Sadly, making redundancies can be a necessary and unavoidable part of owning or managing an organisation.
This is particularly the case at the moment given the challenges arising from the cost-of-living crisis, political volatility and the lingering effects of the pandemic. These decisions are never easy ones to make, and managing the fallout can be extremely difficult.
If your organisation has found itself in this difficult situation then the worst thing you can do is remain passive and stay quiet. As early as you possibly can, you should think carefully about how to announce redundancies to both internal and external stakeholders. It is crucial that redundancy announcements are made in the right order, and redundancy communications are conveyed in an appropriate tone and style.
At Alder, we have advised many clients across our corporate, public, education and charity practices to communicate and manage redundancies effectively, providing and implementing bespoke communications strategies that are sensitive to stakeholder needs and expectations in order to protect organisational reputation at a challenging time.
We help clients communicate organisational change through a compassionate and clear approach, minimising stakeholder backlash and reputational risk.
Redundancy announcements routinely feature in the press and if handled badly the reputational damage can be severe. Restructures are a real test of leadership, and the media will be quick to scrutinise senior leadership through the lens of employee frustration. Redundancy communications that prioritise key stakeholders will not only risk reputational damage, but may even derail the redundancy process altogether.
Employees and the public alike will want to see employee-centred and empathetic communications. Avoiding leaks and ensuring that employees are prioritised will help protect the organisation’s reputation.
It’s not uncommon to read a report of ‘suspected’ or ‘anticipated’ redundancies at an organisation, and we are often advising clients following the impact an information leak or redundancy rumour. This is why it is so important to have a clear plan in place to ensure that information is contained effectively and briefed in a controlled manner.