Reputable Professional Services Organisation

Category Restructuring + Redundancy
Written By Zoe Scott

A professional services firm with 40 employees faced an economic downturn, leading to a difficult decision to restructure and reduce staff. They sought UnscriptedHR’s help to navigate this sensitive process with empathy and care.

 

Key Challenges

  • Loss of customers’ accounts

  • Decrease in pipeline

  • Overall economic downturn

  • Decision to reduce costs through restructuring and layoffs

  • Emotional and psychological impact on both employer and employees

 

Process

1. Health Check

  • Conducted a diligent and in-depth investigation of the company’s human resources foundations

  • Emphasised human touch and empathy alongside thorough analysis

  • Assessed critical roles and reviewed areas for reductions and restructuring

  • Established redundancy process steps and execution plan with the business owner

2. Client Process Support

  • Provided advice on legal requirements, including redundancy payments and outplacement

  • Created communication scripts for the process

3. Affected Employees’ Support

  • Organised employee assistance support

  • Ensured honest and empathetic communication with impacted employees

4. Remaining Employees’ Assistance

  • Addressed psychological impact and anxiety among remaining employees

  • CEOs and Business Leaders explained changes and their impact on the business

  • Diminished fears of further job losses through transparent communication

 

Outcome

  • Restructuring process carried out with empathy and legal compliance

  • Affected employees received necessary support and career transition advice

  • Remaining employees felt reassured and informed about the company’s future direction

  • Maintained mutual respect and understanding between employer and employees

 

Learnings

  • Restructuring and redundancy is always a challenging and sensitive task that requires empathy and thoroughness

  • Open and honest communication is crucial to support both affected and remaining employees

  • Small gestures of appreciation from employers can significantly impact the overall experience

  • Maintaining respect and not burning bridges can be beneficial for future relationships

  • Economic situations can change, and ex-employers might become current employers again

 
Zoe Scott
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Medium Sized Allied Health Business