Should Outplacement Assistance Be Mandatory?

The majority of employees think so.

A recent report from a UK-based recruitment firm found that a majority of employees think companies should have to provide career transition services to workers who lose their jobs. The report is based on a survey of more than 1,000 HR professionals, managers, and employees.

While 82.2 percent of employees think companies should have to provide laid-off workers with outplacement help, 73 percent said they did not receive this type of help when they lost their own jobs, which could be a result of employers not wanting to pay for the services.

The report found that nearly two-thirds of employers would provide outplacement assistance to their laid-off workers if the government was willing to provide funding for the help. Employers cited a lack of internal resources and a declining view of importance as the top reasons for not providing outplacement help.

It’s unlikely that the government will be providing funding for employers to offer outplacement services any time soon, but there are still affordable options out there.

As an employer, it’s important to remember that the difference between providing help to laid-off workers and leaving displaced employees to fend for themselves can make all the difference when it comes to your company maintaining a good reputation.

Employees who are affected by layoffs and receive the help they need will be more likely to give your company a good name, but those who don’t receive any assistance may end up feeling slighted and under appreciated.