How to Administer Exit Interviews to Laid Off Employees

When you’re the boss, one of the hardest things you’ll have to do is tell an employee that they no longer have a job, sometimes through no fault of their own. When an employee loses a job through termination, layoffs, firing, downsizing or reduction in force, the manager or supervisor should complete an exit interview. That might be the second-hardest…

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A Primer for Compassionately Dealing with the Emotions of Laid Off Employees

It’s the hardest part about being the boss – you will inevitably have to lay off one or more employees at one point in your career. If you haven’t had to do it before, you might wonder: Why is it so hard to lay off an employee? After all, it’s not your fault – you had no say in the…

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Lessen the Guilt You Feel After Giving the Pink Slip to an Employee

Many managers have experienced it at one time or another; an employee just didn’t work out or fit into the workplace culture. But even when it’s the employee’s fault – a history of tardiness, no-call or no-show behavior, or performance issues at work – it’s hard to let go of someone. It’s hard, even with the knowledge that it is…

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How Layoffs Affect 3 Types of Employees

Employees in different levels of an organization are all affected when a layoff occurs, but not in the same way. Just as every employee plays a different role in a healthy, productive company, they also play a different role, and act differently, in times of distress. Leaders and Executives Through thick and thin, leaders are there to guide the company…

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Suspicious Tactics Companies Use to Get Rid of Older Employees

Just last month, two friends told me how their colleagues lost their jobs under dubious pretenses. The five people who were laid off were skilled and tenured professionals in their early 50s. They haven’t had any attendance or performance issues, as far as my friends could tell. That’s why everyone in their office was shocked. Is this the newest tactic…

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Do You Care about the Quality of Outplacement Services Given to Departing Employees?

Many companies say they value employee satisfaction. But does that commitment extend to departing employees during a layoff? I don’t mean to say that the HR leaders and managers of organizations conducting layoffs don’t care about laid-off employees — I think they do. But in times of distress, priorities shift to keeping the company afloat so concerns like employee satisfaction…

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3 Step Guide to Building Employee Morale after a Layoff

Layoffs serve to prevent a struggling company from capsizing. But if not done properly, a layoff may damage the company more than it saves it. Layoffs affect the company in terms of lost workforce and massive restructuring but that’s just the surface. Deep down, it traumatizes surviving employees even if they don’t want to admit it. Whatever circumstances surrounding the…

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Five Myths and Facts about Layoffs

If your business is undergoing a layoff, you must understand what’s really going to happen. Don’t be misled by myths of what you think is supposed to happen. Myth 1: Reducing “people costs” will result in an indirect organizational productivity gain the next week. Reality: The surviving employees will not be more productive, in most cases. Don’t hope for the…

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Layoff Checklist for EMPLOYEES: Everything You Need to Ensure Your Paycheck and Other Benefits During a Layoff

Times are tough when you’re on the receiving end of a layoff notice. Things might be chaotic in the office, and your direct manager or HR may or may not be able to assist you every step of the way. I created this checklist with that in mind. Please note, however, that this list isn’t all-inclusive and that the chronological…

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Layoff Checklist: The What, When, Where, and Everything a Company Needs During a Downsizing

All employers big and small will eventually need to do a layoff or company restructuring. The process can be daunting. If done wrong, it could bring even more trouble to an already struggling organization. Feeling overwhelmed is normal. You have so many decisions to make, and not enough time, or resources, to make sure everything gets done right. This checklist…

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How does Executive Outplacement Work?

As of August 2014, about 119 CEOs announced their resignation, the highest recorded number since 2008, according to an article published in Chief Executive Magazine. Executives know that figuring out the next phase of their career isn’t as simple as submitting a resume. Transitioning from one C-level job to another, after all, requires a lot of upfront work. Business owners,…

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5 Tips for Creating a Severance Policy That is Fair to Everyone Involved

According to a recent study from RiseSmart, about 40% of companies don’t have a severance package for employees. That’s ironic, considering how many companies keep touting their dedication to their employee’s well-being and motivation. Many states don’t require companies to provide a severance package to displaced employees, but from a long-term stand point, it makes sense to do so. Protecting your public…

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Should Outplacement Benefits be provided AFTER an Employee Signs a Release Agreement?

People ask me this a lot, and that’s understandable. It’s a tricky question with no right and wrong answer. Since the 1970s, many employees have been required to sign a release agreement before they were provided outplacement services. Keep in mind, though, that this was a time when outplacement was generally reserved to senior executives and layoffs were rare. Outplacement…

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