The report cites research showing high‑performing employees are more likely than others to resign following layoffs, as they are confident in securing comparable or better roles elsewhere. Careerminds says this loss of critical talent can reduce productivity and weaken organisational capabilities, undermining the financial gains that layoffs are meant to achieve.
Overall, employees rated how their employers handled recent layoffs at an average of 3.68 out of 5. While 63% say the process was handled fairly, more than one‑third (35%) believe it was unfair. The report also highlights a perception gap on communication: 83% of HR leaders believe leadership communications were empathetic, compared with 64% of employees.
Gaps in career transition support
Careerminds’ research shows that many organisations are still focused on exits rather than transitions. Only 45% of HR leaders whose organisations conducted layoffs say their offboarding process included outplacement or career transition services, and just 42% offered redeployment opportunities.
When asked what their organisation could have done differently, employees most often cited:
- more transparent communication (63%)
- earlier notice or clearer timelines (58%)
- better career transition support (53%)
- a more generous severance package (51%)
- better support for remaining employees (51%)
“From a job seeker’s perspective, access to career‑transition support can be a game changer,” says Amanda Augustine, career expert for Careerminds and a certified professional career coach. She says even basic resources such as résumé guidance, interview preparation and clear direction on next steps can help people regain confidence and move their job search forward more quickly.
