The economy is so bad that you'll probably lose your job. Just ask "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts. She reported on ABC January 17 that "countless Americans" are worried their jobs might be at risk.
As proof, Roberts offered a montage of four man-on-the-street-style interviews, in which four expert economists random people expressed concerns about the job market, gas prices and the economy in general.
"The middle class that is suffering the most because you, you're stretched, you know," one woman said. "Every dime of income is to either pay a bill or just to keep a roof and food and gas prices are outrageous as usual."
Another woman complained that "we don't eat out as much, probably, because we're trying to put, you know, more back towards gas money and things like that."
"I think it's a really, really scary time," a third woman poetically declared. "I think that we're only at the precipice of what is going to be a very severe decline."
But it's always darkest before "GMA" comes riding in like a knight in shining armor offering tips to "recession-proof" your job - even though it probably won't help and you'll end up losing it anyway, according to the segment.
Roberts suggested workers first look to the media to determine if their company is in trouble, because everyone knows the media do a great job painting an accurate and reasonable picture of the job market.
Contributor Tory Johnson backed Roberts up, suggesting that viewers start "paying attention to media reports, looking externally and seeing the coverage about your company, industry, the area in which you work." She said cancellations of the holiday party or planned conference you were really looking forward to are internal signs of pressure.
Johnson also suggested boasting about your accomplishments and buttering up your superiors as good ways to secure your job. "[Y]ou want to be vocal about your accomplishments. Let everybody know exactly what you're doing and how well you're doing it, so that everyone knows why there's a legitimate reason to keep you there," she said.
"You should also really align yourself to get to know the big wigs in your company or in your department," Johnson added. "Those people can be really helpful at times when there's talk about which positions should be cut, and when somebody knows you and knows how hard you've been working they're more likely to try to save that position."
