There has been a persistent question about which employees are most likely to be let go by a company, given the recent light of layoffs. There’s always a doubt who’s going to be the next victim and the new ones are always worried about it a lot more. However, a study has given the right answer to it.
In a survey conducted on more than 1,500 HR professionals and employees, it has been found that in most cases, 65 per cent of HR professionals tend to lay off employees who were hired most recently. The research also revealed that workers generally believe that if there are job cuts, recent hires are 62 per cent more likely to lose their jobs compared to long-serving employees who have a 20 per cent chance of being laid off.
From the 1500 employees and HR professionals, more than 50 per cent of the workers who participated in the survey expressed their desire to know the reasons behind why certain job positions were selected for layoffs. This demand for transparency in the decision-making process is one of the reasons why employers often choose to lay off recent hires first. Additionally, it is said that this approach is relatively easy to explain, which is important when it comes to involuntary terminations, as people expect and require an explanation for such actions.
The research also shows that despite many other methods of layoff, the approach of eliminating employees based on their length of service is less complicated. This is also one of the reasons why many organisations prefer the tenure-based approach because it is relatively simple and objective, and can be easily accessed by companies.
However, there are ways employees can find out how potential employers manage layoffs. If an employee is let go shortly after being hired, it’s important to frame the situation positively when searching for new job opportunities. It’s vital to rebound successfully from a layoff to convey and believe that the decision to let them go was purely an economic one and not a result of their performance. This presents a more accurate and valuable story to future employers, who often understand that a layoff is not the employee’s fault, especially in the current economic climate.
Additionally, it is advised to laid-off employees to be open about their layoff experiences, even on professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn, as 43 per cent of recruiters often search for candidates there.
Job seekers should not consider their layoffs as a blemish on their record, as everyone understands that the current economic conditions are beyond their control. This can help them avoid accepting jobs at companies that may terminate their employment soon after they start.
