Tweet

Helping Staff Recover After A Layoff

Written by: Allison Grace

Article Overview: Layoffs are wrenching for companies in many ways. First, there is the sobering reality that layoffs are necessary for the bottom line. Next come the anguishing decisions about what areas to cut, followed by the unpleasant task of sharing the news. No wonder company leaders want to wash their hands of this matter once they hand out the severance packages.

Helping Staff Recover After A Layoff

Layoffs are wrenching for companies in many ways. First, there is the sobering reality that layoffs are necessary for the bottom line. Next come the anguishing decisions about what areas to cut, followed by the unpleasant task of sharing the news. No wonder company leaders want to wash their hands of this matter once they hand out the severance packages. But ending it there isn't an effective strategy. After all, you still have to manage the morale and productivity of remaining employees. Here are five strategies for guiding workers through this tough time:

1. Treat the departing well. As you show employees the door, act respectfully. The rest of the staff will be watching how you handle those who leave. Keep in mind that these were their co-workers and perhaps their friends, not just names on a spreadsheet. Also, don't demean ex-employees or imply that now that they're gone the company will thrive.
2. Tell the truth. Talk with workers about the business conditions that led to the layoff. Don't sugercoat it in an attempt to avoid panicking employees. If you've had layoffs before, they may be panicked before you break the news and they'll be sensitive to "spin."
3. Let employees be open and honest. Workers are going to feel shock at first, so acknowledge that it's a tough time for everyone. Assure your staff they can air their concerns and no questions are off-limits. Answer queries truthfully and succinctly. Also, managers should meet with each of their direct reports privately to give everyone the chance to discuss concerns and the impact of the layoffs on the department.
4. Help them deal with questions from the public. Your workers interact with customers or the public, so arm them with appropriate responses to questions they're likely to get. Be sure they know what, if any, information should stay in the company and what they can share with outsiders. Also, let employees know whom to turn to if they can't handle queries.
5. Move forward. Layoffs are scary for workers, but an employer with no plan to change the current conditions is even scarier. Communicate with your staff often about the steps your company is taking to correct the situation that led to layoffs and ask for their ideas on how to save money. Having frequent conversations about thistopic helps employees calm down and keeps this message top of mind.

Finally, share and celebrate incremental progress. Highlighting early wins can help shift employees' mindset from stewing about the layoffs to focusing on the future.

Related Articles
  Surviving an Economic Downturn: How to Handle Layoffs Effectively
  What You Need To Know Before You Terminate
  Franchise Contracts - Getting Sick would really Suck
  Understanding California Labor Laws and the WARN Act
  The Art of the Layoff

Article Tags: answer queries, bottom line, business conditions, co workers, company leaders, decisions, demean, layoff, layoffs, li li, morale and productivity, nbsp, severance packages, shock, spreadsheet, strong talk, truth, unpleasant task



Related Forum Posts
Social media - which is more effective social media networking; Facebook or twitter? follow me at My Secret Staff cathy secretstaff05
Re: Quote of the Day - "No man can become rich without himself e - I wholeheartedly agree! Helping others is a great way to help yourself, by bringing more meaning to your life.
Re: What to do at the first roadblock? - GT said, I think seeing that the glass (i.e. market or opportunity) is only half full is a good mindset to have rather than looking at the sheer number of competitors. I would have to agree. I think this is a great thing to think about in almost any situation, whether home or business. As I mentioned, attitude is 95% of the battle. Keeping it positive is the only way to get the things you really want in life. Helping others helps, too. See the quote in my signature.
Social Media Marketing Category... - I agree that a social media marketing category would be useful and added my vote. I would include "bookmarking" sites in the mix as well. Such a category would be useful for several reasons: 1. Talking about SMM, its purpose and networking strategies and tips. 2. Discussion of the various SMM sites. 3. New about new sites and developments. 4. Helping to build each others SMM networks.
Re: Trade Show Success Strategies - As a frequent attendee and participant in trade shows, I've found the following tips to be useful: 1) Staff in the booth must be trained to listen to the needs of the visitor, record those interests and if appropriate, commit to getting back to that person within a short time frame. Capture those leads and act on them! 2) The booth needs to be 'busy' - hustle is eye catching and generates interest 3) Homogeneity (common dress) facilitates the visitor to find someone to speak to 4) 'Freebees' need to be selectively handed out and when they are, there must be a personal conection to them (e.g. "You'd like one of our 'whatevers' - we're running a little short right now but here, please take mine")


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Life is a Balancing Act!

Making the Most of Your Trade Show Experience

Tips to Take Control of Credit Card Debt

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.