by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: March 23, 2009

It is far easier to lose a job than it is to gain one. With the economic down turn of late people are very careful about what they do on the job. Many companies are looking for ways to cut staff and they will go to great lengths to point out an employees errors in order to gain that end. There are laws that cover certain things for which your employer cannot legally fire you. There are other things that are right on the line between right and wrong. Then there are the ones that are outright problem employees that are of no asset to the company.

Here is a hard look at some of the causes of people getting fired:

Missed Time

If you are one of those people that habitually calls off sick from work, you are in danger of losing your job. Some employees feel that they won't get fired no matter what because they are too valuable to the company. Always keep in mind that everyone is dispensable. You may have been the best worker the company has ever seen, however, unless you are there to do the work, you are no good to your boss.

Lack of Production

Not meeting your work obligations poses a serious threat to your job. Plain and simple, if you do not get your work done, you are of no use to the company. Your boss hired you because they saw promise in you that you would be able to get the job done. If you don't complete that work, you are completely useless to them.

Stealing/Theft of Company Property

Stealing is against the law yet many people steal from their companies everyday. If you get caught stealing from the business that trusted enough in you to hire you, they will just as easily fire you. Stealing will not only get your fired, it could get you arrested and sent to jail. It's really not worth the effort to do it. It is amazing how many people will even go as far as to steal toilet paper from the bathrooms.

Drug/Alcohol Use

Using drugs or alcohol during working hours is a huge no-no. This will get you instantly fired in most places. Not only are drugs illegal, doing either one of these things endangers everyone you work with. If you feel the need to drink or do drugs during work hours, it might be advisable for you to seek help immediately. These two things are not worth losing your livelihood over.

Fudging the Time Sheet

This equals theft. Saying that you worked more hours than you actually did or "forgetting" to clock out for lunch is a very bad idea. Five minutes here or ten minutes there doesn't sound like much, but it really adds up after a while. Employers look at these things and they take the issue very seriously. This is another move that could land you in the unemployment line.

Disobeying Company Policy

To ignore company policy to do things your own way is rebellious. The only thing this type of rebellion will get you is an escort out the door. You should always follow the rules of the company, even if you don't agree with them. If the policies are something you feel very strongly about, you would be better off speaking with your supervisor and seeing if there is a way this could possibly change or if a compromise can be reached on it. You may not get your way, but it's better than ending up without enough money to pay your bills.

There are many other ways that you could get fired. The reasons that employers take these actions are varied and dependent on the job you hold. It is in your best interest to follow the rules of the company. If it gets to the point that you can no longer handle the situation, you can begin seeking other employment. If you do it that way, you will still have money coming in. Getting fired is a poor reflection on you when the time comes for a new employer to check your work history.

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