16 Ways You Can Tell If Your Company Is Going Under

There’s nothing worse than sitting at the office, doing your work, and getting the sense that, well, something is just off.

The atmosphere feels suspiciously different. Everyone seems a bit confused (or, you know, downright miserable). The bosses are probably keeping to themselves just a bit more than usual. People are starting to talk, and human resources doesn’t have any answers.

If your company is going under, you be may be sensing the dreaded tell-tale signs. 

Everyone knows if employee turnovers are all over the place and sales are slow, a business could be having some serious cash flow problems.

Luckily, if you’re ever confused, you can turn to the brilliant folks on Reddit, who shared their experiences around their company’s obvious (and not-so-obvious) signs you should expect something bad.

From rogue mice to toilet paper problems, a company’s demise offers many clues.

A question you may ask yourself that indicate issues include, “Why am I doing this” or if hear yourself saying “I can’t do this anymore” to anyone who will listen.

If you’ve ever worked for a company that flopped and were surprised to learn your co-workers already had jobs lined up, it’s because they saw it coming.

But how did people KNOW their companies were going under? Here’s how…

1. The cleaners tipped them off.

Because people weren’t using as much toilet paper, apparently.

As everyone on Reddit says, the people farthest from the “top” usually sense something first.

Think about it: If you’re cleaning everyone’s offices or staying late, you know, conveniently overhear everyone’s after-hours gossip, you probably get the good scoop.

And if the cleaners are being told to not replace the TP as often, there’s a real issue.

2. And then there’s issue of the quality of the toilet paper.

Bad toilet paper? That’s a sign.

If your employees are too damn broke to get the good kind — you know, the thick, soft, layered TP that’s a little smaller but totally more comfortable — there could be an issue.

No one likes that gigantic role of cheap, chafing industrial TP.

Have a little mercy on our poor bodies, please!

3. The bosses promise that is everything is totally alright.

Which clearly means that everything is not alright.

When the higher-ups go through a lot of effort to ensure everyone that everything is hunky-dory, you might want to start applying to another job.

All that over-compensation is probably just a show of smoke and mirrors, sadly.

The goal? Make everyone feel safe to assuage any worries — and then BAM.

You’re fired!

4. The paychecks don’t clear.

Or you get paid late.

According to Entrepreneur, “If you’re having cash flow problems due to debts, poor bookkeeping, growing too quickly, and not accurately forecasting your future earning and spending, then there’s one of the most obvious warning signs that your company is going under.”

Sadly, this mismanagement of money trickles right down to the employees, affecting their paychecks.

Time to go.

5. A consultant comes in out of nowhere.

And makes lots of changes.

A consultant does lots of things — they can make a company grow, flourish, and adapt to new demands.

Or they can be death knell. According to CNBC contributor Suzy Welch, “If a consulting firm shows up…or an all-company meeting is called, I’m sorry — it’s usually too late. It’s over.”

The best bet?

Keep your eyes and ears open.

6. They cut your hours.

Because they don’t wanna pay you.

There is nothing worse than having your hours cut.

Whether they’re cutting your hours or everyone’s makes a difference, too.

If they’re just cutting yours, could it be a performance issue? But if they’ve been cutting everyone’s…well, there may be a widespread problem. Keep your eyes open; is it just you, or is it company or department-wide?

A little sleuthing can go a long way.

7. They remove the extra phone lines.

And then the bathroom doors??!?!

If this all seems a little weird to you, you’re not alone.

We think it’s bonkers!

After all, humans have to hit the bathroom sometimes — and removing doors in the only private room in the workplace seems a little inhumane.

But if your company is randomly getting rid of stuff in a bid to change the social or working environment, run.

8. They cut free meals.

Or other amenities that were once provided to the employees.

There’s nothing like an office that provides free pizza on Fridays or after-hours drinks once a month.

Those perks can make all the difference, actually.

According to TinyPulse, a software organization focused on helping employers do better for their employees, “You’d be surprised at how far even a catered lunch every other week can go.”

Can we get an amen?

9. There’s not much work to do.

Which sounds good, but proooobably isn’t.

A lazy Friday here and there may be a good thing.

After all, we’re tired and we just want to go home!

But if you’re not getting enough to do, having enough client phone calls, or making enough sales…there could be a big-time issue.

Our suggestion?

See what other employees are doing.

Are they leaving early? Talking about a lack of work? Do a little investigating.

10. The bosses are acting suspiciously generous.

By giving you mugs of pens.

No one wants to the weird branded merch that most companies make.

Psst, employers everywhere: We don’t really want your eyeglass cleaning cloth, your weirdly-shaped cross-shoulder backpack or your ugly mug.

And we certainly don’t want your crappy, unlined notebooks! We do want job security, fair pay, and transparency, though!

11. The turnover rate is very high.

If people are getting fired all the time, it’s a sign.

If the rotating doors are endlessly, well, rotating…there’s a problem.

Why are people leaving all the time?

According to Workopolis, this could also be a sign of growth — but you’d probably sense the difference.

If new people are coming on as a response to growth, that’s a good sign. But if people are packing their desks frequently, you’ve got to wonder: Why?

12. If a hiring freeze happens, a few eyebrows will raise.

And if overtime goes, run.

Anytime a hiring freeze is on the horizon, you’ve got to ask the right questions: Why are they freezing? Is it to save money? Is my job safe?

According to Investopedia.com, “A hiring freeze is when an employer temporarily halts non-essential hiring to reduce costs — usually when an organization is under financial duress.”

13. If the police come knocking…

You know something sketchy is going on.

This one is a little sketchy.

There should be no reason — well, no good reason, at least — that the cops would come knocking on an employee’s door about their employer.

According to one Reddit commenter, calls from cops could signal something super sketchy: “Turned out there were no real customers or anything and I guess it was a money-laundering operation.”

Yikes!

14. The mice start coming out.

And there’s no cat to catch ’em.

Apparently, when your company is doing well, you pay people to come in and ensure that rodents are picking through the rubbish or scaring the employees.

And when there’s a money issue, the mice come out to play. Sounds gross, right?

Let’s hope your management isn’t letting the same happen.

15. People are mysteriously absent…a lot.

Because they’re, you know, away on interviews.

Not everyone feels comfortable just up and leaving a job.

Most people, according to the Harvard Business Review, will stay until they’re pushed out.

The thing is, not everyone has the luxury of a safety net. Some people need to leave before they get fired — and if people are out of the office a lot, there’s a good chance they’re interviewing elsewhere out of desperation.

16. Bosses start to get uptight about wasted hours.

While new employees go untrained.

There’s nothing more annoying than a micromanaging, stickler boss who tracks your every lunch break down to the minute or watches you, with a grimace, as you leave at 5:04 pm.

But this happens sometimes — and it could be because your boss is just a jerk or because they’re being pressured from their own bosses to make money stretch.

Leaving your job is a big choice — but it may be necessary if your company is showing signs of going under.

According to Fast Company, “Though you should discuss your concerns with your manager, if nothing can be rectified, it’s likely smart to seek pastures…”