Outplacement Services Aren't Just for Big Companies Anymore

How our family of professionals helps yours through a career transition

Emily in HR. John in shipping and loading. Kate in accounting.

You’re a small business owner who knows most of your employees personally. They are truly family, which makes workforce reduction decisions even harder to make.

Still, a decision has to be made. How do you best help your staff move forward?

Severance bridges the immediate gap. But are outplacement services worth the investment for a business your size?

Outplacement helps employees transition to new roles through career coaching, resume writing, LinkedIn optimization, job search strategy, and interview prep. Enterprise-level companies use them regularly, but boutique firms—like Madelyn Mackie and Associates—now make it accessible for small businesses too.

Here are 4 ways outplacement makes this transition easier for your employees:

They find new jobs faster, at the same pay or better. U.S. Department of Labor research on job search assistance found participants were reemployed more quickly and didn’t trade lower pay for a shorter search.
Your employees receive one-on-one coaching and a fully optimized resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile—tools that help them stand out to their next employer.
It reassures the employees who stay. They now know what to expect if things ever change.
It reinforces your reputation as an employer who does right by people. The way you treat departing personnel reinforces your brand to customers, your community, and future hires.

Emily, John, and Kate helped build your business. Outplacement is one more way to take care of them as they move forward.

Legal notice requirements are just one piece of a layoff. For a free overview, the Department of Labor’s WARN Act Compliance Assistance guide is a good starting point. As always, confirm specifics with your employment attorney. The harder part is what happens next for your people, and that’s where we come in.

Considering a layoff? At Madelyn Mackie and Associates, we treat your employees like family as we help them activate their career search. Contact us today at madelynmackie.com.