what is outplacement

When faced with layoffs, no organization wants to let go of its valued employees. Top employers understand the importance of supporting a successful transition for impacted individuals. By embracing people-first values, empathetic employers offer outplacement services to help departing employees land their next role significantly faster than they would on their own.

Following a layoff or workforce restructuring, outplacement services are provided at no cost to employees. Outplacement services provide individuals with freshly written resumes and social profiles, personalized career coaching and highly targeted job leads.

In addition to helping employees find re-employment, offering outplacement support can help organizations reduce costs, protect their employer brand, retain employees, and drive productivity among remaining staff, along with other benefits.

Outplacement is typically offered through a third-party provider, and while there are many options and partners available to employers, it’s important to know what to look for in an effective outplacement program.

This guide will help you explore steps your organization can take to find the right outplacement solutions to help you ease your employees’ transition and mitigate risk during layoffs and reductions in force (RIF).

what is outplacement?
why outplacement matters.
how organizations benefit from outplacement.
how employees benefit from outplacement.
what to look for in an outplacement provider.
the costs and ROI of outplacement.
how to prepare for outplacement.
how randstad risesmart delivers excellence in outplacement.

Outplacement solutions are typically provided by a third-party firm and encompass people and technology resources to facilitate, speed and optimize the re-employment process.

Outplacement services include a variety of resources to ease your employees’ career transition:

Career coaching to improve interviewing, networking, job searching and salary negotiation
Professional branding services to prepare resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles
Technology resources to enable online job searches, assessments, webinars and courses
Customized job leads through a network of recruiters and referrals
Emotional support and resilience training for impacted and remaining employees
Career resources and skilling to future-proof employees’ capabilities

Outplacement is not a one-size-fits-all solution and service providers offer customized solutions to meet specific employer needs.

Timeframes run from weeks to months to lifetime memberships
Employees served range from executive leadership to junior staff
Geographies and companies include global enterprises and businesses of every size

Learn more: what is outplacement? everything you need to know about outplacement services

When layoffs occur, treating employees with care and compassion is more than just the right thing to do – it’s good business. Your actions during the disruption will affect everything from morale and productivity to recruitment and retention.

The pitfalls of layoffs can include negative media coverage, scathing social media reviews, stalled recruitment and costly legal liability. Remaining employees will also feel the impact, which may result in reduced productivity, lower engagement and higher churn rates. Additionally, your consumer brand is at risk, which can impact revenue and bottom-line results.

Layoffs expose your organization to significant risks, but outplacement services help mitigate these risks.

Companies that value their employees know it’s vital to take care of them at every stage of the talent life cycle, including at departure. So, with layoffs, you are considering far more than how to let people go in the best possible way. You’re protecting your employer brand.

how to plan and conduct employee transitions with compassion and ease.

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Outplacement services can be your first line of defense when your organization faces the repercussions of layoffs. While outplacement meets your immediate needs during a turbulent time, it also has a long-lasting effect on your future business success. It’s important to evaluate repercussions that can result from layoffs and to consider how outplacement can mitigate those risks.

safeguard your employer brand

Your employer brand is your reputation among current and future employees. It represents your employees’ experience before, during and after their tenure with you. Also, it’s important to note that the impact of layoffs extends far beyond displaced employees. The ripple effect of layoffs will affect remaining employees, families, communities, business partners and customers.

Consequently, when you help employees find another role quickly, you create an opportunity for positive associations with your company. An employee’s departure from your company is a significant part of their journey with you. In the event of layoffs, you want to ensure that the brand promise you made at hiring persists throughout the employee life cycle. The powerful resources of outplacement services will contribute to the entire employee experience at your organization.

Remember, all the effort you’ve put into creating a positive employer brand can vanish with one poorly handled layoff.

Learn more: how company culture is shaping employer branding
attract top talent

When considering career options, top candidates will evaluate compensation packages, advancement opportunities and enterprise growth. They’ll also consider your reputation. Organizations can’t afford to let their people walk out the door feeling dissatisfied. Doing layoffs right will go a long way toward ensuring your organization remains a top talent destination.

According to Glassdoor, 92% of employees would consider changing jobs with no salary increase to work with a well-respected company. Similarly, it found that as many as 86% of job seekers would not consider working for a company with a bad reputation.

Employees today are increasingly discerning about their employers – and in our relationship economy, good employers always finish first. Ultimately, offering outplacement protects your future ability to attract, hire and retain top talent.
protect your social media presence

Your reputation and employer brand are extraordinarily public in our digital world. People want to know how you treat your people, especially when times are tough. And a quick online search will reveal just how your stakeholders feel about you. More than 17 employee review sites (and counting) monitor your employer scores today.

So, your actions during layoffs fuel the story your employees tell about you – resulting in either brand ambassadors or vocal critics. Fortunately, outplacement gives you the opportunity to improve your social standing. The feel-good results of outplacement will increase the number of brand ambassadors who will carry on your good name long after they’ve left your organization.
reduce legal liability
provide competitive severance packages

Having a competitive severance package is also an important part of the outplacement benefits that help impacted employers land on their feet after a layoff. A RiseSmart study shows that severance trends and attitudes are changing on a global level. More employees are receiving benefits and tenure for eligibility has decreased at many organizations. The top reason for this increased focus on severance is that organizations want to improve the entire employee experience, which impacts morale and productivity as well as recruitment and retention.
consider redeployment

Redeployment is also a valuable business tool that can be used as an option before outplacement. Formal redeployment programs are becoming increasingly prevalent as organizations seek to help workers find new roles internally or adjust to changing business needs. Not surprisingly, the same programs used in outplacement will enhance redeployment programs, including resume writing and career coaching.

Learn more: why does your organization need outplacement?

Top outplacement firms deliver robust ‘tech-and-touch’ resources. A blend of expert career coaches, personal branding writers, recruiters and technology innovations help impacted employees find targeted opportunities and the best fit with speed, efficiency and confidence.

Outplacement provides job candidates with numerous advantages to improve their search:

Accelerated market-readiness – Quick coaching and resume writing to speed time to land a new position
Improved networking capabilities – Technology and coaching resources to optimize networking best practices
Increased confidence – Supportive career transition solution to reduce anxiety and improve well-being
Improved satisfaction rates – Helping affected employees land equal- or better-paying jobs

executive-level options

When layoffs affect senior leadership, some outplacement firms provide executive-level services to meet the unique challenges of executive departures. For example, executives may face longer search times and fewer viable opportunities. Additionally, executive searches often require elevated service levels due to higher visibility and broader demands. If leadership teams are affected by layoffs, it’s essential to have expert coaches, writers and recruiters to meet their complex needs and requirements.

Learn more: what are the benefits of outplacement services?

Not all outplacement services are created equal. In choosing the best outplacement provider, you will be choosing a partner in facilitating a strategic business decision that will have far-reaching implications for your people and your business. It’s also important to note that your partnership with an outplacement services provider is likely to be long-term as your business needs ebb and flow in a shifting economy.

You’ll want to evaluate all aspects of your outplacement needs and how the outplacement services provider can meet your requirements. This will encompass consideration of the professionals that will support you, the scope of services and technology resources available, and the organization’s ability to scale in terms of size and geographies.

The best outplacement firms offer ‘tech-and-touch’ solutions that combine the latest technology with the support of top-performing professionals. When evaluating outplacement companies, look for providers that align with your company’s values, offer flexible, personalized services and use up-to-date and accessible technology.

Learn more: choosing the best outplacement provider: the essential guide

It’s critical to partner with an outplacement firm that delivers return on investment (ROI) with measurable results.

consider costs
Outplacement is generally sold to companies as employee packages. Therefore, the cost of outplacement varies depending on specific company needs and the professional level of impacted employees. Variables that determine outplacement costs include:
- Number of impacted employees
- Scope of services offered, including length of coaching time, resume critique vs. writing, etc.
- Incremental services such as skill workshops, career development and programs for retained employees
- Discounts offered by the outplacement provider generally based on volume
Based on these criteria, the cost of outplacement services varies quite a bit. It can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars per employee.
evaluate ROI

While it seems counter-intuitive, there’s a high cost to not funding outplacement services. Therefore, it's essential to adopt a holistic view of outplacement services.

By bolstering your employer brand, outplacement strengthens your employer brand, enabling you to reduce future recruiting expenses, avoid legal fees and increase retained employees’ productivity.

The goodwill resulting from doing the right thing can also improve retention rates, leading to substantial savings. In fact, according to the Work Institute, the cost of turnover can range from 33% to 200% of a departing employee’s salary.

When the positive impact of outplacement services is considered in its entirety, it’s easy to see that the ROI is substantial.

Learn more: how much does outplacement cost?

A reduction in force (RIF) can be a daunting task.

No one wants layoffs to happen, but when they do, you’ll be glad you had a plan in place. Your preparation will enable you to manage the process with transparency and professionalism, leaving your employees supported and your employer brand is intact. Additionally, preparing an RIF process checklist will help ensure a smooth transition.

Getting started requires assembling a team, building a business case, creating timelines and preparing communications. Randstad RiseSmart’s 10 tips for doing layoffs right provides a comprehensive overview of what you’ll need to do. Some key takeaways to ensure successful outcomes include:

Transparency. A clear communications plan will keep your workforce informed and reassured. Otherwise, you risk disruption that can damage your employer brand.
Reskilling and redeployment. The help you provide to employees is the lifeline of your entire plan. If reskilling is available, promote learning and development. If outplacement is the only option, consider how firms like Randstad RiseSmart can help affected employees seek new opportunities at other organizations.
Emotional support. Counseling and other support systems will help laid-off employees. But retained workers may struggle to cope, too. Trained HR professionals can help provide emotional support.
Leadership. Leading by example is especially important during times of crisis. Professionalism, empathy and respect from senior leadership will set the tone for your entire organization.
Brand values. Your actions and how you communicate convey your brand values. Let employees know they can count on your help when they need it most.

Taking care of your remaining employees will also be a top priority for your organization. Layoffs can lead to a decline in morale, engagement and productivity among remaining employees. Some employees may lose focus on their current roles and seek opportunities elsewhere.

The empathy and people-first values you show by helping departing employees land their next role will go a long way toward elevating your employer brand, but there are also additional services to support your remaining employees.

RiseSmart offers worklife coaching services for your remaining employees to help you increase engagement and retention through an innovative coaching solution that is expert-led, employee-driven and accessible to all employees. Coaching services can have a powerful impact on retention because they empower your employees to learn and grow with your business and achieve their highest potential.

Randstad RiseSmart’s “worklife coaching report”, based on global research in 2022, lays out why coaching is a critical driver of employee engagement and retention – which is all the more critical during times of upheaval.

10 tips on how to prevent making a bad situation worse.

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At Randstad RiseSmart, we partner with organizations every step of the way to help them navigate talent mobility with confidence and ease. In addition to a suite of solutions to support the entire talent mobility life cycle, our customized outplacement services are expert-led and technology-centered to ensure smooth transitions, optimal ROI and industry-leading results.

Learn more

randstad risesmart outplacement solutions

industry-leading results
Customer success is our driving force. We provide global public enterprises with agile solutions to help your employees prepare for new beginnings – and help you emerge with a stronger employer brand. RiseSmart delivers:
- 98% program satisfaction rating among participants
- 83% of employees land in equal- or better-paying jobs
- 44 days on average for transitioning employees to land a new job
- 60% faster landing rate than the national average
- 82 Net Promoter Score
global scale
rapid execution
career transition experts
award-winning technology

For your internal HR teams, our technology platform delivers real-time outplacement performance tracking and analysis, bank-level encryption, and the ability to easily share data and reports with business units around the globe.

For impacted employees, our innovative technology platforms provide semantically matched and ranked job opportunities, networking recommendations, and online tools and resources they need to get market-ready faster.
long-lasting value
talent life cycle solutions

randstad risesmart corporate overview

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what is outplacement?

outplacement.

what is outplacement?

why outplacement matters.

how organizations benefit from outplacement.

safeguard your employer brand

attract top talent

protect your social media presence

reduce legal liability

provide competitive severance packages

consider redeployment

how outplacement helps your employees.

executive-level options

what to look for in an outplacement provider.

the costs and ROI of outplacement.

consider costs

evaluate ROI

how to prepare for outplacement.

how randstad risesmart can help you with outplacement.

industry-leading results

global scale

rapid execution

career transition experts

award-winning technology

long-lasting value

talent life cycle solutions