For many HR professionals and leaders, it may seem counterintuitive (or just a waste of money!) to invest in the welfare of departing staff, especially those whom an organisation has targeted to leave for a specific reason.
But when guidance and support are not provided for employees to cope with job loss and managing their transition, costs are significant.
Defending an unlawful termination is expensive, time-consuming, destroys the morale of the remaining staff, and can injure the reputation and perception of the company. Seeking outplacement services can help the business take appropriate action when letting some employees go. Offering an outplacement package can reduce the anxiety of the laid-off employees and, therefore, the risk of lawsuits.
Career transition/outplacement support is an investment that decreases the risk of lost productivity (a hidden cost of organisational change) by ensuring that all affected employees (let go off and retained) are able to effectively navigate the restructure process.
Some other reasons why you should consider offering outplacement are:
Outplacement can protect your reputation. Layoffs and terminations can capture headlines. Providing job search assistance may soften the bad news read by your clients and other stakeholders.
The advent of sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor means your brand and how you’re perceived externally is more important than ever. Making employees redundant, particularly if it is unexpected, is never easy.
But handling it with the due care, empathy and compassion it deserves and offering outplacement support to your employees makes the chances of you parting ways on good terms a lot more achievable. It also means past employees are more likely to recommend you as a potential employer to their peers, making it easier (and cheaper) for you to attract new talent, when the time comes.
Outplacement puts you on solid ground with those who stay. While there are understandable and justifiable business reasons why you’re terminating an employee, if you don’t provide the best possible support for them as they leave, you risk losing support from those who remain, and they may wonder if they’re next.
The terminated employee will get a new job faster. When the terminated employee gets a new job faster, they’ll get a new salary faster, reducing their distress.
Last but not least, providing meaningful outplacement support will ensure that departing employees remain engaged with your business and their job responsibilities until their last day with you.
Get in touch for a chat about your outplacement needs today.
