What Not To Do if You Are Concerned About Losing Your Job in Maryland

If you are concerned about losing your job, you are not alone. From the elimination of federal agencies to the imposition of sweeping tariffs, many employees in Maryland are at risk of losing their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control. In this scenario, you need to be careful to protect yourself, not only now, but in the future as well. You do not want to do anything that could lead to a for-cause termination or compromise your future employability. Learn more from Maryland employment attorney Jamaal “Jay” W. Stafford.

How to Protect Yourself if You Are At Risk of Being Laid Off in Maryland

While you might be worried, frustrated, or angry about losing your job (and understandably so), you need to be careful to ensure that you are making informed decisions in this scenario. With this in mind, here are some important tips on what not to do if you are concerned about losing your job in Maryland:

Do Not Ignore Your Job Duties

If you are concerned about losing your job, you should not ignore your job duties. While you may not be interested in helping your employer any longer, you still need to help yourself. If you ignore your job duties, this could provide your employer with a reason to fire you, and for-cause terminations can have negative consequences beyond those of losing your job to a reduction in force.

Do Not Post Negative Comments About Your Employer Online

In this same vein, you should not post negative comments about your employer online. While it may be very tempting to do so, this can also prove to be a very costly mistake. If you have a story to tell, the time will come. But, for now, you should focus on maintaining the status quo to the extent that you can.

Do Not Intentionally Cause Your Employer Harm

Likewise, you should not intentionally cause your employer harm. For example, you should not intentionally miss a deadline or make negative comments to a customer or client. These could also provide your employer with grounds to terminate your employment, and a for-cause termination could render you ineligible for a severance agreement and/or unemployment benefits.

Do Not Make a Scene at Work

Just as you should not post negative comments online or make negative comments to any customers or clients, you also should not make a scene at work. For now, you should keep your head down, keep doing what you’ve been doing for the past several months or years, and focus on making sure that you do not give your employer any excuse to terminate your employment for cause or refuse to provide a favorable (or at least neutral) recommendation.

Do Not Take Anything from Your Employer

Stealing from your employer can also have serious consequences, and this is also a mistake that you need to avoid. You should not take anything from your employer’s facilities that does not belong to you. With that said, if you think you may have a claim for harassment or discrimination (or any other violation of your legal rights), you will want to speak with a Maryland employment attorney about what you can do to document your claim before your anticipated reduction in force.

Do Not Agree to Anything

If your employer asks you to sign anything in connection with the termination of your employment, you should not sign it until you have had a chance to have it reviewed by a Maryland employment attorney. This applies to severance agreements, non-competes, and all other types of employment-related contracts. The agreement may be heavily one-sided, and you may have leverage to negotiate. An experienced attorney will be able to help you make an informed decision about what to do.

Do Not Try to Handle Your Situation on Your Own

From sitting down with a Maryland employment attorney to speaking with a mental health professional if necessary, you should not try to handle your situation on your own. You are facing a challenging situation, and help is available. Experienced professionals who have your best interests in mind will be able to help you navigate your situation successfully—and they will be able to help ensure that the consequences of your termination are no greater than necessary.

Speak with an Experienced Maryland Employment Attorney at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford

If you are concerned about losing your job and would like advice from a Maryland employment attorney, we invite you to get in touch. Please call 410-514-6099 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation with an attorney at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford.