AM I NEXT? IS THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES?

DANGER AHEAD

If you are to believe those who purport to represent the incoming Trump Administration, take heed — the handwriting is on the wall.

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed tech billionaire Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest person, and former Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency that will work to slash federal government spending, waste, and regulations.

Ramaswamy says, “I don't know if you've got to know Elon yet, but he doesn't bring a chisel. He brings a chainsaw. We are going to be taking it to that bureaucracy. It's going to be a lot of fun. "Elon Musk and I are in a position to start the mass deportations of millions of unelected federal bureaucrats out of the DC bureaucracy.”

Examine Your Department's Priorities

  • Reorganization: Look for any restructuring plans that could affect your role. If your department is in danger of elimination, reorganization, or consolidation, this could lead to layoffs or changes in job responsibilities.

  • Focus Areas: Efficiency programs often prioritize automation and technology to eliminate redundant or outdated roles. If your department invests heavily in technology or automation, your position might be vulnerable if it can be replaced by a machine or outsourced.

  • Evaluation Based on Efficiency: Under efficiency initiatives, performance evaluations may become more metrics-driven. If your job performance is not aligned with the department's new efficiency goals (e.g., reduced costs, increased productivity, or faster service delivery), this could put your role at risk.

Government efficiency initiatives are not limited to your specific department. Your entire agency might be at risk.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

LAYOFFS: BEWARE OF ACTIVIST INVESTORS

It appears that one of the brightest red flags signaling a reduction in force is the appearance of an activist hedge fund interested in a company.

First, buying a significant position in the company. Second, putting management on notice about improving shareholder return by consolidation, divestiture, and cost-cutting which leads to the inevitable reduction in force. And third, ruthlessly executing their plan no matter what it costs individuals or their community.

This is an object lesson well articulated by Fox News' Tucker Carlson who tells the story of hedge fund manager, Paul Singer of Elliot Capital, and Cabella's, an iconic sporting goods retailer with a significant catalog and online presence.

For those wishing to read our original post: NO LOVE AT CABELA’S & BASS PRO SHOPS (UPDATED)

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?