounds to fire you.

No incentive or bonus set for the end of the year? Perhaps they know you won’t be there!

YOU’VE MADE A COMPLAINT AND YOUR BOSS IS ACTING STRANGE

It doesn’t matter what the complaint is about — it’s how your boss responds to you after you make it that might suggest your job is at risk.

If your boss is suddenly treating you differently, your career path might be interrupted.

As lawyers, we often see people when it’s too late, after they have been sacked and are fighting for their entitlements.

It’s best to take action as soon as you see the writing on the wall. Start making notes of your own about any meetings or conversations and write it down in a diary.

But definitely do not record conversations on your phone or with any other device.

In some states, this is against the law, and courts and tribunals across the board have said that this shows the employment relationship has broken down. Seek some legal help to find out what your rights are.

Otherwise, sometimes a direct and honest conversation with your boss can be the best place to start.

Patrick Turner is an employment lawyer with Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.

Originally published as Watch out for these signals that your boss wants to fire you