Most business leaders recognize that employee morale is critical to long-term success. Indeed, one study found that happy employees are 20% more productive than unhappy team members. Unfortunately, nothing will bring morale down faster than a few layoffs. Downsizing is a part of modern business, and sometimes professionals simply have to make tough calls to ensure the viability of their business. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that the best companies enjoy low employee-turnover rates and minimize downsizing. With that in mind, today we’re going to look at four ways you can reduce or even eliminate layoffs at your business. Check them out here:
Make Smart Hires
Want to know the best way to avoid layoffs? Hire dedicated and talented professionals in the first place. This, obviously, is easier said than done. Finding the right person for an open position can take months –– time not every business owner can afford. However, it’s almost always preferable to be patient and wait for the right applicant to come along than to make a snap hire for expediency’s sake. Taking a chance on an unproven candidate could backfire on you if you’re not careful.
Savvy Budgeting
Forming a sensible business budget is one of the most important things any professional can do. Ideally, a business budget should inform leaders how best to spend their available capital. Trying to grow too quickly or gambling on resources you haven’t secured yet could leave you stretched far too thin and in the unenviable position of having to lay off employees to make up for budgeting missteps. Remember, people’s lives are affected by budgeting decisions.
Creative Employment
Modern business owners don’t have to hire a full-time employee to handle a task that arises once or twice a month. Rather, it’s much more reasonable to hire a freelancer to cover such assignments. To that end, entrepreneurs can call on freelancers, part-timers, and interns to pick up some slack and avoid creating an unsustainable position.
Make Cuts Elsewhere
Software, hardware, creature comforts –– these things are all replaceable. What isn’t replaceable are the relationships that excellent employees build with their coworkers and customers. Before you reach the point of downsizing, look for alternative ways to save money. Odds are, your business could operate with greater efficiency by cutting back on a few inessentials.
Final Thoughts
Whether your company manufactures capillary blood collection tubes or you provide digital marketing services, proper planning and forethought can help you mitigate against detrimental layoffs. Of course, sometimes even the best plans go by the wayside. The key to being a successful leader is learning how to deal with tough situations with grace. So always be honest and upfront with your team –– otherwise you risk losing their trust.
