[joezydeco]

That's a tough spot and I've been there, as the employee that's on the fence as the management nail-bites over accounts receivable and wondering if they can make payroll.

I've since learned that you keep your ears to the ground at all times, in ANY company you work for.

You don't sit in your cube with your Dr Beat Headphones on, you listen to office talk. You overhear that phone call from a vendor asking where their overdue payment is. You notice the rise in closed-door meetings between management and the CFO. You make friends with the assistant that cuts the checks. When you've done it long enough, you know where you stand and when it's time to get the hell out before you're caught with your pants down.

[obviouslygreen]

This is just no way to live. If you find yourself doing this, you're either needlessly paranoid and worrying yourself into an early grave, or you're justifiably paranoid, and you should reconsider the choices you're making regarding employment.

Obviously we don't all have the option to bail at any time and find other work, but if this is the kind of culture you're seeing as normal, I feel very sorry for you.

Anyone in this position should -- for their own good -- at least attempt to take a longer view and see if they have options that don't involve constantly sleuthing to narrow down your job's expiration date. Unless you actually like living like this... in which case, hey, it takes all kinds. ;)

[pnathan]

No, it's situational awareness. "Is this company doing well? Or is it not?"

That's a very reasonable and business-minded way to approach your employment. You have a very direct interest in the company's success: your paycheck, reputation, friends, etc. Being aware if the company is exploding is simple sanity.

[casual_slacker]

Sustained "situational awareness" and paranoia aren't all that different.

[joezydeco]

That's the term I was looking for! Thanks.

[jusben1369]

I think to add to OP's point. This is a smart move for any company whether large or small. Large one's do layoffs as well as small ones. You probably should be more aware when you join a startup that has a burn vs generates cash but the symptoms discussed here are the same ones that Cisco goes through prior to a big layoff as well as a 10 person startup.

[joezydeco]

I'm not advocating sneaking around and spying on your co-workers. I'm not suggesting paranoia.

What I'm saying is that it's not a bad idea to understand the health of your employer (commercially, competitively, and financially) and recognize when that health changes for better or worse. If I get up and ask 10 co-workers who our biggest competitors are, I can guarantee 5 of them couldn't answer that question. If I asked the winning 5 which ones were growing and could possibly eat our lunch, 4 of them would fail that test.

Have you ever been let go from a job after being told for months/years that everything was fine and the company was doing great? I have. Luckily, at the time, I had no substantial obligations such as raising a family. Now I do.

I learned from that point on to never be blindsided again. And it's worked well for me so far. And I'm not a paranoid person at all. I sleep pretty well, actually.