Why Companies--Now More Than Ever--Should Offer Outplacement Services 

Another factor: You want to keep the employees you have. “Survivors, those who remain with the company, watch to see how their colleagues are treated,” said Bill Torchiana, Co-Founder/President of Torchiana Mastrov & Sapiro, a CPI firm in San Francisco. “If the perception is negative, that will likely impact their view of the company and in turn their productivity. Now, more than ever, you need your employees focused, dedicated and productive.”

Those displaced employees are also consumers. Instead of creating hundreds of new brand loyalists for your biggest competitor, you can keep these dedicated brand spokespeople on your side of the aisle.

Offering outplacement services also keeps the displaced employees focused on the future. “When they are talking to career consultants, they are generally not talking to lawyers,” said Greene. “The cost of outplacement services is much smaller than the cost of a lawsuit.”

Partnering Your Employees with the Outplacement Services

For example, by partnering with a firm that has offices across the country—international offices where needed—blended with local expertise, a company will meet the needs of employees who want to remain in the area, those who are open to relocating, and those who want to find the best opportunity possible regardless of location.

“A career consultant with demonstrated experience and success can be an invaluable guide in getting through the process and to the desired outcome: career success in a new organization and beyond,’’ said Torchiana.

Why Use Outplacement Service to Its Fullest Potential?

When outplacement services are offered but declined, the company receives little positive benefit simply from making the offer. According to Torchiana, “When an employee declines help, often it is because of the anger they feel toward the company. ‘They let me go. I don’t need their help.’ When they feel this way, they are not moving forward—and they are not going to be focused on finding a new job.”

The biggest hurdle in any job search is getting in the door to meet prospective employers. “Good career consultants are entrenched in their communities and make meaningful introductions,” said Greene. “Without these introductions, the job-search process can be long, lonely and painful.”

Also, for employees in declining industries, outplacement services can help employees re-evaluate their career direction and steer them into new and fulfilling jobs. Even for displaced employees who think they want to start their own business, outplacement services can offer invaluable connections, personality and skill assessments, and support.

 Career Partners International (CPI) is one of the world’s largest providers of talent management solutions with more than 160 offices in 20 countries around the world and serving every state in the United States. Established in 1987, CPI focuses on talent management, outplacement, executive coaching and e-learning services backed by the expertise and experience of more than 1,600 highly trained professionals. For more information, go to www.cpiworld.com.