Reorganization/Eliminating Positions

KathyA

Anybody have any experience with "softening the blow" through a reorganization and ultimately having to cut positions (we have A LOT of female long-term employees)? I'm considering asking a consulting firm to come in to analyze positions for impending consolidation/elimination of positions due to inefficiency ... but naturally this is going to hit some people very hard. Any help or ideas would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank you.

Pork

KATHYA: From your post it appears you may not have been given the proper guidance/objectives.

One should work from a business objective and purpose statement to determine which positions regardless of the face sitting in the position. By working from business objectives, expectations of reduction of work activity due to a down turn in critical business activities like sales, or grow/expantion into a different path which creates douplication of task.

Lets say it is sales and your organization is accounting with a lot of women in authorized positions. The reduction of sales does not automatically tell you to eliminate 2, 3, or 4 positions, it is the number of accounts or accounting activities that matters, adding zeros or taking away zeros does not help. Out sourcing accounts payable tells me, we can eliminate one accounts payable accountant position, regardless of the sales $ollar and regardless of the face in that position.

Once we work through the which position or activity that will be eliminated, we begin to select the person in accounting or some other department that might be let go due to a seniority system that is in place.

If no seniority system in place then look only at the accounting department and the last person in should be the first person out.

Hope this helps! I would not hire a consultant, they are to expensive for this activity.

PORK

PORK

WT

A consulting firm can be expensive but they carry the advantage of a third eye looking at the situation and coming up with cuts. It is very hard to lay off friends you have known and worked with for years. If the company can work with the consultant, costs can be lowered. One word of caution though, if you want cover from a third party then be prepared to implement their recommendations. They may just want to eliminate your best friend.