Frequently Asked Questions - Outplacement
Outplacement is a service for people who are soon to leave or have recently
left their place of employment. It covers a range of activities from executive
career coaching and 1:1 meetings to workshops covering areas such as CV writing,
networking, job search and interview practice.
- We will not be making any changes for the next few months or even a couple of years.
- We want to get the consultation period over with first.
- We do not have the money to provide outplacement.
- Can I do anything to support those left behind?
- Do I have a legal commitment to provide this kind of support?
- Redundancies are a sensitive issue, I'm not sure involving a third party
is a good idea.
- So what are they going to get from an outplacement service?
- How will it impact on motivation and performance levels?
- What have your other clients said?
We will not be making any changes for the next few months or even a
couple of years.
Outplacement is often considered after announcements and consultations
have taken place, however, outplacement provides important services and
benefits prior to these stages. As a provider, we often work in partnership
with companies when they first assess organisational needs and the possibility
that employees may face redundancy or redeployment.
Outplacement services vary greatly and giving thought to provision well in
advance of any redundancies can be beneficial both for your organisation and
your employees. As a company we work in complete confidence with
organisations prior to announcement and are often available on site when
announcements are made to meet individuals who may be affected.
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We want to get the consultation period over with first.
Outplacement services compliment HR provision and consultations by providing
additional support to individuals whether it be emotional, signposting or
starting on the job search process. Full services are often offered at
the commencement of consultation as most new roles take three months on
average to find and early outplacement can support individuals in
securing a role to commence as soon as possible after leaving.
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We do not have the money to provide outplacement.
We provide a range of outplacement services that start from £90 per
head. As a Matrix™ accredited organisation, we are also
able to access funding to help towards the cost of outplacement if we
can establish that you are eligible for it. Call us now to find out more
about eligibility criteria.
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Can I do anything to support those left behind?
Of course you can: You can offer them workshops or 1:1 sessions to help them
deal with the practical and emotional aspects of having fewer people in the
company. Your company will have a different dynamic after making such changes.
Getting everyone who is left behind on board is vital for your business to thrive in
difficult economic climates.
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Do I have a legal commitment to provide this kind of
support?
No. You don't have a legal obligation, but arguably you have a business and
an ethical one - not only to your staff but to the local economy and business
community.
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Redundancies are a sensitive issue, I'm not sure
involving a third party is a good idea.
That is true, however our experience shows that a lot of the time, regardless
of how good the working relationships are in an organisation, people losing
their jobs will find it very hard to go and ask for help from the very
people who have put them in that position. Having a third party that is
closely linked with the organisation yet is clearly a different entity
gives the leavers the opportunity to get impartial advice and have someone
who is not linked to the redundancies help them plan for their future.
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So what are they going to get from an outplacement
service?
We usually recommend a mixture of 1:1 sessions and practical workshops on
topics such as CV writing, interview skills, setting up your own business
and retirement planning. We have found that a "sandwich" model works best
i.e. workshops with 1:1 sessions on either side of them. These, though,
do depend on your situation and we offer a free, no commitment one day
assessment to give you an idea of what your workforce might need.
There is also a lot of emotional support - building up confidence,
building up and maintaining motivation, action planning and giving people
back a sense of control over their lives which they often lose when they are
made redundant. We also help with up-skilling, accessing funding and brushing
up on computer skills.
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How will it impact motivation and performance levels?
An outplacement service can be a huge boost to your business performance
and the motivation of your staff. When people are reassured and know
they have a plan for their future they are not side-tracked from what
they need to achieve for the next few weeks or months. That reassurance
comes from the outplacement service as well as the essential motivation
that will help you make the most of your team during a trying time.
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What have your other clients said?
"They offered a first-rate service and we heard nothing but positive
feedback from the employees who saw them. The People Development Team
managed their resource centre and consultancy clinic opening hours to
ensure that the lines kept running. They provided a useful, impartial
sounding board for employees venting their feelings, and were also able
to maintain perspective, having helped others go through similar exercises
before. Their courses were practical, equipping employees with skills which
will stay with them beyond their next job. It was gratifying to find that
the vast majority were going on to another job, or had actively taken the
decision not to."
"The People Development Team’s flexibility of approach was key in
selecting them as our partner"
"As well as looking after our people, as a local employer of long
standing we were concerned about the affect on the local economy.
Outplacement enabled us to minimise the impact and support local employers
who were looking for skilled staff"
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