The Manager's Pocket Guide® to Downsizing with Confidence

Table of contents

1. The Manager’s Pocket Guide® to Downsizing with Confidence
   1. Copyright
   2. Introduction
   3. Question 1: Why should we worry?
      1. Litigation and Effects on Exiting Employees
      2. Effects on Remaining Employees
      3. Effects on Decision Makers
      4. Marketplace Reputation
      5. Future Recruiting Status
   4. Question 2: What are our real needs?
      1. Examine Your Strategic and Business Plans
      2. Identify the Resources You Need
   5. Question 3: How much planning time do we really need?
   6. Question 4: How do we select who goes?
      1. 1. Deal with performance issues early.
      2. 2. Examine criteria.
      3. 3. Select your criteria.
      4. 4. Weight each factor.
      5. 5. Apply criteria consistently.
   7. Question 5: What can we do to show that we've been fair?
   8. Question 6: How—and what—do we tell the people who will exit?
      1. 1. Use care and control.
      2. 2. The manager/executive conducts the meeting.
      3. 3. You can tell them individually or in small groups—or sometimes even a large group.
      4. 4. Do the same things in all your locations.
      5. 5. Tell the people early in the week and early in the day.
      6. 6. Plan, prepare, and practice what to say—and know what not to say.
      7. 7. Have the letter ready.
      8. 8. Provide time for people to get their belongings.
      9. 9. Make arrangements for people to get home.
      10. 10. Plan for disruption the day people are told.
      11. 11. Prepare a summary of the meeting and file it.
      12. 12. Start at the top.
      13. Scripting the Announcement (1/2)
      14. Scripting the Announcement (2/2)
   9. Question 7: How do we tell the people who will remain?
      1. 1. Tell them quickly.
      2. 2. Tell them in person.
      3. 3. The top brass talks.
      4. 4. Coach the managers in what to say.
      5. 5. Make yourself easily available.
   10. Question 8: Do we do it all at once or in phases?
       1. Advantages of a Phased Downsizing
       2. Disadvantages of a Phased Downsizing
       3. Telling People Before Their Last Day Helps and Hurts
   11. Question 9: What about the media?
       1. One Person
       2. Media Training
       3. Press Release
       4. Checklist
   12. Question 10: Is career transition assistance really necessary?
       1. The Deems Job Loss Reaction Cycle™ (1/2)
       2. The Deems Job Loss Reaction Cycle™ (2/2)
       3. Outplacement (1/2)
       4. Outplacement (2/2)
   13. Question 11: What if we need some of these people in nine months?
       1. 1. Explain your rationale for the cut.
       2. 2. Explain what assistance is being provided to the exiting people.
       3. 3. Keep in touch with those who exit.
   14. Question 12: Now what?
       1. Have we thought of everything?
   15. Who are these authors?
       1. Richard S. Deems, Ph.D.
       2. Terri A. Deems, Ph.D.
       3. WorkLife Design
       4. Books by Richard S. Deems and Terri A. Deems
       5. Books and Videos by Richard S. Deems