Fear of Being Fired

Post Reply New Topic

Does anybody else have a huge fear of being fired from their job? And if so, how do you cope?

I've worked a lot of jobs and I currently am working one I like pretty well. I really want to do everything in my power to keep it, but can't help but get really discouraged and anxious when things go wrong.

Yes. It causes me a great deal of anxiety every time I make a mistake at work even when afterwards it proves to have been no big deal. I'm in a typical public sector office environment and I think I'd really have to screw up consistently and for a long time or commit something amounting to a crime (gross misconduct) to get the boot. But it took me a long time to get this job and I've not been able to advance in it due to poor interview technique and other soft skills, even after seeking help. I'm not fussed by advancement - it's just proof that I would find it extremely difficult to find another job.

Being fired would also lead to major financial problems within a few months since I still have a mortgage to pay and usual living expenses, and I wouldn't be entitled to any welfare benefits.

Ways of coping I have adopted are never to joke around in the way I've seen and heard other people do. I just know anything I did like that would go wrong for me. I also keep a clear boundary between work and outside work. I don't socialise with anyone I work with and I make an effort to keep any mention of my private life to an absolute minimum. I've also decided I'm going to have to keep my verbal interactions down to a minimum too, not being rude but not volunteering any comments or suggestions unless I'm directly asked for them. Experience has told me I either
show my ignorance of matters I should know about or even if I do have a valid contribution I can't put it across well enough. I do not expect spiritual fulfilment from my employment, I only expect to do tasks I'm capable of and to be paid enough to pay my basic living expenses and my hobbies.

Yes, quite often. I try to realize that it is catastrophic thinking, and make myself pause vs react.

I'm objectively really good at my job, so fear of being fired doesn't figure.

I have never once been able to shake that feeling. It's why I haven't taken a vacation in over a decade.

No, I wish I was fired, or laid off so I can get severance pay. It would probably be the best thing that could happen to me.

I recently ended working at my job after 18 months of working there. I was CONSTANTLY fearing that I might get fired, and in the end I was.

I've never felt comfortable or secure at any job. Right now, I'm not even sure I l'll find a new one.