Advertising and Media worst at handling layoffs, states JobSage report

Waves of layoffs have been sweeping the United States over the past couple of months, states JobSage, but, “many companies are handling “layoffs in ways that lack compassion or meaningful support.

“From freezing computers with no notice to announcing mass layoffs on a five-minute Zoom call, there have been many layoff horror stories in the news lately. Layoffs may be an unavoidable reality for some, but companies can find a way to do them right — and a way to do them totally wrong.”

JobSage conducted a survey of 1,000 employees who had been laid off and asked them about their experience. They also gauged opinions on how layoff protocols can be carried out in the most compassionate, humane ways possible.

The industry that ranks the worst at layoffs according to respondents is Advertising and Media.

With word of real and/or potential layoffs increasing, continues JobSage, “employees are increasingly having to face the possibility of being let go. But some industries exhibit more sympathy when letting go of employees than others.”

According to the report: “Experiences with uncompassionate actions during layoffs were unfortunately common. For example, 35% of laid-off employees did not feel cared for during the firing. Nearly a third (32%) were laid off at an inconvenient time, such as before a holiday. Almost one in four employees (24%) were given no space to process the news, and over one in five employees (21%) had no opportunity to ask questions.

“Layoffs also affect trust in employers, from both within and outside of the organization. A majority of employees (63%) said that how employers handle layoffs affects their opinion of those employers. This includes employers they do not work for but read stories about in the news.

“The experience of being laid-off stays with employees, as 23% fear a layoff at their current position. This includes 26% of Millennial and 22% of Gen Z respondents. Remote workers fear layoffs the most (40%), and the industries where employees fear layoffs most right now include technology (32%), healthcare (26%), education (25%) and hospitality (25%).”

Key takeaways from the report include:

• 65% of employees say their employer could have done a better job handling layoffs.
• In terms of notice, 77% say layoffs should always be communicated in person, as opposed to virtually.
• Across industries, employees want at least two months severance pay.
• The industry that ranks the worst at layoffs, according to respondents, is Advertising and Media (83%). Hospitality (79%) and Engineering (74%) round out the top-three worst industries regarding compassionate layoffs.
• The industries where employees fear layoffs most right now include technology (32%), healthcare (26%), education (25%) and hospitality (25%).

More here.