How to recognize Red Flags at work

No new job is ever perfect. After the excitement wears off and the daily routine kicks in, you are bound to uncover all sorts of things you didn't know about the company or the job. Some good, and some not so good.

We all enter into new situations with certain expectations, naturally. If expectations aren't met, there can be cause for disappointment. So how do you distinguish between minor inconveniences, and true red flags?

If you don't have your tools...

If you have been on the job for several weeks and have still not been assigned the cellular telephone that was specified in your contract, you may be wondering what is causing the delay. You are certainly right to wonder, especially if it is impairing your performance. If you were expecting a 2GB laptop and you have been “temporarily” assigned a 500MHZ desktop, this is sure to cause you productivity problems over time. If your expenses are to be reimbursed within one week of submitting your report, and you submitted yours over a month ago, you are right to inquire about the delay.

If your boss is not responding...

If you are constantly asking for face time with your supervisor to discuss specific matters and getting constant cancellations or excuses, you have a valid right for concern. You cannot be expected to produce if you have no access to information, clarification, or approvals which fall under the umbrella of your immediate supervisor.

If the clients aren't happy...

A very telling sign of trouble is the attitude of clients. You will be able to tell right away if clients are generally happy with this organization, or if there is an undertone of lowered expectations. The satisfaction level of clients is a direct reflection of the overall stability of the organization.

If your co-workers aren't happy...

Perhaps the biggest red flags will come from coworkers. Little comments, which are often delivered very innocently and intended to help you, can actually be extremely telling. Coworkers will sometimes make little jokes like "that's the way it is around here." or "Oh well, you're lucky to get paid at all." These are often extremely significant remarks based on an underlying situation to which you are not quite privy yet.

It is extremely unnerving to work for a company that you feel may be less than they appeared on the moral and ethical scales, or that may be in financial peril. What do you do if you feel ill-at-ease?

Don’t panic.

Give it some time and keep track of whether things start to improve with time. But if red flags continue to accumulate, and none of your issues are being resolved, you may be dealing with more than just a lack of organization.