The business world is unpredictable, and change is constant. As an employer, you may face situations where letting go of your workers becomes necessary. Offboarding during layoffs or reduction-in-force (RIF) can be challenging especially if you’re tasked with laying off employees who’ve dedicated many years to your company.
So, what does one do in these tough situations? How do you responsibly let go of your employees?
Effective Outplacement programs help make this process easier for everyone, and ensure employees and employers part ways on good terms. A sigh of relief? Good. Now let’s dive deeper and understand what outplacement is and how it can help organizations.
What is Outplacement
Outplacement Programs are also known as career transition services. These services are employee-sponsored and are provided by an expert firm to help displaced workers reconnect with the job market and transition successfully into new roles. Outplacement services can help people find similar positions or make a plan to attain new skills and certifications that can lead to a role change. By consciously investing in outplacement programs, companies demonstrate a long-term commitment toward human capital.
When Should Companies Use Outplacement
When companies foresee a layoff or reduction-in-force (RIF) event, they should promptly seek outplacement services to ensure that their workers experience a smooth transition into what’s next. Unfortunate layoffs or RIF events may arise due to the following reasons:
- Downsizing
- Economic uncertainties
- Mergers/acquisitions
- Plant closures
- Poor financial performance
- Operational efficiency efforts
- Relocations
- Restructuring
Benefits of Outplacement
As a company, you have a responsibility to support your employees – even when they’re leaving your company. It’s easy to wonder why anyone would invest in their outgoing employees. But, if you look at this closely, you’ll realize the unspoken benefits that outplacement programs bring to an organization. Let’s look at some of these benefits.
By investing in outplacement, you are showing genuine care and concern for your employees, which build goodwill and strengthens your brand. We all know that word gets around quickly, and global connectivity is at its peak. Your conscious concerns and efforts for your employees will have people talking about you positively and, ultimately, you’ll find it easier to attract and retain top talent.
Mitigates Losses and Risks
A common reaction toward being laid off is anger. It’ll come as no surprise if employees are agitated, disgruntled and frustrated. However, if employees know that they’ll be taken care of in their hard times, it’ll provide them with some assurance. They will be less apt to engage in violent behavior or threaten the company with lawsuits.
Increases Employee Morale and Retention
The terms, layoff and RIF sound frightening as it is – layer on the water cooler talk and rumors, and you have the makings of a disengaged, distracted workforce.
Word spreads like fire and people are quick to judge. It’s not uncommon for workers to feel disheartened and threatened. Their engagement and motivation levels may nosedive due to the uncertainty. They may decide to leave the organization sooner, which will lead to gaps in knowledge transfer and business continuity. But, if employees are aware that their employer will support them even when tough decisions need to be made, they will perform better, meet targets, understand business objectives, appreciate the company culture and consider staying longer in the organization.
Outplacement Services
The process of being laid off is challenging, disheartening and stressful. Outplacement experts are equipped to understand the needs and goals of an individual. Some workers might require a new role almost immediately, while others may want to polish their skills and use this time to learn and develop themselves. Services included under the outplacement program can include:
- Career Coaching
- Resume Writing and Review
- Job Search
- Interview Preparation
- Pay Negotiation Training
- Online Profile Optimization
- eLearning Tools
Outplacement: Key Takeaways
Outplacement services are a powerful way for an organization to show its employees that they are valued and to position the individuals affected for long-term success.
Outplacement firms are equipped to handle this process smoothly by utilizing career coaching, mentoring, advanced job search strategies and more to equip the outgoing employees with the right skills and tools while finding a new job.
If you want to learn more about outplacement at Crosworks, feel free to schedule a call and we’d love to help you out. At Crosworks, we invest ourselves fully – our time, expertise, ideas, and commitment – to deliver maximum advantage in achieving the goals of both the individual and the supporting organization.