A Holistic Approach to Workforce Restructuring – Providing Support to All Involved

Since 2002, DMA Group has provided outplacement and career transition support through tailormade programmes in group and individual format, to those affected by retrenchment. Now, in partnership with Alexa Stafford, we offer a more holistic approach, supporting the managers making difficult decisions, as well as the colleagues who remain behind.  Alexa is a leadership coach, facilitator and organisational change specialist with over 15-years’ experience partnering with leaders and teams navigating complex transitions.

Co-authored by Ross Mengel & Alexa Stafford, this article shares insights on how to support everyone involved and affected by workforce restructuring.

Who Needs Support During Retrenchment?

Retrenchment is a word that makes many people in business uneasy – and for good reason. Behind every retrenchment letter is a personal story. Yet, for many organisations, the process becomes a box-ticking exercise: compliance, timelines, payouts. And while these steps are essential, they’re only part of the picture.

According to Alexa, “supporting people in times of change means more than helping them move on. It means helping everyone - those leaving, those staying, and those leading the process - move through. That’s why, alongside outplacement, organisations should invest in preparing leaders for difficult conversations and equipping teams to rebuild trust. With the right blend of procedural guidance, outplacement support, and human-centred leadership, retrenchment can be handled not just according to statutory requirements - but in a meaningful manner as well. Because how you part ways with people says just as much about your company as how you welcome them when they join.”

Those in need of support include:

1. Employees Who are Retrenched

Losing a job is one of the most destabilising events a person can experience and those leaving require the most support. Facilitated by a certified and credentialed coach, our career transition programmes provide retrenched employees with practical advice for an effective and speedy transition. Support typically includes:

• One-on-one coaching through regular meetings, focused on participant's priorities

• Insights to personality traits through profiling tools and behavioural assessments

• Identifying achievements and CV formatting

• LinkedIn profile, social media and job portal profile development

• Proactive and reactive job search strategies to be adopted during career transition

• Interview skills and preparation, including mock interviews and accomplishment statements

• Negotiation skills and handling the process of receiving an offer

• Insights and key questions to ask regarding entrepreneurship

• A broad range of content on critical aspects of career transition

• Personal and emotional support through change

Outplacement isn’t a luxury - it’s a vital service that reduces risk, protects your employer brand and gives people dignity during a difficult transition.

2. The Managers and HR Teams Delivering the News

A huge emotional weight of retrenchment falls on managers and HR teams and, as Alexa writes, “an often-overlooked group are the managers tasked with delivering the news. Many are ill-equipped for the emotional weight of these conversations. They’re handed checklists – but not the skills to lead hard conversations with empathy or process the emotional toll it takes on them.” 

In collaboration with Alexa, our manager coaching and support helps to prepare leaders for:

• Navigating emotional conversations

• Balancing empathy with clarity

• Managing their own stress and accountability in the process

• Staying steady when emotions run high – without shutting down or rushing to fix it

• Holding space for difficult reactions without over-personalising them

• Preparing for the ‘what if’s’ – questions, resistance, silence or anger

• Knowing what not to say

• Debriefing after the conversation – so that they are not carrying the weight alone

3. The Colleagues Who Remain Behind

Often referred to as “survivors”, those left behind face a different set of challenges:

• Fear about the future

• Guilt for still having a job

• Reduced morale and productivity

• Disengagement or distrust

According to Alexa, “They may still have a desk, but the ground beneath them has shifted. Productivity dips, engagement erodes, and people begin to emotionally check out. And when trust is broken, it doesn’t just affect feelings - it affects performance, retention and the speed at which a business can stabilise or grow again.”

In partnership with Alexa, we help companies rebuild trust and re-energise teams through:

• Team coaching and facilitated conversations

• Culture restoration initiatives to rebuild trust, connection and morale

• Support for leaders to stabilise performance post-workforce restructuring activities

Why a Holistic Approach Matters

When retrenchment is handled well:

• People land on their feet faster

• The foundation for rebuilding trust in leadership is strengthened

• Remaining staff feel supported

• The organisation is better positioned to recover and rebuild sustainably

When handled poorly, the opposite happens - with long-term consequences to morale, turnover, and brand reputation. As Alexa puts it, “Retrenchment is not just a transactional process. It is a relational rupture – a moment that tests trust, leadership and culture.”

Partnering with All Affected through Change

At DMA Group, we’ve supported individuals through retrenchment for over two decades. Workforce restructuring is not just about reducing headcount - it’s about managing a moment of change that affects your culture, your reputation and the wellbeing of all involved.

Whether you’re in the early stages of planning or already navigating restructuring, we are able to assist you with:

• Complying with legislation

• Supporting exiting employees

• Equipping your managers

• Rebuilding and retaining your teams

For a confidential discussion on how to support the leavers, the leaders, and those left behind, visit www.dma-group.co.za, email info@dma-group.co.za or call +2711 888 9009. We would be happy to discuss how we can assist.

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