In Weak Job Market After Outplacement Runs Out
When a terminated employee’s outplacement services run out before he or she has successfully landed another job, it’s like getting fired twice.
In this softer labor market, job searches are taking longer than in recent years. More than two-thirds of displaced employees who receive traditional three-month outplacement programs — generally, the most common program given to executives and middle managers — are not finding new jobs before their outplacement programs expire. They are being left entirely on their own after the clock runs out.
Companies that provide limited-time outplacement programs to their terminated employees in today’s weak job market are violating the top three reasons why outplacement is offered in the first place. Outplacement is provided to displaced employees to help them: (1) find a better job faster than they could on their own, (2) reduce their anxiety during their unemployment and, thus, their frustration with the company and (3) help maintain the morale of those workers who remain with the organization. Yet, companies that provide outplacement programs to terminated employees for only a limited time in today’s weak job market, risk not achieving these objectives.
Displaced employees are facing stronger competition as they vie for their next jobs. According to research by Gateway International Group, just as many companies are continuing to terminate employees this year as those that are hiring staff. Only 21 % of employers are adding employees, while 20% are continuing to cut staffing levels.
Gateway International Group’s innovative outplacement programs can offer home-based, personal career coaching with no time limits. Gateway guarantees that 100% of its program participants, through personal one-on-one coaching, will achieve their desired objectives before their programs expire — regardless of how long this takes. At best, 40% of the participants in traditional, limited-time outplacement programs reach their objectives before their program expires.
Gateway International Group has eliminated the requirement for outplacement participants to go to an outplacement firm’s office to get the service and support they need. Most people don’t want to leave home for outplacement coaching. There has been a dramatic decline in the number of affected employees who actually take advantage of and use traditional outplacement firm offices. They just don’t come to outplacement offices anymore — no matter how much you encourage them.
Personal computers and the Internet explosion have made searching for employment from the convenience of one’s home the preferred method of job-hunting for millions of Americans. Many displaced employees already engage in online searches for new employment, or found their last job this way, and prefer to continue home-based job searches without the inconvenience of having to travel to an outplacement firm’s office.
According to a recent Gateway International Group survey of 300 white-collar professionals nationwide, 92% of workers surveyed said they preferred to receive employment counseling from their homes, rather than traveling to an outplacement consultant’s office, as long as they have professional assistance available via telephone and the Internet. Only 8% of employees surveyed said they needed to receive outplacement assistance in an office setting. In addition, 87% of respondents said they felt that outplacement assistance could be provided just as effectively over the telephone as in face-to-face meetings with outplacement counselors.
Most importantly, 93% of respondents said they felt outplacement services should be provided until they have successfully achieved their objectives — and not just for a limited amount of time, like traditional outplacement firms provide.
Questions You Should Ask
If you were unemployed right now, in the current tough job market, which would you rather receive: an outplacement program that expires within a given time period or an outplacement program with no time limits that lasts until you have found new employment? Now you have a choice!
If you were unemployed right now, which type of outplacement program would you rather have: one that necessitates you having to drive to the outplacement company’s office to receive service and support, or one that you can access from the convenience of your own home? Now you have a choice!
Have any displaced employees ever complained about their outplacement services expiring before they found new employment? Now you have a choice!
Have you ever had to grant outplacement program extensions to displaced employees whose services ran out before they found new employment? Now you have a choice!
Have any displaced employees ever complained about having to drive long distances to an outplacement provider’s office, especially with the price of gas? Now you have a choice!
Have you ever personally visited the offices of your outplacement provider to see how many of your displaced employees are regularly coming to the outplacement company’s office to fully utilize their outplacement programs? Now you have a choice!
If you were displaced from your job and had a spouse or partner, would it be of value if the company that displaced you also offered you a spouse or partner employment assistance program? Now you have a choice!
Call Richard Spann at 1-800-376-8176, or e-mail him at rick.spann@gigincmail.com so that we can discuss if our “at home” or “virtual” product line is right for your company.
For More Information:
http://www.gatewayinternationalgroup.com/ http://www.larrymaglin.com/
http://www.lawrencemaglin.com/
http://www.joekran.com/
http://www.josephkran.com/
Staff Review by: Joseph (Joe) Kran, Lawrence (Larry) Maglin and Rick Spann
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