Glossary of Human Resources Management and Employee Benefit Terms
A layoff is the temporary or permanent termination of employment by an employer due to a variety of reasons such as economic downturns, restructuring, or cost-cutting measures. It is a situation where an employer decides to terminate a group of employees or even entire departments, as opposed to firing individuals for cause.
Layoffs are usually a result of factors beyond the employee's control and may be due to the employer's financial situation, market conditions, or changes in the organization's structure or business needs.
A layoff is the temporary or permanent termination of employment by an employer due to a variety of reasons such as economic downturns, restructuring, or cost-cutting measures.
The main difference between a layoff and a termination is that a layoff is typically temporary, while termination is permanent. A layoff is usually due to factors beyond the employee's control, such as an economic downturn or restructuring, whereas a termination may be due to performance issues, misconduct, or other reasons related to the employee's behavior or actions.
In a layoff, the employee may be able to return to work when conditions improve, while in a termination, the employee's employment is permanently terminated. Additionally, layoffs are often conducted on a large scale, affecting multiple employees or even entire departments, whereas terminations are usually specific to individual employees.
Layoffs can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
Employers must use a fair and objective method to select employees for layoffs. This could involve considering factors such as:
It's important for employers to establish clear and objective criteria for selecting employees for layoffs and to communicate this information to employees as soon as possible. The selection process should also be documented to ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations.
There are several legal considerations that employers must take into account when conducting layoffs. These include:
Employers should consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations when conducting layoffs.
There are several alternatives to layoffs that employers can consider when faced with financial difficulties. These include:
Employers can take several steps to support employees during a layoff, including:
It's important for employers to treat laid-off employees with respect and dignity, and to provide as much support and assistance as possible during this difficult time.
These are short surveys that can be sent frequently to check what your employees think about an issue quickly. The survey comprises fewer questions (not more than 10) to get the information quickly. These can be administered at regular intervals (monthly/weekly/quarterly).
Having periodic, hour-long meetings for an informal chat with every team member is an excellent way to get a true sense of what’s happening with them. Since it is a safe and private conversation, it helps you get better details about an issue.
eNPS (employee Net Promoter score) is one of the simplest yet effective ways to assess your employee's opinion of your company. It includes one intriguing question that gauges loyalty. An example of eNPS questions include: How likely are you to recommend our company to others? Employees respond to the eNPS survey on a scale of 1-10, where 10 denotes they are ‘highly likely’ to recommend the company and 1 signifies they are ‘highly unlikely’ to recommend it.