Comments on: Customer Service in Layoffs http://www.serviceuntitled.com/customer-service-in-layoffs/2009/03/31/ The blog about customer service and the customer service experience. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:35:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scott Larner http://www.serviceuntitled.com/customer-service-in-layoffs/2009/03/31/comment-page-1/#comment-979014 Scott Larner Tue, 26 May 2009 17:28:25 +0000 http://www.serviceuntitled.com/?p=1010#comment-979014 I was laid off last spring and in reality, it was more of a reduction in force. The company announced the day of the layoff approximately one month before and stated that, of the 12 managers, 4 positions were to be eliminated, so everyone knew there was a good chance of being one of the 4. Each manager was given a set time to be in the HR office and was either offered a newly restructured position, or walked out the back door. Once out the back door, that was it, you were on your own. A severance package was offered but that was it. I was told that it was a tough decision and really came down to not enough chairs when the music stopped. And even with as tough as the news was to hear, there were a few things the company could have done in addition to the suggestions you have given above. My suggestions for potential posts would be: 1. preparing a letter(s) of recommendation for exiting employee. 2. Preparing a contact list for important services, such as, corporate contact for 401k, health insurance, confirmations of employment, and such. Remembering that when an employee is walked out, it is usually immediate, and not given the opportunity to return to their desk and get personal items until some weeks later or until the company does it for them. Thanks for the good article. I was laid off last spring and in reality, it was more of a reduction in force. The company announced the day of the layoff approximately one month before and stated that, of the 12 managers, 4 positions were to be eliminated, so everyone knew there was a good chance of being one of the 4. Each manager was given a set time to be in the HR office and was either offered a newly restructured position, or walked out the back door. Once out the back door, that was it, you were on your own. A severance package was offered but that was it.

I was told that it was a tough decision and really came down to not enough chairs when the music stopped. And even with as tough as the news was to hear, there were a few things the company could have done in addition to the suggestions you have given above.

My suggestions for potential posts would be: 1. preparing a letter(s) of recommendation for exiting employee. 2. Preparing a contact list for important services, such as, corporate contact for 401k, health insurance, confirmations of employment, and such. Remembering that when an employee is walked out, it is usually immediate, and not given the opportunity to return to their desk and get personal items until some weeks later or until the company does it for them.

Thanks for the good article.

]]> By: Kate http://www.serviceuntitled.com/customer-service-in-layoffs/2009/03/31/comment-page-1/#comment-952989 Kate Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:08:18 +0000 http://www.serviceuntitled.com/?p=1010#comment-952989 There a lot of things that you can do to let the displaced help each other. One company I know uses an IM service (brosix) to help their formers network and help each other find jobs. Because they can have group events or one of one, even with video and file sharing, it has helped them to be a resource for each other. Not that it is a subsitute for empathy, but it is a good idea for expressing it. There a lot of things that you can do to let the displaced help each other. One company I know uses an IM service (brosix) to help their formers network and help each other find jobs. Because they can have group events or one of one, even with video and file sharing, it has helped them to be a resource for each other. Not that it is a subsitute for empathy, but it is a good idea for expressing it.

]]> By: Meikah Delid http://www.serviceuntitled.com/customer-service-in-layoffs/2009/03/31/comment-page-1/#comment-951980 Meikah Delid Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:18:29 +0000 http://www.serviceuntitled.com/?p=1010#comment-951980 Well, some companies I know give a good severance package and even an after-work sort of training workshop to lessen the blow. But I think, employees would appreciate more a good severance package. :) Well, some companies I know give a good severance package and even an after-work sort of training workshop to lessen the blow. But I think, employees would appreciate more a good severance package. :)

]]> By: Barry Peters http://www.serviceuntitled.com/customer-service-in-layoffs/2009/03/31/comment-page-1/#comment-949659 Barry Peters Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:06:50 +0000 http://www.serviceuntitled.com/?p=1010#comment-949659 It's amazing how many companies are not getting what you say above. I think empathy is hard for many HR folks/managers. It’s amazing how many companies are not getting what you say above. I think empathy is hard for many HR folks/managers.

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