Are you a high-performing employee? Here's why your job is not safe and you may be sacked

Performance-based layoffs are still a possibility for employees who meet their KPIs; here are some ways that employers can still fire you.

Widespread layoffs have been based on employee performance at companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs, but career experts say that employees aren't exempt just because they meet their KPIs. Bosses may eventually find alternative ways to fire you; here's how to prepare and change course.

The time for performance reviews is quickly approaching, and some companies are taking advantage of the chance to reduce their workforce significantly. However, even high-achieving staff members could be fired.


The $3.1 trillion tech giant acknowledged that it is planning to fire employees based on their performance throughout the organization, but it has not disclosed the exact date or number of layoffs.

High-performance talent is their main priority at Microsoft. They're constantly trying to help people develop and learn. They take the appropriate action when people are not performing, a Microsoft representative told Fortune, adding that the company usually backfills affected roles.

Just after placing a significant portion of its workforce on performance improvement plans (PIPs), Amazon laid off over 27,000 workers between 2022 and 2023, making it one of several employers that have based workforce reductions on declining employee productivity. Goldman Sachs also let go of hundreds of workers last year as part of its yearly policy of firing underperforming employees.

High achievers can easily feel safe in the midst of the chaos when employers use underperforming employees as deadweight during restructuring efforts. However, career experts warn against it.

Why top performers aren't always protected from layoffs?

According to Gabrielle Davis, a career expert at Indeed, "just because an employee looks good on paper doesn't mean they're exempt from sweeping layoffs," Fortune reports.

While retention is largely dependent on strong performance, companies also take organizational restructuring, strategic changes in business priorities, and financial health into account when making the difficult decision to reduce headcounts, she said. Employees frequently have no control over these circumstances; they have no say in whether their company adopts a new business priority or the wider financial ramifications involved.

Furthermore, high achievers cannot survive if a company is in serious trouble and is sinking. However, there are other situations in which highly effective employees may be let go for controllable reasons.

Consistently meeting your KPIs can provide a sense of security, but you never want to assume that you're completely exempt from potential workforce reductions. Keith Spencer, career expert at ResumeNow, tells Fortune that it's important to look at what you've done beyond the scope of your role. While strong performance is a key factor in retention, you still want to stay vigilant by diversifying your skills to enhance your versatility.

FAQs

Can high-performing employees still be laid off?
Yes, layoffs may affect even top performers due to factors such as financial health, company restructuring, or shifting business priorities beyond individual performance.

How can I keep my job during uncertain times?
Proactively upskill, take on high-impact tasks, communicate your value to your manager, and keep an updated resume and emergency savings on hand.