The unemployment rate is on a continuous rise and to help the laid-off employees get a good job, companies are providing outplacement support to them. These services help the off-going employees navigate in to the job market successfully and find a good job as soon as possible. As an HR professional, your task is to make sure that the leaving employees maintain a good relationship with your company. Your task is to help them transition into the new job environment smoothly and provide assistance so that they come out of the traumatic situation successfully.

Why is it important?

As a company owner, it is your social responsibility to take care of your employees, even if they are being laid off due to any reason. Outplacement services should be provided to the off-going employees so that they find it easier to get a new job. Outplacement assistance can help you develop an enhanced corporate image in the society because it shows how much you care for your employees. Laying off or downsizing is a traumatic event, and it affects the current employees too. To increase the productivity of the current employees, it is important to maintain a good relationship with the leaving employees.

Many company owners and HR specialists ignore this management technique, and they take it as a burden. However, by helping the leaving employees, you are in fact increasing the productivity of your company indirectly. You will be able to maintain good relations with your employees and build a good reputation in the society too.

What services include in the outplacement assistance?

Outplacement assistance includes all the services that are needed to help the employee get a new job. The initial services should include career assessment and management, in which the HR specialists should evaluate the key skills of the employees and develop a career action plan for them. Employees must be guided to choose the right job and career for them. Another important aspect of providing outplacement services is by teaching how to present their skills in front of the employers.

The off-going employees should be trained to prepare professional CVs and write attractive resumes or cover letters. They should be trained to market themselves in the competitive job environment and prove their skills in front of the employers. Some outplacement programs are for a short period and end up in 30 days, while others can last for as long as 6 months.