By: Susan Ruhl

If you've ever been let go, laid off, made redundant or fired, you know how emotions run wild. Now don’t get down because the company promises outplacement assistance from the company’s HR department. You may be thinking, “Wait, what? I have to swallow my pride and continue working with the company that just let me go? I never want to see this place again!” You may be thinking something even more drastic, like, “I am going to contact my lawyer and sue this place for everything they are worth!” After such an experience, many thoughts run through our minds, most of them negative.

Sometimes it seems like a good idea to use HR resources to provide services. What's the harm? Human Resources reviews resumes and conducts interviews ad nauseum, so they can handle assistance.   

I've talked to many HR people over the years, and they all agree. HR people don't have time to coach people moving away from the company with a job search on top of their day jobs. It's also important to consider the importance of an objective third party from the departing employee's perspective.  

Several advantages to providing an outside resource for outplacement support are:

1. It is confidential. The departing employee does not have to worry about what they say or how they say it. Nothing gets back to the company.
2. Their coach is objective. An objective voice can often help steer thoughts away from lawsuits toward a positive future in a new position, especially with a high-risk separation.
3. Helping a job search IS the coach’s day job. They will not be distracted by the laundry list of other things on their to-do list. They are focused on the individual, period.
4. They typically find employment faster. An experienced coach can help someone find their next opportunity faster, and it benefits the company that they move off their unemployment rolls more quickly.  
5. The company’s brand is better. The employees left behind and the departing employee will feel better about the situation, knowing you did your best to help.

So, the upshot is, when letting go of person or people, consider using outside help for outplacement. Everyone involved will thank you.

Have you ever been given internal or no support when being let go?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

If you want to learn more about ICC’s outplacement services, online leadership development and management training, contact us at info@innovateicc.com or 865-855-4400.