This document outlines lessons learned from layoffs. It begins with contact information for Nora Burns who authored the document. It then provides 10 lessons on topics like offering buyouts, showing empathy, being transparent about the severity of the situation, who to layoff, how quickly to act, and supporting survivors. It concludes with a bonus lesson on considering alternatives to layoffs.

1. Top 10 Lessons Learned:
Layoffs
Nora A Burns, SPHR
www.insightfulendeavors.com
Twitter: @NoraBurns / @PHRSPHR
Direct Phone: 303.862.2697
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

2. Now More Than Ever
 Nonfarm payroll continued to decline in June
(-467,000)
 Large declines in manufacturing, professional &
business services and construction
 Unemployment rate 9.5%
 14.7 million people
 4.4 million of those are “long-term
unemployed” (27+weeks)
Bureau of Labor Statistics - US Department of Labor - July 2, 2009

3. Unemployment Rate by Segment
 Adult Men: 10%
 Adult Women: 7.6%
 Teenagers: 24%
 Whites: 8.7%
 Blacks: 14.7%
 Hispanics: 12.2%
Bureau of Labor Statistics - US Department of Labor - July 2, 2009

4. EEOC Complaint Trending
 All Statutes (Title  Pregnancy
VII, ADA, ADEA and Discrimination
EPA) Charges Charges
 FY 2004: 79,432  FY 2004: 4,887
 FY 2005: 75,428  FY 2005: 4,730
 FY 2006: 75,768  FY 2006: 4,901
 FY 2007: 82,792  FY 2007: 5,587
 FY 2008: 95,402  FY 2008: 6,285
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

5. EEOC Complaint Trending
 Sex-Based Charges  Race-Based Charges
 FY 2004: 24,249  FY 2004: 27,696
 FY 2005: 23,094  FY 2005: 26,740
 FY 2006: 23,247  FY 2006: 27,238
 FY 2007: 24,826  FY 2007: 30,510
 FY 2008: 28,372  FY 2008: 33,937
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

6. Lesson 1: The Buyout
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

7. Lesson 2: Early Retirement
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

8. Lesson 3: Role of Empathy
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

9. Lesson 4: The Tee-Up Counts

10. Lesson 5: Be Real
“If this were a real financial
emergency…..layoffs would
be greater than [11%]”
-Executive of firm that had just cut 24 of their 224 positions

11. Lesson 6: When
Source: Employment Spectator April 14, 2009 http://www.employmentspectator.com/2009/04/
update-laying-off-nurses-immediately-does-not-mean-during-surgery/

12. Lesson 7: Who
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

13. Lesson 8: Speed
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

14. Lesson 9: Appreciate Differences
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

15. Lesson 10: The Survivors
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc

16. BONUS Lesson: Options
Source for Quote: inlandsocial.com June 24, 2009

17. Thank you!
Contact Information:
Nora A Burns, SPHR
Nora@Insightfulendeavors.com
www.insightfulendeavors.com
Twitter: @NoraBurns / @PHRSPHR
For a list of our upcoming programs please visit:
www.insightfulendeavors.com/calendar
© 2009 Insightful Endeavors International, Inc