Outplacement Services in Saskatoon
March 27, 2020 by Shannon Perry
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“Paris of the Prairies”
It’s such an appropriate nickname for Saskatchewan’s largest city, Saskatoon. Straddling either side of the South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon and the surrounding area also enjoy fertile soil, which makes sense given the huge agricultural industry that the region has. Manufacturing also plays a key role in Saskatoon’s thriving economy and, surprisingly, so does technology.
The thriving economy in Saskatoon makes it a very attractive place for people to relocate to, and the diversity and culture mean that it is an enjoyable new home, not just a smart career move. But, even with many different industries all packed into one beautiful city, finding a job after a layoff event can still be challenging. Between changes in the work force and how people look for jobs to not knowing what skills are transferable, job seekers can quickly become overwhelmed and stay unemployed without help.
That’s where outplacement in Saskatoon comes in.
Outplacement Services in Saskatoon: A Refresher
Outplacement services in Winnipeg are offered by companies when they are holding a layoff or RIF event. Employees who will be impacted by the layoff—that is, those who are losing their jobs—can use outplacement to help secure their next employment. It sounds pretty simple, and it is, but outplacement does a lot to make sure that impacted employees land on their feet after the layoff event. Careerminds is the perfect example of an outplacement provider that adapts and updates the services they offer in order to do this.
At Careerminds, we utilize a 100 per cent virtual platform, allowing us to work with anyone, anywhere. When looking for an outplacement provider, it’s important to look for one that uses a variety of tools to reach their objective. That’s why we have such a high success rate and have led the way in the industry for adapting to a virtual world. We didn’t have to adapt, we were virtual and versatile from day one.
Another factor to consider when shopping for an outplacement provider is their level of involvement with you as a client in addition to the impacted employees that will be participating in the services offered. After all, outplacement isn’t just about finding them jobs, it benefits your company too.
How Outplacement Helps Saskatoon Based Companies
Company Brand
Why is it important to take care of outbound employees? One of the biggest reasons is because of branding. Public opinion is everything and for many businesses, it can be hard to recover from bad public opinion. After all, how many companies have you avoided because that company treated a loved one, a friend, or even a stranger you read about on social media badly?
On a more broad scale, how many times have you seen public opinion have a huge impact on an organization in response to a poorly handled event?
While a Saskatoon layoff event likely won’t spark national or international outrage, it can still have a serious impact on the wellbeing of the company. By offering outplacement services in Saskatoon, you can assure Saskatonians that you want to see them be successful after they’ve moved on from your company. People like knowing that the places they get products or services from actually care about the people who have helped to build the company.
Part of the public that notices this is potential employees, too.
Employer Brand
As one generation of workers began to retire and millennials entered the workforce, a slow shift began that has only gained momentum over recent years. Companies can no longer expect competitive pay and benefits alone to win over a potential new employee. Millennials want more, and understanding that is the key to longevity– after all, it’s estimated that 75 per cent of the workforce will be millennials by 2030.
For the majority of millennials, working for a company that is aligned with their own values is just as important as ensuring their financial security with a fair paycheque. In fact, it isn’t uncommon to hear millennials say that they’d take a lower pay rate if it meant they could work for a company with purpose and whose culture was positive.
Millennials also place a lot of importance on development, continuous feedback, and moving up (or out, if need be) in the company. Because the rising workforce has a company culture expectation, it’s essential that companies work to prioritize methods that will nurture that new culture. Creating transparency will allow the company culture to be seen not only by potential employees but the public as well and will play a major role in the company’s brand.
Outplacement is a part of that because millennials will feel more secure about their future, and it also displays a sense of responsibility and compassion towards society.
Community Responsibility
Branding aside, outplacement is very simply the ethical thing to do for impacted employees. These employees have sold weeks and years of their lives to your company in order to contribute to the success of it. And, as difficult as a layoff event is for a company to conduct, it is often a stressful and anxiety-ridden moment in someone’s life. Outplacement can provide reassurances and resources to minimize the impact of a layoff.
In recent years Saskatoon has been one of Canada’s fastest growing cities at a rate of 2.8 per cent– which is slightly more than Toronto. And with the manufacturing industry and industries like biotechnology and life sciences thriving, it’s no surprise that the city is growing. But, with growth often comes changes and for employees who have been laid off, it can be challenging for participants who haven’t had to hunt for a job in a while. That’s where outplacement— specifically a company that’s constantly adapting to the virtual world—becomes an asset.
Plus, ultimately outplacement saves money as it ensures that former employees do not need to rely on government programs designed to help Canadians when they need it. Fewer people who need these services mean lower taxes, so outplacement really is an investment. And, it’s not just as far as taxes go too—outplacement can reduce the risk of a lawsuit.
Minimal Risk of Lawsuits
Layoffs are tricky.
Careerminds really isn’t qualified to offer legal advice (it’s important to consult with your legal department throughout the layoff process), but we’ve doing this long enough to know that companies can inadvertently violate the rights of their employees with layoff events and even new, seemingly benign policies.
The Employment Equity Act is designed to ensure that vulnerable groups are fairly represented in a company or the Canadian workforce as a whole. The law isn’t designed to promote unqualified people to positions that would ultimately lead to them being laid off or cause undue hardship for the employer, but to merely ensure that someone isn’t disqualified due to discrimination. The layoff process is covered under this federal law as well and requires special attention to ensure that the law isn’t violated.
Special concerns for HR, First Nations, Minorities and Outplacement
Unlike many other larger cities in Canada, Saskatoon has the privilege of having a large population of indigenous people and other minorities. Having that diversity, however, increases the risk of violating federal law as far as discrimination goes. While many people support and embrace the indigenous people of this country, racism still exists.
Whether it is a subconscious move in HR during a layoff or an employer who refuses to hire someone because of their skin color or their heritage, minorities involved in a layoff event need to be considered in any city, but especially one with so many minorities as part of the workforce.
Like any place where people are, there are problems. But, at the core, Saskatonians care. It’s essential that companies remember this when making the choice to hold a reduction-in-force (RIF) event. Tossing part of the workforce out into the figurative cold without a plan doesn’t sit well with the public or people who might want to work with your company in the future, and if done carelessly can cost the company in much more direct ways.
Let Careerminds help you organize a layoff event that will prepare impacted employees for today’s job market so that they land on their feet and your company can thrive!
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