How to do a good layoff?

Question

I need to do layoff as HR manager first time. What's the key points to watch out to do a smooth layoff? Since im in a small company, is there anything after layoff my manager should do? like call for a team conferencing explainning the layoff to remaining staff? How shall i explain to those layoff ones the reason of picked them up?

Answer 1

Good bosses always find it difficult to fire people. You have two "targets" to obtain here: (1) lay off some employees without lawsuits and (2) keep the remaining staff "motivated".

I would suggest to explain to the whole staff why some of them need to be layed off. Make this clear and simple without much details (but have the details available for when questions get asked). It's a good thing to have a general manager for visual support possible he can explain himself. Towards the remaining staff you need to explain that the firing is over and their jobs are secured. You can have two meetings, one with the laid off group, one with the remaining staff.

You later (but asap) should have a 1-1 discussion with each laid off employee and explain why he (and not a colleague)  had to go. It's best that the decisionmaker himself does not participate at these 1-1 meetings.

I try to give staff time to say goodbye to each other without being myself present.