Every week the news is full of business closures and job losses, from the total shutdown of Toys R Us, to major cutbacks at Carpetright and the inevitable ‘rationalisation’ as Sainsburys and Asda merge. Beyond the media spotlight, many more small businesses are having to shed staff, with similar effects on those individuals and their families.

Impact of redundancy

For a few this may be the chance to take early retirement, with a lump sum to buffer the financials over the next few years. For some this is the catalyst for change, the stimulus to review, re-train and find a new direction. For a fair number of people, redundancy is ultimately a good thing.

However, for many people it is a disaster. They lose their home or suffer ill-health or endure the break-up of relationships and, for some, never work again. There is no simple solution but with appropriate help, people can re-focus, make informed attempts to move forward, and ultimately thrive post-redundancy.

Outplacement alternative for small businesses

We recognise that many small companies cannot afford to provide the support they would like for people who they are making redundant. For them, we have put together a Work Horizons outplacement package. Paid for by the company, it provides the employee with a year of Work Horizons membership, with articles, exercises and videos to help them work out their aspirations and constraints, to prepare for and find the right work and then, crucially, to thrive in a new position.

If you know a business owner who is faced with making redundancies, please direct them to www.workhorizons.com/corporate or contact us on 0121 663 1710 to discuss our referral programme.