Breaking Up is Hard to Do?
Breaking up is hard to do, especially when you are facing having to lay off employees. Providing a soft landing for departing employees is not only the right thing to do, but is also a strategic business investment with big payoffs.
What are the benefits of investing in outplacement services?
- Safeguarding your company’s brand and reputation
- Helping former employees re-employ quicker
- Attracting future talent and retaining high performers
- Nurturing and maintaining positive morale among remaining employees
WHAT DOES A HEALTHY OUTPLACEMENT PROGRAM LOOK LIKE?
The best outplacement services offer personal, strategic help. Most employees don’t make a career of changing jobs, and are usually ill-prepared and uncomfortable in the process.
Valuable programs begin with developing a strategic transition plan to identify and target future goals. Many employees find the opportunity to dream about their future or explore new fields to be liberating, not terrifying. A program should also provide support with soft skills, such as interviewing and negotiating, as well as hands-on help with writing a career marketing strategy. In addition to personal guidance, outplacement firms should offer the technology to give clients access to online resources like e-Learning and research databases. Employees usually gain access to online seminars, workshops, and coaching for a specified period of time from just a few months up to a year.
Programs for executives should not only provide a deeper level of personal coaching but extras such as an Executive Agent (similar to a “sports agent”) or on-boarding support to help the newly hired executive during the first 100 days in a new position.
Programs for mid-level executives or clerical workers should provide one-on-one meetings with a personal coach. Really good programs allow for building customized programs in alignment with the employee’s unique circumstances.
SAFEGUARD YOUR COMPANY?S BRAND REPUTATION AND BOTTOM LINE
Building a healthy brand is expensive; safeguarding the brand by providing outplacement services is cost effective. Negative chatter about your company by former employees can’t be controlled; however, by providing a successful transition experience, you can ratchet down the negative comments generated by former employees. Displaced workers are also consumers who influence the purchasing decisions of their friends and family. Instead of creating hundreds of new brand loyalists for your competitor, you can keep these dedicated brand enthusiasts on your side of the aisle.
FASTER RE-EMPLOYMENT, LOWER COSTS
Employees who choose to engage with outplacement assistance will find themselves back in the workforce quicker, which ultimately helps lower costs. Keeping an amicable relationship with a former employee will also reduce the risk of future litigation. When they are talking to career consultants, they are generally not talking to lawyers. The cost of outplacement services is much smaller than the cost of a lawsuit.
ATTRACTING FUTURE TALENT AND RETAINING HIGH PERFORMERS
Ironically, having a strategy to help departing employees can actually help recruit new ones. With such a cyclical economy, there is a strong correlation between how a company treats its departing employees and its future ability to attract and retain top talent.? Just because an employee has left the building, doesn’t mean he or she will not be an advocate for you in the future. In a recent survey, over 30% of new hires are referred by employees or alumni.? Outplacement, if done correctly, can give your organization a competitive advantage. By engaging with alumni, those positive relationships can boost your recruiting efforts.
KEEPING POSITIVE MORALE WITH REMAINING EMPLOYEES
Treating transitioning employees with respect, care, honesty, and dignity shapes not only how your customers view your company, but also sends a message to current employees that they too can expect to be valued in the organization. Numerous studies have supported the fact that employees who witness their friends and peers go through quality outplacement services view the company more positively, even if the downsizing circumstances are ugly. The stories that the newly transitioned are going to tell their friends, family, and your customers are just as important. Happy employees are productive employees after all.? At a time when budgets are tight, it?s tempting to skip outplacement services. If you view outplacement services as a strategic investment, your company will see the benefits years later.
Since 2002, CMA MIdwest has been successfully partnering with client companies, executives and individuals in transition. As one of the leading outplacement and career transition firms in the Midwest and worldwide through our global partners, we differentiate ourselves though our continued commitment to a coach-centered approach and high-touch, customized career transition services that address the unique needs of every organization and employee.
Group Programs – Professional Programs – Executive Programs – Redeployment Transition
