Companies like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Intuit are laying off employees they label as “underperformers.” But doing a good job isn’t enough to avoid this label. Chris Williams, a former VP of HR at Microsoft with over 40 years of experience, says that being well-known within the company is key to avoiding this label.
The problem lies in how companies evaluate underperformance. A surprise bad review followed by a layoff can lead to shock and outrage from long-term employees who have received excellent reviews throughout their careers. Companies use this label to get rid of poor performers, but it also brands them as being in distress.
To avoid being labeled an underperformer, managers must identify good people beyond just stacking rank. They should discuss individuals and their accomplishments with peers to find the next layoff candidate. This can be a difficult task, especially if no one will defend you or even recognize your contributions.
Williams suggests four ways to become well-known within the company:
1. Get noticed beyond your team by volunteering for visible projects, making presentations, and highlighting work outside your immediate team.
2. Work with other teams in the company to volunteer as a liaison between teams that are dependent on each other.
3. Move around to various teams in the company to stretch your impact and work with different people and groups.
4. Network well beyond your team by connecting with peers, finding connections, and having coffee or Zoom meetings.
By becoming well-known within the company, you can avoid being labeled an underperformer and survive a round of layoffs. However, once you’ve received this label, it’s often too late to shake it off.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-underperformer-label-and-layoffs-2025-2