Career Cushioning: A Workplace Backup Plan
The workplace is not what it used to be. Back in the day, people stayed at one job until they retired. Today, although this still happens from time to time, many workers tend to look for better job opportunities, sometimes while still working. We will talk about career cushioning, which is not a well-known term, but it represents a common workplace practice. Simply put, career cushioning is about preparing for the next job while working for your current one. This includes taking online courses, updating your LinkedIn profile, or sending out resumes, in case something goes wrong with your current situation.
This term became known after the pandemic when job stability was in crisis. The pandemic has affected every industry, changed the way we work, and left many professionals wondering if they will find work at the end of the day. After all, there is still a lot of uncertainty in the business world. From layoffs to AI and financial issues, people fear losing their jobs, so they start downsizing. Remember that this is not because they are unfaithful but because they are wise; they are trying to survive. But is it the best choice? This article delves into the benefits and pitfalls of career advancement for both employees trying to protect their jobs and companies that don’t want to lose talent.
Employee Promotion Benefits
Job Security
Career cushioning prepares you for the worst case scenario at work. Especially now, when people can’t be let go even if they are very successful in their role, they try to enrich their CVs in time. So, when a company announces budget cuts, they know their skills have been updated, and their CVs are ready to start job hunting. This way, they feel comfortable knowing that they have an advantage if the worst happens.
Professional Development
Speaking of skills, promotion isn’t just about getting your next position, it’s about “developing yourself”. When you take a course or attend a workshop, you’re not just learning—you’re actually adapting. The more skills you have, the more opportunities you can get. Also, in today’s job market, staying relevant is very important as new technologies emerge every day. Career cushioning gives you an excuse to keep up with industry trends and be more versatile.
Less Stress
The job market changes a lot, and having a plan B is not bad; it’s actually empowering. You are always two steps ahead, so no matter what happens at work, you have your next move planned. This gives you control over your career, whether you’re doing advanced skills, networking, or browsing job opportunities. Additionally, it is a great confidence booster and gives you invaluable peace of mind. If things go south, you won’t stress about it as you have more opportunities to catch.
Power of Negotiation
Career cushioning gives you more confidence in salary negotiations because you know you have options. If you’re developing your skills, networking, or negotiating elsewhere, you have more leverage when you start the conversation about a promotion. Why? Because you are no longer begging, you are explaining to them why they must keep you. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to go around and brag about other offers. Instead, use them to show that you are in high demand. Then, you will see that your employer will appreciate this and negotiate better terms.
What’s So Bad
Loss of Focus
When you are developing a career, you are actually doing many things: you are working but at the same time you are applying for jobs, networking, or taking courses. The danger that comes with this is that you lose focus on your tasks and responsibilities. Therefore, your productivity decreases as your mind is elsewhere, leading to unread emails, missed deadlines, unfinished projects, and poor quality work. Not to mention that your boss will notice and probably ask you what’s wrong. So, before you start securing your job, ask yourself if you can put everything together at once.
Behavioral Problems
Ethics is a big part of career development. Specifically, let’s talk about conflicts of interest. If your boss sees you practicing skills that have nothing to do with your current job, you may have a problem. For example, let’s say you want to start a candle making business. If your boss notices that you are taking a small business management course or building an e-shop when your current position is for sale, they may suspect something is up. This will make them lose their trust in you, which can damage your reputation as an employee.
Corporate Career Promotion Benefits
Effective Human Resource Development
When employees improve their skills, whether it’s learning new software, a second language, or networking, it’s not necessarily bad for the company. Those skills are incorporated into their current roles, too. For example, an employee who has taken data analysis courses can be useful for company reports. Career cushioning forces companies to create a culture of flexibility and continuous learning. When your employees develop themselves, the company becomes stronger. Don’t forget that an organization that is open to the personal growth of employees is the one that thrives. Companies that promote development show that they value their people.
Indirect Maintenance
Let’s talk about talent retention. Career cushioning is never perfect, but if your employees feel like they’re getting opportunities to succeed at your company, they won’t look for them anywhere else. When employees know they have a future, they are more likely to stay and give their best effort. So, start offering skills development opportunities, professional development programs, or just open up conversations about career goals. This will make your employees feel loyal and secure in their positions, and they will not have the need to leave.
Reduced Profit Impact
How can you turn the fact that your employees are looking for new opportunities while still working for you into something useful? However, when employees are preparing for their next move, they are more likely to give you awareness, an opportunity to prepare. This means you can start planning for a smooth transition. Whether it’s cross-training, redistributing the workload, or preparing to search for a new employee, knowing when a staff member is about to leave makes the whole process less overwhelming.
How Career Cushioning Hurts Organizations
Reducing Employee Engagement
If your employees are busy searching the job market, they are probably not giving 100% to their current position. They stop thinking long before they act. It’s because they deal with side projects, update their progress, or organize discussions with other companies. While you wait for them to fulfill their roles, they plan their next move. Not to mention they’re not invested in the company’s goals, either. Therefore, instead of bringing new ideas and committing to using them for the success of the organization, they are isolated and stop caring.
Unfaithfulness
When companies catch some of their employees practicing on the job, trust diminishes, if not disappears. Suddenly, that loyal employee who has been with the company for years doesn’t seem so loyal anymore. Think that this can cause tension in the office. It can lead to office drama, especially when employees start to find out that their peers are preparing to leave. They will begin to wonder what happened, second-guess their job security, and think about making a living. Overall, when trust is absent in the workplace, companies can lose the spirit of cooperation as employers become more rigid. This leads to mismanagement and suspicion, which ultimately leads more and more employees to leave.
Loss of Talent
The employees who monitor the work are probably the most skilled, which means those who have the most skills, knowledge, and the need to increase the level of the business. If these workers leave, it is a loss. In fact, their departure shows that you, as a company, are not doing enough to keep them engaged and satisfied. And once they’re gone, they take with them new ideas, work ethics, and relationships with customers and coworkers. These are the people who could help your company succeed.
The conclusion
Career cushioning is not difficult to prevent or fight as long as both sides have understanding. Employees want to feel secure and grow, while companies aim to keep their teams engaged and loyal. When both parties communicate freely, it can work. So, let’s encourage an open dialogue about career growth openly. By doing so, everyone can flourish without fear and insecurity.
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