The recession has put a strain in most, if not, everybody’s employment. That is if you still have a job to begin with. Inasmuch as we want to keep our jobs, there are factors, more often beyond our control, that we simply cannot do anything about. Companies that lose a number of its customer base have no other recourse but to cut costs to keep the business afloat. Obviously, this translates to unemployment, lay offs and shorter working hours.

The big question is, how do we do it?

In the insurance sector for example, the 9/11 event caused a multitude of problems for insurance companies. Capital was depleted because of the substantial loss that occurred. With regard to policy terms and conditions, the clauses have become more stringent. Pricing-wise, the premiums have increased astronomically. Some insurance companies were forced to discontinue operations and some decided to merge with other companies. There were retrenchments and lay offs but the insurance industry was able to get back on its feet. It was a painful phase for both insurance companies and customers but the hard times soon came to an end.

I know it’s hard to stay positive especially if you lose your job but it is important to keep some sanity in place during these tumultuous times. Plus, the recession comes in cycles. In time, the economy will recoup.

Another thing is if you’re lucky to be employed as of this writing, you have to work harder than before. Work hard not just to earn your keep but to stand out from the crowd. When companies streamline their organization, the first one to go is the bottom performers. And you don’t want to be part of that group.

You can also volunteer to do special projects that would contribute to the company’s bottom line. This will earn you plus points and who knows, you might even get a promotion.
No matter how tempting it is to bitch about the economy, restrain yourself from doing so. This goes without saying: avoid whining about the situation. Just focus on your work and how you can increase your contribution to the company. If you have a penchant for business, you may also try setting up a business.
Nowadays, job security is non-existent. Long-term employment is a thing of the past. From the lowest ranking staff to top management CEOs, no one is insulated from unemployment when the company goes bust. We’ve seen quite a number of high ranking management people out of work today. No job is secure. The only exception here is if you belong to the healthcare industry or a federal employee, your job security is better off than the others.