We all worry about job security, especially during times of economic flux. But it doesn’t help your employees’ job performance (or their health) to worry needlessly; they’re on the lookout for the telltale signs that often appear as harbingers of a job in jeopardy. But are your employees properly interpreting the signs you’re sending? Know what appears as a red flag when it comes to job security, and make sure you’re sending the right signals.

To help put your employees at ease:

• If they have recently made a business mistake: A performance issue may arise if an employee has made a serious mistake and received discipline. All employees must take accountability for their failures as much as their successes. But with a failure, employees may become concerned about their job security. To help these employees, put the mistake in an honest context. If the mistake is recoverable, try affirmation of the employee’s value to the company, and consider drafting an action plan to help prevent the same situation from recurring. And if the mistake is enough to warrant letting the employee go, be transparent about where things are heading, so that no one is surprised.
• If they’re asked to work with an executive coach: Often companies will hire an executive coach for their high-potential employees, but sometimes a coach is hired to help out a struggling supervisor. Help employees rest easier by explaining which category they fall under. If they’re struggling to succeed, work closely with employees and their coaches to identify areas needing improvement. Reinforce that the employees have been asked to work with a coach in an effort to strengthen their skills and become an even greater asset to the company.
• If they’re asked to document their job duties: You may be updating your job description database, or looking to redistribute responsibilities more equitably, or strengthening your team with cross-training. But when employees are asked to create a job description for their position, or to teach someone else what they do, an alarm goes off in their heads. Could they be training their successor?
• If they’re being relieved of responsibilities: For employees, a full plate is a good indicator of job security. So if projects start disappearing out from under them, they might worry. To curtail this concern, explain the reason for the shift. Are you redistributing labor to better manage the workload? Are you transferring duties to an employee who excels in that particular area? Will different projects be coming their way down the line?
• If they’re left out of the loop: When employees are no longer invited to key meetings or included on emails about staffing changes or financial strategies, they will notice. While this can be an indicator of a job in jeopardy, it may also signal an increased level of confidentiality about the subject matter. Proposed reductions in budget and staffing are not always made privy to certain staff from the get-go. Instead of simply not inviting employees who had typically been involved in the past, be proactive; explain that there will be a series of discussions that are being held closely right now. Explain that when the time is right, other employees will be brought into the loop.

Employees are worrying more than ever about having to pack up their personal effects and move on. And anything that can cause uncertainty about job security, such as secrecy or an active rumor mill, will leave employees feeling anxious and demoralized, and not performing at their best. So make sure to always send the right signals when it comes to employee job security. If job security is a real issue, be as honest as possible from the get-go. And if employees are secure in their job, a little praise and reassurance can go a long way.