An initiative of the Job Seeker's Union
The Fair Layoff Pledge

For employers

Guide

These go past the five promises. None of them is required to sign, and each one makes a hard day easier for the people leaving and the people staying. Not legal advice; the linked sources are the law.

Beyond the five promises

  • Leave a goodbye window

    Keep work accounts open for a short time after the conversation, long enough for people to send coworkers a personal email address.

  • Tell everyone else the same day

    The people who stay need the same facts on the same day: how many people left, why, and what changes for them.

  • Pick the time with care

    Hold the conversations early in the day and early in the week, so nobody spends a weekend alone with the news and no questions answered.

  • Keep the meeting short

    Cornell's HR guide for managers says to schedule 30 minutes and plan to close within 15. Put the details in writing instead of saying everything out loud.

  • Keep leaders' speeches for later

    No company-wide address until every affected person has been told. When it comes, keep it short and about the people leaving, not the executive delivering it.

The words to use

What to say in the meeting

[Name], your job is being eliminated in a layoff. Your last day is [date].

I'm sorry. I know this is a lot to take in.

[Only if true: This isn't about your work.] The reason is [one or two plain sentences]. We chose which roles to cut by [how people were chosen].

This sheet has your final pay date, your health coverage dates and who to call. [If severance: Here are the severance terms. You have until [date] to review them, and you can have a lawyer look at them first.]

You decide how your coworkers hear about this. I can tell them, or you can tell the people you want to first. You can also take the rest of today off, paid.

I'll send all of this in writing today, and I'll call you on [day] to answer anything that comes up later. What questions can I answer right now?

The written follow-up, sent the same day

Subject: Your layoff details, in writing

[Name], here is everything we talked about today, so you don't have to remember it.

Your last day: [date].

Final paycheck: [date], paid by [method]. Unused paid time off: [paid out or not paid out].

Health coverage: ends [date]. Your COBRA notice comes from [who] and usually arrives within 44 days. You then have at least 60 days to decide.

[If severance: The terms are attached. You have until [date] to review them, and you're welcome to have a lawyer read them before you sign.]

Your things: [how your belongings come home and what happens to your laptop].

Questions about pay, benefits or paperwork: [name], [email or phone].

Your coworkers: [what we agreed about how they hear the news].

References: I'll give you one whenever you ask.

Free job-search help: jobseekersunion.org/get-hired.

I'm sorry this is happening. I'll call you on [day], and you can reach me before then at [contact].

[Manager name]

Say this, not that

Instead ofSay
We're right-sizing the organization.We're laying off [number] people.
We're making some org changes.We're laying off [number] people, and your job is one of them.
Hi [team nickname]! I have some tough news to share.Your job is being eliminated. Your last day is [date].
This is one of the hardest decisions I've ever made.This was the company's decision, and I'm sorry.
Build a last-day sheetSign the pledge