It’s heartbreaking to see the unemployment rate is at 14.7%, the highest level since the Great Depression. Through the last several months I have found the focus of my business shifting to providing customized career transition coaching to employees within companies going through a reduction in force. I’d like to share one of those experiences with you.
Several weeks ago, I was contacted by the HR director at a company that was seeking career coaching services for four employees she was going to be laying off due to a Covid-19 restructuring. She felt horrible about this because the layoffs had nothing to do with job performance - this was strictly for financial reasons to keep the business running.
The HR Director stated the organization was intent on transitioning these employees with dignity, compassion and professional support and wanted a more personal experience for her folks rather than a “one-size-fits-all program” available from some of the larger outplacement firms.
The transition program I designed for this company consists of four private one-hour sessions tailored to each person’s job search needs. The first session, which I call ”The Discovery,” will be a discussion of the employee’s career history, career goals, and job search needs, which will then determine the specific areas for coaching in the remaining sessions. Based on what I hear in the Discovery session, I will select specific pages from my proprietary career workbook that contain the career tools, exercises, and techniques to help the person do their work. Emails and short check-in calls will also be provided to each employee. At the end of the four sessions, each person will have an action plan to move them forward. I am honored to have been selected to work with these individuals.
My message to you today is that layoffs do not have to be painful for your employees. Together we can provide compassionate, respectful and professional guidance to them. I can be a sounding board for you if you find yourself contemplating a similar scenario as above, and I can be the coach to work with your employees during their transition.
Please reach out if you have any questions about the services I provide or need to discuss a specific situation.