Layoffs are one of the toughest tasks HR managers will have to go through on a regular basis. No one wants to lay anyone off. That’s a fact.

The good news is that there are services out there that can make the process a lot easier for both you, the one doing the letting go, and the employees that are soon going to be out of work.

One of the best is known as outplacement. Here are a few things you need to know:

What is outplacement?

To start, it’s probably best to define the term since it’s not thrown around too much. Outplacement is a service that HR can provide their employees that helps them get back to work at a new, meaningful job.

In a nutshell, outplacement helps employees update their resumes, understand the current job market, and figure out what steps they need to take to find a new role.

This is important because - depending on how long the person has been out of the job market - it can be tough to navigate as technology changes so rapidly.

Think about it. If you have been working for a company for the past 15 years, the way you find and perform work has changed immensely. You no longer check the job section of the newspaper. You don’t cold call employers looking for work.

Now, you need a LinkedIn account, a social media presence, and the digital skills to find job boards.

All of this can be taught with an outplacement program that is tailored to your employee’s needs.

Why Chose Outplacement?

This is simple. Providing outplacement is a great way to help your outgoing employee through a troubling time. Coupling outplacement with a decent severance package shows that you care for them even though they are leaving the company.

This does two things: helps you feel less stressed because you just upended someone’s life and also keeps your company’s reputation intact.

In today’s world, reputation is everything, which makes layoffs incredibly tricky to work through. No one getting laid off is going to be happy out about it, but you can definitely help them feel better by showing them your support.

This keeps your company’s reputation, which you have worked hard to build, unscathed by the shakeup.

How To Find the Right Service Provider

Like any service, there are many options to choose from. The most important difference between services are their time limits.

Many outplacement providers have a time limit of 3 months or so, meaning that, if your employee takes longer than that, they are on their own, which is bad because there’s no telling how long it might take to find a new job.

The best advice is to use a service that allows employees to go at their own pace to ensure that they will eventually find new work even if it takes upwards of 3 months. After all, why pay for a service without a for-sure outcome?

In the end, outplacement is a great service to offer outgoing employees that both helps them and your company.