2020 is (thankfully) behind us, but the year brought some interesting insight into how quickly things can change. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, political scandals, and social unrest, there were many factors that impacted the jobs and/or income of the masses.
Already in 2021, we’ve seen some shake-ups again. In January, the stock market went into a frenzy thanks to a Reddit movement that caused GameStop stock to soar. Many people got a nice payday, but it caused volatile conditions in the market and caused others to lose a substantial amount.
The point is, you should understand by now that things can change in an instant, especially when it comes to your job. Even if cultural changes don’t affect you, internal factors like injuries or illness, budget cuts, or changes in the way business is conducted can have an impact on your career.
So, what can you do to prepare for the unexpected and find some stability in your job, no matter what?
What to Do When You Face a Personal Issue
No one wants or expects to get injured or sick. Unfortunately, it happens and there isn’t much anyone can do about it. Of course, there are ways to protect yourself from workplace injuries, including:
- Having a safety plan in place
- Keeping up with regular medical checkups
- Staying educated about safety practices
- Using the proper equipment and protective gear, when necessary
If you’re injured at work, you will need to consider taking the proper steps to keep yourself safe and, potentially, to hold your job accountable. You might even need to hire a personal injury attorney after you’ve reported the accident to your employer. Depending on what happened, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation, but only if you make a claim.
Whether you get injured on the job or at home, or you’re faced with a medical diagnosis, it’s important to have a plan of action, and to focus on the bigger picture.
Does your unexpected circumstance require you to leave work? Will you have to spend a significant amount of time away? What can you do to keep working and keep your job intact? While you might not be thinking about injuries or illnesses right now, having a plan you can turn to in case something does happen can offer you peace of mind.
What to Do When Outside Forces Are a Factor
Again, 2020 showed us that anything can happen to change the world in a matter of minutes. Whether you own a company or you’re an employee, one of the best things you can do to prepare for the unexpected is to consider the future.
Research has shown that employers will be looking for several critical skills as they hire employees in the coming years, including:
- Critical thinking
- Cognitive flexibility
- Comfort with ambiguity
- Resilience
As you can see, all of those skills have an underlying theme: They all require employees to rise up when the unexpected occurs. If you’re an employer, you should absolutely be making these skills a priority in your hiring practices, and training current employees to develop or hone in on these skills. It’s impossible to know what each year will bring, but when employees have these particular traits, they will be more likely to handle unexpected outside factors with strength and determination.
If you’re an employee, developing these skills and embracing the evolving workplace will make a difference in how well you handle unexpected occurrences. Things are changing all the time thanks to advancements in technology and news-worthy situations causing permanent adjustments.
For example, many places of business won’t be the same after COVID-19. Permanent safety and hygiene practices may go into place, and more people might start working remotely, rather than having to go into an office.
Taking Control of Your Career
Speaking of remote working, there’s a reason it’s become a growing trend in recent years. Even before the pandemic, it was on the rise thanks to advancements in technology. Temporary positions have also been growing, with nearly 480,000 jobs added from 2012 to 2019 thanks to employees wanting more control over when and where they work.
When it comes to remote work, companies can benefit by allowing their current or future employees more flexibility. Some studies have shown that employees who work from home can actually be more productive than those in the office.
As an employee, working remotely can provide you with a better work-life balance. So, when unexpected situations do occur, you’re less likely to feel so overwhelmed, because you have more control over what your job looks like on a daily basis. That’s especially true for workers in the gig economy or freelancers who don’t work for a specific company.
Whether you own a business or work for one, there is no way to know what’s around the corner. Things can change in an instant, and being as prepared as possible will help you to navigate those changes in your personal life and externally, so you can continue to feel comfortable and confident in your career.
