You’re asking, what is outplacement? It’s a program offered to exiting employees. It’s designed to help them move forward after job loss. You may also be wondering:
What is the cost? Who pays?
What are the outcomes and benefits?
Is it part of a legal strategy?
Outplacement services are something you hope you never need. Layoffs and furloughs are the result of continuous business realignment. Organizations are constantly adapting to changes in demand for their products and services, new opportunities, and marketplace trends. As they reorganize, the organization’s talent needs also change. Organizations may need just as many people, but in different roles. Or they need fewer. So as these shifts occur, it’s time to get a clear picture of how outplacement can benefit you and your organization.
What is Outplacement?
Outplacement, also known as career transition services, is a program to help employees exit gracefully and smoothly transition to a new role after job loss. It is most often paid for by the employer, as a benefit included in a severance package. Therefore, it is provided at no cost to an exiting employee.
Strong outplacement programs emphasize personal branding and coaching. Job search coaches help job seekers develop a branding strategy to market themselves online. They help former employees optimize their efforts by aligning them with the technology and processes employed by today’s hiring managers. Today, the services extend well beyond resume writing and access to job boards. In fact, a coach has a critical role in helping people transition successfully. Coaches are often the ones that help people gain clarity – about what they most want to do in their work life — and how to do it. Whether someone wants full-time, part-time or even volunteer work, outplacement experts know the ropes. At IMPACT Group, we help people find opportunities that include new careers, board positions, gig work and even starting a business.
Is Outplacement Affordable?
Yes, organizations can find outplacement programs at a variety of price points. At IMPACT Group, we work to deliver solutions that align with a company’s business needs. Think your organization can’t afford outplacement? Talk to us first, before you dismiss the idea.
Services for HR & Your Organization
Outplacement consulting services are also available to support the HR team and those who are managing the layoffs. Outplacement consulting services can be used to:
- Assist organizations with making layoff decisions.
- Help managers communicate layoff decisions to employees.
- Support remaining staff members so they stay productive during change.
Services could include consulting, strategic planning, career coaching, job search programs, group workshops, and team trainings.
What Outplacement is Not
Outplacement is not akin to a personal shopper who does all the work. An outplacement coach does not procure jobs, place people in jobs or apply for jobs on behalf of the job seeker. The coach is an expert in hiring processes and trends. Coaches work with the job seeker to overcome any obstacles in finding a new job. They may work on building a stronger personal brand, interviewing skills, networking habits or even managing the emotional toll of job loss.
Outplacement Outcomes – Empathy & Experience Work
Job seekers who work with professional outplacement services find work more than 2.5 times faster than those who don’t. At IMPACT Group, job search coaching is a core competency. We support people through career transition during good and bad economies. We also offer job search services for participants in outplacement programs as well as for people who are relocating. So no matter what the economy is doing, job search support is our continuous mission. And, we’ve developed competencies, processes and technology tools that get results.
Participants in our programs benefit from the experience of our coaches. These coaches understand how employers use social platforms and automation to find talent. We also support job searches with the emotional side of the process. Empathy and understanding help job candidates stay positive, active, committed and open to new opportunities.
Outplacement Costs
Outplacement is usually priced as a fixed fee per employee, no matter how long it takes the person to find a job. Furthermore, outplacement job search services can be scaled for nearly any budget. IMPACT Group works with Fortune 500 organizations as well as small businesses. We easily support a layoff of hundreds or just one or two associates at a time.
What are the Benefits of Career Transition Services?
Displays social consciousness.
During this pandemic, many people believe businesses must do everything in their power to keep people working. Outplacement signals a social consciousness, while taking cost control measures. Public announcements of layoffs often mention outplacement services. That’s because taking care of separating employees makes a meaningful statement.
Reduces the risk of litigation.
An experienced outplacement partner helps you process the criteria you will use to determine who is being let go. Similarly, the partner will also analyze the affect it has on the diversity of your staff. It’s also important to review applicable laws to ensure compliance.
Protects your brand reputation.
Ninety percent (90%) of professionals state they will not work for an organization that has a bad reputation.1 In other words, maintain a positive brand because it allows you to attract the best talent when you enter times of growth. Taking strategic steps along the way will ensure you uphold an employer of choice culture.
Creates a clear message to communicate internally and externally.
Determine the rationale behind the layoffs and the business reasons for reducing staff. In other words, it’s essential to put these two things into words so you can accurately and clearly share them. Communicate this to exiting employees, remaining employees, stakeholders and the public, for instance.
Compassionately supports your separated employees with quickly getting back on their feet.
Many professionals are caught off guard when they lose their job. Provide exiting employees with job search assistance through an outplacement partner because it empowers them to find a new position fast. When a former employee cuts their job search in half compared to the national average, your organization drastically reduces your unemployment compensation costs.
Enhances productivity and retention among remaining employees.
Employers paid $600 billion in turnover costs in 2018. They can expect that number to increase to $680 billion by 2020.2 As a result, reducing your voluntary turnover rate by even 1% can deliver significant savings. Proactively address your remaining staff’s questions and needs because this upholds morale and rebuilds confidence in your company’s future.
Minimizes survivor anxiety and accelerates forward mobility.
Remaining employees often combat survivor syndrome on top of mounting workloads. Ultimately, this leads to a lot of frustration. To get everyone working toward a common goal, you need a plan. This plan should address workload changes, manager changes and team rebuilding. As a result, transparency throughout the process will ensure they buy into the future state.
How Do You Select an Outplacement Firm?
Some outplacement firms offer very “thin” programs. This means they point people to a web portal and tell them to find everything they need online, without much support of professional coaches. Other programs go deep into coaching, but have little technology support. If you need to hire an outplacement firm, review our Outplacement Assessment Tool, which will help you ask the right questions and decide on the criteria that will shape your selection process.
Continue learning!
SMART & Compassionate Guide to Reducing Your Staff
Strategic Planning Checklist for Layoffs
IMPACT Group’s Outplacement Programs
Contact us now!
We can help you conduct a flawless and compassionate layoff. Let’s connect.
1 IMPACT Group Relocation & Job Seeker Survey, 2018
2 National Employee Retention Report, Work Institute
