library | home

 

08.28.2009

 

3 Things You Must Do Before Laying People Off

Over 15 states have an unemployment rate in the double digits.  As this number continues to climb, so do the numbers in homelessness, depression, suicide, and crime.  It seems the only number that is consistently going down is the value of our dollar.

Increasing layoffs will only hurt, not help, the economic condition of our nation.  So what can companies do when they find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place? 

Fight the good fight!  Here are three things you must do before you start handing out the pink slips.

1. Get straight skinny.  Meet with your entire staff (not just your leadership team) and tell them the bare, whole and honest truth about the state of the organization.  Gain their support, trust and commitment to fight the good fight.  Solicit their input on ways each department can reduce spending without sacrificing quality.
2. Give away what you want.  Consider ways to help your customers overcome the challenges in their industry.  Invite key clients to a brainstorming session with your staff (include representatives from each department).  Shift the focus from your business to theirs and discover ways to work together to help them thrive.  Ultimately, you will reap what you sow.
3. Train as you fight and fight as you train.  Provide professional development in the areas of customer relationships, lead generation and sales – every person in your organization should be accountable (at some level) for bringing in new business.  Provide quality of life training to help your employees manage their stress, get control of their finances, and achieve work/life balance.  Remember, a healthy workforce is a productive workforce.

---

The Corporate Vine is a performance improvement training and consulting company.  We can help you plan and accomplish these essential "musts".

Contact us if you are ready to fight the good fight against corporate downsizing. 

Related articles: 

The (not so) Dreaded Pay Cut

5 Ways to Manage Workplace Stress in the New Era

Read our love quotes.