5 Obvious Reasons Why Your Boss Might Be

Losing His Patience With You

By Michael Mutia | MoneySmart.ph Tue, Jan 13, 2015 8:00 AM PHT

Share90

Print

RELATED CONTENT
View Photo

5 Obvious Reasons Why Your Boss Might Be Losing His Patience With You

Facebook0
Twitter0
Google+0

Has your boss been acting weird at you lately? Do you think the cold treatment suggest that
something is brewing and heads will roll soon, yours included?
It could be that youre just praning. But if youre at the point where youre even thinking about
it, chances are your kutob may be right; and youd better do something fast. In this article, we
examine why your boss might want to fire you. And just maybe, what you can do to prevent it:

1. You Lied on Your Resume

So you told a few lies on your resume; but that was long ago, and its over right?

Yeah, in the same way Japanese war crimes are over. Its not uncommon for companies to
screen employees years after hiring them. Your employer can be notified about every fake
reference you made, often overnight. Screening companies are basically licensed stalkers; you
cant lie about the state of your drawers without them knowing.
If your boss calls you in to clarify your references, look out. Odds are, HR just conducted a
screening, and your lying head is in their cross-hairs.
Solution: Obviously, dont lie. But sometimes, your references may fail because of business
closures or restructuring. Contact your listed references, and make sure their numbers still
work. Also, get copies of any certificates or records you may have lost; you may need them soon.

2. You Dont Adapt to Change

How did you behave during the last restructure? Or the last time you were asked to do a new
task?
Most of us have a peculiar trait: they cling to their work routine like its some kind of religion.
And even if theyre forced to change, its accompanied by endless griping, which they want the
boss to overhear. Ganito ko na nakasayan gawin trabaho ko, tapos babaguhin blah, blah.
You know, companies sometimes need high level changes. A shift in product lines, for example,
or an upcoming merger. Whatever the case maybe, they often restructure long before the big
change. One reason is to see who copes, and who doesnt. And by acting like a teenager whos
had his Xbox confiscated, youre putting yourself in the latter group.
Solution: Your old-maid Tita can be as loud and change-resistant as she likes. If you want that
privilege, go and be lousy like her. If you have an eye on your career however, stop griping about
change. If you must complain, state the facts of how the changes are a bad idea. Do it on the
record, and once is enough.

3. You Asked For It, B**ch!

Quick question: how would you like to sit next to the buildings hot air vent?
Yeah, thought so. Your boss feels hes in the same position, whenever you start ranting about
how tough your job is. FYI dear, this doesnt make you look competent. Rather, the opposite is
true. When you spend every lunch hour comparing your job to select scenes from any Kris
Aquino massacre movies, your boss might decide to put you out of your misery.
Bear in mind: your actual performance is not relevant to this. You may be meeting every
deadline and quota. But if you play up how hard it is, youre suggesting that
youre barely making them. Your boss starts to think youve hit a limit: you cannot be given
more work without seizing up and dying. Their probable solution? Get someone else who can
handle it.
Solution: If youre asked if your job is hard, go ahead and be honest. But dont slip in a my life
is hell message every chance you get. Dont hang around the pantry or other peoples cubicles,
explaining your various tragedies in detail. Besides, studies have shown that expressing your
fatigue can actually fatigue you more.

4. You Think Your Job Description is Sacred

Beware of these five words: Not in my job description.
First off, it doesnt work in the Philippines. Maybe it works elsewhere (I doubt it), but here, your
employer sets your job description. As long as theyre not asking you to do anything illegal, you
need to do it. Or they can fire you on grounds of insubordination. And that, by the way, is in
your contract.
Now, even if your boss lets you get away with it, think about the message youre sending. Youre
basically saying Im refusing to do it, because Im too incompetent to figure it out.
Yeah, thatll make you a candidate for the next raise.
In short, even if your boss lets people get away with this, he doesnt have to. Hes choosing to let
it go, and dont assume there wont be consequences. When headcount needs to be slashed,
these are the first people out the door.

Solution: When asked to do something you dont know, say that you lack experience /
instruction, but youre happy to try. If youve already turned your boss down several times, try to
make up for it. Show initiative by volunteering to do things, or by proposing projects of your
own.

5. You Think Work Hours are Guidelines

If youre slaving in the office and you miss a deadline, your boss might be sympathetic. But if
youre in the habit of starting late or leaving early, aba, abusado ka na!
See, when youre never around and missing deadlines, it could mean something. Like maybe you
arent working too hard. Or even worse, that you dont take your job seriously. In some lines of
work (education, delivery, and healthcare) turning up late is a major offence; enough to get you
fired regardless of your performance.
Solution: Even if your boss didnt say anything, apologize when you know youre late. Dont
leave early without asking first, and dont make a habit of it. Never say youre leaving early
because youve run out of work; you may as well send an e-mail saying I have too much free
time and you overpay me.