As all of us in the Canadian tech space have seen over the last week, layoffs are a tragic reality in our current economic climate.

These unforeseen events can be devastating to the mental well-being of those impacted. For employees, it is a time of intense uncertainty, doubt, and financial stress. For the HR teams of companies undergoing organizational change, it is a time of emotional exhaustion that requires continuous communication and stakeholder management – often with negative associations.

It has been very disheartening to watch major companies - especially in the tech sector - take an already tough situation and make it worse by not providing their teams with appropriate support. Your staff may be experiencing one of the most stressful periods of their life, it is crucial that you take care of them.

The good news is that there are several human-centric services other HR teams can use to make their support for outgoing staff better for the organization and better for the impacted individual.  

‍

Why is this important?

The impacts badly managed layoffs have on employee morale, talent retention, and public brand perception continue well beyond the initial exit meeting.

In fact, remaining employees of companies with inadequate outgoing support experience a 41% decline in job satisfaction, a 36% decline in organizational commitment & 20% decline in job performance (Forbes).

To help organizations who may be faced with similar challenges in the near, or distant, future I’ve compiled a list of ways you and your teams can practice human-centricity during times of transition:

‍

Outplacement Services

On average, job seekers who receive outplacement services land their next role 2.7 times faster than they would if they worked alone. Whether your exiting workforce has been with you for a year or a decade, career coaching will help them land their next role faster and showcase your commitment to your workforce.

Beyond that, 82% of employees say employers who offer outplacement services as part of a severance package care more about their employees than those who don't. Further study data shows that 4/5 employees say receiving outplacement services would make them less likely to speak negatively about a former employer.

Outplacement services are an effective (and cost effective) way to shield organizations against negative brand perception during times of transition.

‍

Upskilling and Reskilling

42% of job applicants don't meet the skill requirements of the positions they apply for (PR Newswire). Especially in the context of our rapidly evolving markets, research shows that half of all employees around the world need to upskill or reskill by 2025 to embrace new responsibilities driven by automation and new technologies (Forbes).

Exiting employees may not be equipped to re-enter the workforce in the digital age and some will require additional training to meet the job requirements. Up-skilling and re-skilling opportunities can prepare an increasingly aging workforce for the future of work and help progress their career forward.

‍

Extending Employee Benefits

Layoffs are an incredibly emotional time for exiting employees. On top of typical day-to-day responsibilities, outgoing employees also face unexpected financial stress, career uncertainty, and in many cases, a loss of healthcare benefits. The combination of these new stresses can be overwhelming and damaging to mental health.

Extending employee health benefits is one of the most impactful actions organizations can take for their outgoing staff.

‍

In an age where brands aim to be more personal and human, poorly handled transitions can cause long-term damage to your outgoing employees well-being and your business. Employers must seek to provide benefits that support employee career wellness even after they've departed the organization. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but to also protect the organization’s future.

At Thrive Career Wellness, we proudly support organizations of all sizes in helping their employees transition through unfortunate times of change. If you are an organization looking to equip your departing employees with modern career transition support then contact us to book a free demo today!

‍