We are in the process of laying off some people and wanted to know if anyone had some advice on how to communicate the message to the remaining employees that is up beat but not too up beat because we may have to do it again. At the same time we do not want people walking around worried about their jobs all day.

Timing is the most important thing in this process. You want to make sure you treat the people being layed off with dignity and respect. If your staff sees you doing a bad job there you will lose credibility. Once these people know they are being layed off(this should be done in one day) you should bring the remaining people together and describe why you did what you had to do and that you were sorry but it was the only way you could keep a viable business.

When you talk to the remaining staff you want to reassure them that you only wanted to do layoffs once and that unless circumstances change with the business you do not see any chance of another business. But you cannot promise them.

People who are left after layoff experience clusters of emotions like fear, insecurity,uncertainty, frustration, resentment, anger, sadness, depression, guilt, unfairness, betrayal, and distrust to name a few.

-May become increasingly resigned, fatigued, depressed, deepening sense of loss of control, and may get angry.

-The survivors have an unquenchable need for information before, during and after layoff.

Communicate repeatedly.

-May need to review processes so the remaining people can manage the work load.

Eliminate non essential work.

-Communicate how the work will get done.

-Give opportunity to express opinions and emotions. Encourage dialogue.

-Bosses need to be visible and communicate not only in e-mail etc. but in person.

-Tell employees the truth as you know it.

-Give employees a new core purpose/goals/objectives. Help them let go of the old.

Thanks BDA1 for your comments they were helpful in this difficult time.

One of the worst examples of how not to layoff employees was at a company I once worked for. One morning when everyone came in, no one was able to login to their email. No one knew what was going on. Everyone just clustered around gossiping and trying to figure out what was happening. Then we'd see people making the sad walk out to their cars with boxes. Every time the phone rang, we were scared to death it was HR calling us to tell us to go to the "big room" to be told we're being laid off. It was horrific.

Then there was Radio Shack that decided to just send emails to people saying "You're being laid off. Ha-ha!" Well...maybe they didn't say the Ha-Ha part, but many people felt that way.

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