7 Subtle Signs You’re Being Set Up for Termination — and What to Do About It
Discrimination does not always come with slurs or slammed doors. Sometimes, it is a spreadsheet. Or a weekly check-in that suddenly feels like an interrogation.
If you have ever walked away from a meeting and thought, “Are they trying to get rid of me?” you are not being paranoid. You are picking up on a very real pattern that we at The Spiggle Law Firm see all the time.
Whether it is a manager trying to mask discrimination behind vague “performance concerns” or HR preparing a paper trail for your exit, here are seven subtle signs your employer may be building a case against you, and what you can do to protect yourself.
1. You Are Suddenly Being Micromanaged or Frozen Out
It often starts with a shift in behavior. Maybe your boss is hovering over every detail of your work. Or maybe you are being left out of meetings and team emails. Both can be signs that someone is laying the groundwork to say you are not meeting expectations.
2. Your Job Description Is Quietly Changing
Are you being asked to do tasks outside your role? Or stripped of responsibilities you used to own? Quiet changes like these can create a setup. You might be assigned unreasonable work to make you fail, or your core contributions might be minimized so they can claim your position is no longer needed.
3. You Are Put on a Performance Improvement Plan Without Warning
Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) are often framed as helpful. In reality, they are sometimes used to protect the employer when they already plan to fire you. If your past reviews have been positive, and this new criticism feels out of nowhere, it could be a strategy to cover up bias or retaliation.
4. Your Manager Starts Documenting Every Small Mistake
Have you noticed more formal emails? Are you being copied on HR messages for tiny issues? This “paper trail” may be intentional. Employers often create a written record to justify discipline or termination later, even if the issues they are documenting were never problems before.
5. You Are Judged by Vague or Shifting Standards
Vague criticisms like “not collaborative” or “not a good fit” are often red flags. If expectations keep changing, or you are never quite sure how success is being measured, it could be because the employer is not looking for improvement; they are looking for a reason to let you go.
6. Other Employees Are Treated Differently for the Same Behavior
Discrimination is often revealed in comparison. If coworkers in similar roles are not being scrutinized or disciplined for the same things, especially if they differ from you in age, race, gender, or caregiver status, that is a sign of potential bias. Unequal treatment can become evidence in a legal claim.
You Are Asked to Sign Something That Feels Off
Sometimes, employers try to push employees out quietly through a resignation letter, severance package, or agreement not to sue. If you are being asked to sign anything , even if it seems standard, pause and talk to a lawyer first. You could be signing away your rights without realizing it.
Why This Happens
Many employers avoid firing someone outright. Instead, they try to make the person quit or build a case that looks legitimate. It saves them time and legal risk. But if the real reason behind it is discrimination, retaliation, or bias — that is illegal.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
Document Everything
Start keeping your own notes. Save emails, track meetings, and write down changes to your workload or responsibilities.
Do Not Sign Anything Without Legal Review
Always consult an attorney before signing anything related to performance, pay, severance, or “resignation.”
Talk to an Employment Lawyer Early
Even if you are still employed, a lawyer can help you build your own record and protect your rights. Waiting until after you are fired can limit your legal options.
You Have the Right to Stand Up for Yourself
If you are noticing the signs, trust your instincts. At The Spiggle Law Firm, we help employees like you take back control — whether you are trying to keep your job or take action after being wrongfully pushed out.
You deserve to be treated fairly. We can help you get there.
