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Downsizing with dignity
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| Guest post by: Louise Pope |
Article Overview: "You're fired!", Donald Trump's once popular catch phrase has become a living reality as our country enters the most difficult time we have experienced in decades. Company financials are hemorrhaging, prompting decisions by managers to slash expenses and reduce headcount by downsizing, right-sizing or in simple terms just cutting staff.
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Free Download - When should companies begin hiring again – what are the business triggers they should look out for? By Louise Pope |
Downsizing with dignity
Unfortunately lay offs are inevitable. Make no mistake, downsizing can be cancerous to an organisation and the morale of the remaining employees. Executed without careful consideration it can destroy an organisation's culture and effectiveness.
However companies have control over who is laid off, how layoffs are conducted and what support and communication are given to those who are being impacted.
There are ways to manage these changes legally, ethically and with dignity and respect for everyone effected. Downsizing successfully is immensely difficult, but done right can position both the company and it's employees (both cut and retained) in a stronger and more focused position to meet the economic challenges ahead.
Getting your workforce through a downturn is a true test of corporate leadership the following ideas can help:
Treat all employees with respect and dignity. Communicate too much rather than withhold information.
Research applicable laws and follow the spirit of the legislation.
Afterward, give employees the psychological space to accept, and discuss, what has happened. Let the laid off workers and remaining employees say "goodbye".
Give the laid off employees as much notice as possible so they can find other jobs.
Offer an out placement service to assist those being laid off with resume writing, interviewing skills and, in some cases, career counseling.
Provide a financial 'safety net" for people leaving.
Cut once, cut deep.
Give the remaining team something to look forward to.
Take these additional steps as an organization to rally your survivors after layoffs and downsizing experiences:
Reinforce the vision, mission, and excitement of moving forward with the organization. Do this daily, in a positive, mind and heart-stirring way.
Emphasize positive goals, even small wins, that you can accomplish together in the short term. Make certain that the goals cascade through the organization so people feel connected to the overall strategy and direction. Review the goals publicly and regularly, both within their work units as well as on a company wide basis. This helps people focus on their individual progress as well as the overall progress of the company.
And finally remember like the phoenix in ancient mythology, you can step up to the challenge, rise from the ashes and soar to new heights...
Good Luck
Louise Pope
Article Tags: applicable laws, career counseling, careful consideration, cascade, corporate leadership, dignity, downsizing, downturn, economic challenges, excitement, financial safety, information research, interviewing skills, layoffs, overall strategy, psychological space, safety net, true test, vision mission, workforce
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About the Author: Louise Pope RSS for Louise's articles - Visit Louise's website Louise has accumulated over 15 years of recruitment experience in the UK and Australia. After successfully managing teams for one of the world's largest finance recruiters, Louise transferred to the Sydney office in April 1999 to launch the Australian operations. Leading the Accounting and Finance divisions Louise launched new offices, and new product lines, managing the group through significant growth. After 10 years with this global listed recruitment company, in 2004 Louise founded Aequalis Consulting. http://www.linkedin.com/in/louisepope Click here to visit Louise's website Career Survival Tactics Downsizing with dignity How to write a captivating press release How to recreate yourself by identifying packaging and marketing transferable skills to a different industry and guarantee steady employment How to stay positive in a negative professional environment |
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