The guest speaker at the recent Chartered Institute of Professional Development workshop was Michael Moran, who chairs the central London branch of the CIPD and is also chief executive of outplacement specialists Fairplace. Mr Moran advised Institute members about practical measures to help HR teams working in companies which are currently ‘downsizing’.
He started by looking at the effects of change and how it has an impact on employees.
‘Treat people with respect and dignity and manage the logistics of telling people that they have got to leave the company – there are ways and means of doing that,’ he said.
‘We encourage people to have a script, explaining the circumstances. And prepare managers for frequently asked questions, such as whether people can go back to their desks and say goodbye.’
He said it was not uncommon for people to feel angry about their job loss and to experience the same emotions as the Kubler-Ross change curve, which was developed initially for people going through bereavement. ‘It can take people a long time to get over it and that can be a result of how it is handled,’ he said.
Mr Moran’s company works mainly with financial services firms based in the City of London, but he has been called in by offices in the Island and Fairplace. He is represented locally by consultant Tracey Turmel, of Channel Islands Executive Coaching.
