I actually mentioned this stuff in that
rant I posted the other day, but I'll go over it in more detail here.
In that rant, I said I've been through this three times already. It's somewhat different each time (for instance, I only had the co-worker distancing issue with the last one), but at least half of these showed up in every job.
Obvious Replacements
Look out for obvious replacements coming in and being put at your level or above you. Bonus points if you're asked to train them and the company head is pushy about it in a way they haven't been about you training others.
Odd Hierarchy Changes
If there's a company hierarchy, pay attention to if there's something in the hierarchy that doesn't make sense. For instance, if in your department there's a second manager doing the same thing you do and it's not like that in any other department, be wary. You'll be given excuses about this being necessary for coverage or timezones and how it will be like this in every other department soon, but when 6 months goes by and this hasn't happened in the other departments, well...
Neglected Performance Reviews
If you get performance reviews that are usually done 1-2 weeks before their due date, take note if your manager doesn't complete it. This is especially the case if you work in a corporate setting where they definitely get this done every quarter.
Not Doing Enough Work
Suddenly being told you're not doing enough work is another one. Even if you historically have done a lot of work, they'll look for any reason to say you aren't doing enough and that you've changed.
Co-Workers Becoming Distant
Co-workers distancing themselves from you is another one. This can have a variety of causes and they may be distancing themselves from everyone, but if you notice they still talk to each other but not you, take it as a bad sign.
Bulk Documentation Requests
Being asked to write documentation on everything you do. This is them trying to make the job easier for your replacement. Look for excuses not to do this, even if it gets you fired faster.
Kept Out of Meetings
If you're kept out of or rushed out of certain meetings you normally attend, that's another bad sign, especially if it becomes a pattern.
Paranoid Messages
I don't know how to explain this one, but if you start getting odd or paranoia-ridden messages from managers or the board of directors, just jump ship. It usually comes across as being told you're acting like [insert employee who was fired years ago here]. However, in one job, the company owner told me in a meeting that, "It seems like you're being... guided... by something". Not someone, but
something. When I asked him to elaborate, I was only told the same thing again. It just rubbed me the wrong way, like he was talking about something intangible.
In another company, the owner of that one started inquiring about my personal life and "who I really am". That guy went off the rails and fired me very suddenly, puppeted my account on his platform by pretending to be me (this didn't fool anyone), and then when his company and site failed years later, he blamed me specifically and sent me every physical and legal threat under the sun. Those threats didn't go anywhere because it's not like he had any of my real information, and that's on him for skirting labour laws like all of these guys do.
Uncomfortable Requests
Finally, if you start being asked to do things you're very uncomfortable with, this is the company trying to squeeze just a bit more out of you before tossing you aside.
