- Microsoft and Amazon are using employee performance metrics and reviews to decide who gets the boot in their waves of layoffs—and career experts say there are certain red flags that could put workers directly on the chopping block.
Microsoft is gearing up for another round of layoffs.
The $3.1 trillion technology giant will be carefully examining and considering underperforming employees in its upcoming job cuts, two people familiar with the plans told Business Insider. While a Microsoft spokesperson did confirm layoffs were on the horizon, they did not share any specifics on the number of workers who may be let go and the reasons why.
But Microsoft wouldn’t be the first firm to use performance metrics to guide their layoff decisions. Amazon has also been doing the same: Before laying off 27,000 workers between 2022 and 2023, the employer put a large number of employees on performance improvement plans (PIPs). Then the firings came.
How well a worker completes their assignments is invariably a part of head-count reduction considerations. But the concept of performance can be nebulous, when there are often many factors at play.
Fortune spoke with several career experts to get to the bottom of the typical employee red flags that could put a worker in danger of being fired under this style of workforce reduction. They spell out a few surefire missteps—from falling short on KPIs and being disengaged to being critical of others.
“Luckily, so many of these factors are avoidable through self-evaluation and open and clear communication with management,” Gabrielle Davis, career expert at Indeed, tells Fortune. “Employees who strive to be reliable, value-driven, adaptable, and positive influences in the workplace have the best bet of safeguarding their careers during times of uncertainty.”
What will get you cut: Missed deadlines, disengagement, and overlooking your value
There are several negative behaviors that will put an employee on the chopping block, according to career experts.
One of the most obvious is not hitting the performance goals set out by an employer.
“There are certain red flags or mistakes that can increase the likelihood of an employee being let go,” Davis says. “Consistent underperformance and missed KPIs, a lack of effort or engagement, resistance to change or inadaptability, or poor collaboration can all have the potential to put an employee at risk.”
By now, many workers understand that falling short on their KPIs can lead to performance improvement plans or being fired. However, some may not recognize other patterns of behavior that stand out to employers for the wrong reasons. Keith Spencer, career expert at ResumeNow, tells Fortune that there are, in fact, many other mistakes that can lead to termination.
“Common pitfalls to avoid include missing deadlines, delivering subpar work, resisting change, being openly critical of others, refusing to adopt new tools or processes, ignoring feedback, and being unclear, unresponsive, or inconsistent in your communication,” he says.
Spencer points out another misstep that employees may overlook: not promoting your achievements.
“Failing to advocate for yourself and share your successes can also cause your contributions to go unnoticed, making it easier for management to overlook your value.”