Tips in Talking to Employees Whose Posts are Disappearing
The last thing you want to do is to fire your employees. You treat everyone in your team like family and letting someone go can be challenging. However, your company won’t always be on top. You might suffer from financial problems and you have no choice but to let some people go. Your business might also move in a different direction and some positions are no longer needed. Hence, even if you don’t want it, you have to let some employees go. Here’s how you can talk to them when their posts are no longer going to be there.
Be diplomatic
Take your time in deciding whom to let go. Consider various standards in your decision. Sometimes, you have to make quick choices due to time constraint, but you still have to be thorough in judging. Once you’ve made up your mind, it’s time to talk to the employees. Do your best to be diplomatic. It can be challenging, but you have no choice. You will also be met with questions and angry reactions, but you have to take them. It’s natural for employees who were let go to react that way. Try your best to stay calm and not let emotions get in the way.
Provide alternatives
Some positions might no longer be available once the company restructures, but other opportunities will arise. If there are alternative jobs available to qualified employees, offer them the chance to apply. They will still go through the process like anyone else, but there’s at least an opportunity to keep a job.
Explain the decision
Be clear about your decision and how you arrived at it. Sure, it can be painful, but most employees will accept the reality. They know the company has to decide to ensure its future and they’re among the casualties. If your explanation is clear enough, your employees will accept the decision and move on.
Show available job offers
You might have excellent employees whose skills can be fully utilized elsewhere. It doesn’t have to be in the same industry. If there are programs to hone their skills, you should introduce them to these options. They might still return to the company if they develop the skills you’re looking for. It makes them hopeful about the possibility of coming back, especially if they had a great time while working.
Don’t make it a surprise
If you already had meetings with the management team about changing the direction of your business and you will let go of some employees, be transparent. Let your employees know of the plans so they can also plan. Perhaps, others know they’re on the chopping block and will start looking for jobs. Don’t surprise them with the news since they can’t prepare for it.
Finding a job in this economy isn’t easy and the least you can do is prepare your employees to find a new one.
It can be painful trying to let people go, but it’s something you have to do to keep the company from failing.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/2019/09/13/USATODAY/usatsports/gettyimages-466338402.jpg
2nd image by from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2019/10/24/how-to-prevent-your-employees-from-stealing-at-work/?sh=417cf33839b7
