After months of job-hunting, you finally got accepted into your first-ever work from home job.
You got through onboarding and are now a few weeks into your job. Everything is finally looking up for you.
… And then your employer suddenly stopped responding to your messages.
You also suddenly don’t have access to the company GCs or project management platform.
What just happened?
Unfortunately, it seems your employer just ghosted you.
Nowadays, ghosting isn’t just limited to the dating scene. There are many stories in remote work and freelancer groups about disappearing employers, the ones that go MIA without any prior warning or explanation.
If you suspect this is happening, here are some tips on handling your employer ghosting you.
Why Do Employers Ghost Employees?
Here are some reasons why employers suddenly stop responding to their employees:
- Sudden Changes in Company Priorities: If your employer’s focus suddenly changes or there’s a shift in company strategy, they may decide to cut ties with a new hire abruptly.
- Internal Issues: restructuring, leadership changes, or even conflict among team members may cause employers to ghost you instead of addressing the underlying issues directly.
- Financial Constraints: Companies can terminate a new employee abruptly to cut costs.
- Unforeseen Circumstances: Sudden personal or professional issues can make some employers unintentionally ghost you.
- Mismatched Expectations: When your performance doesn’t align with your employers’ expectations, they may simply ghost you instead of addressing the issue.
What to Do When Your Employer Ghosts You?
Here are some tips for handling your employer suddenly ghosting you:
Remain Calm and Assess the Situation
The first step to handling your employer ghosting you is to remain calm and get all the facts.
This helps you make better decisions and avoid doing something rash like sending an angry email to your employer.
Review your recent communication with your client. Did you have any problems or unresolved issues with your employer that could cause this sudden lack of communication?
You can also ask a trusted co-worker if they experienced the same or if there are any sudden changes within the company that can account for the change.
Finally, check your employment contract for specific clauses about communication protocols, performance expectations, and termination procedures. Knowing your contractual rights and obligations helps you figure out what to do next.
Politely Follow Up on Your Employer
After getting your facts straight, it’s time to reach out to your employer.
Avoid sounding confrontational when constructing a follow-up email to your employer.
Instead, inquire about the sudden lack of communication and express your concern about it.
Give your employer a week to respond to your email. You can also try contacting your company’s Human Resources (HR) department (if they have one) for assistance.
If they haven’t replied to your message by then, you can try contacting them via the same channel again or try different ones.
Did they reply to your message? Great! If not, well…
Move On
Just like in a romantic relationship, this is the hardest part when someone ghosts you.
If you’ve exhausted all communication options with your employer and they still haven’t responded, it’s time to look for alternative career options.
This involves updating your resume, expanding your network, and looking for new work from home jobs.
Contact Your Outsourcing Company for Help
Working with a legitimate outsourcing company gives you protection in case your employer ghosts you.
They can help you resolve the issue or, if your employer truly abandons you, help you find a new job instead.
Furthermore, legitimate outsourcing companies have safeguards in place to guard against the most harmful consequences of this situation.
Take Care of Yourself
Being ghosted by anyone can damage your self-confidence. It makes you wonder what you did wrong and leaves you confused and frustrated.
Thus, another crucial part of handling your employer suddenly ghosting you is to take a step back and take care of yourself first.
Unless you’ve done something serious, never blame yourself for what happened. Being ghosted doesn’t automatically mean that you’re not good at your job or are difficult to work with.
Aside from this, it also helps to confide in people you trust. Resist the urge to vent on social media, as this might put off potential employers.
BOO!
Nobody likes being ghosted, whether in the dating scene or at work. Unfortunately, this has become quite common lately, with employers and employees being guilty of the same.
If you’re having difficulty handling your employer suddenly ghosting you, just follow the tips above.
One way to keep yourself safe from being ghosted is by working with a legitimate outsourcing company, like Remote Staff.
Aside from ensuring you don’t get ghosted, our jobs list contains many available positions, from online transcription jobs to online design jobs – so you can find a replacement as needed.
Ready to start working in an online work from home setup? Sign up here. Good luck!
