How Can Public Sector Employers Improve Morale in the Face of Mass Layoffs?
Eleanor Hecks is a senior HR and business writer at Designerly Magazine. After growing up with parents who both worked in the public sector, Eleanor is passionate about specifically applying her insights to those in the government and education professions. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow Designerly on X for business and design insights.
Recent mass layoffs of public-sector employees have many people worried that their jobs will be next. The stress of wondering which paycheck might be their last can impact people’s morale and job performance. By encouraging your staff to maintain a positive attitude in the face of drastic changes, you ensure they can continue succeeding in their current roles and be ready to take their careers in a new direction if necessary.
Strategies to Improve Morale During Mass Layoffs
Employees may need their spirits lifted even if they escape a pink slip. Managers must put themselves in their team members’ shoes. On top of the widespread fear of sudden layoffs, the environment will change drastically as people leave and take their institutional knowledge with them. Feeling deflated is a natural response, but leaders can manage it with a few techniques.
Offer Mental Health Support
Many of the 450,000 federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area face the looming threat of unemployment. Some are already dealing with trauma from losing their jobs or the possibility of a future layoff. Encourage workers to seek mental health counseling if overwhelming worries cause them to struggle with daily tasks or they must deal with the challenges of a sudden job loss.
Seek Resources
Talk to human resources about what’s available to help recently laid-off people find new opportunities. Talk to your higher-ups about offering severance packages or other unemployment benefits. State government agencies sometimes provide career guidance, training and job hunting support.
The Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund offers zero-interest loans to help workers through financial hardship. Advise people on using the loan to get job training or pay their bills until they find a new position.
Your actions can build a resilient, confident group. When the layoffs stop and the dust settles, you’ll have a team that has each other’s backs and is enthusiastic about getting to work.
ELEANOR HECKS
Create a Culture of Positivity
All workers benefit when their leaders set an optimistic tone. Start with a five-minute meeting every morning where you cheer on the group and ensure everyone is on the same page. If you notice anyone lagging behind or seeming upset, discreetly pull them aside and ask what they need from you.
Lift up your team by celebrating their accomplishments. While you might not be able to prevent every layoff, you can exude enough positive energy to motivate workers to do their best in the present.
Beautify the Office Environment
Though a pleasant atmosphere doesn’t replace a well-paying job, it can make people happier. Look for ways to bring light and color into the office to boost morale. Place a live plant or a vase of fresh flowers to the reception desk.
Providing ample bright lights affect mood and can improve people’s circadian rhythms, which leads to better sleep and attitudes. Further, allowing your team members to add a few personal touches to their desks can improve the atmosphere in your workplace and help them stay motivated.
Open Your Door
It’s natural for federal workers to feel nervous when they see agencies around them slashing their workforces. Invite your team to talk to you whenever they have questions. If you don’t know the answer, be transparent about it.
An open-door policy is also an opportunity to encourage current workers, pointing out what they do well and how they might improve. Though it’s challenging for people to focus on routine work when they’re worried about losing their jobs, anything you can do to keep your staff productive reflects well on your agency.
Host one-on-one question-and-answer sessions. Address the most common concerns to put their minds at ease as much as possible. Reassure them that you are there if they need additional resources or a glowing letter of recommendation to take to an interview.
Highlight Your Team’s Strengths
Mass layoffs are worrisome and demoralizing for anyone. Though they’re a source of stress, they can also be a time when your staff pulls together and steers the ship through choppy waters. By subtly encouraging your employees, you can get through cutbacks and come out on the other side, ready to reach new heights of success.
Your actions can build a resilient, confident group. When the layoffs stop and the dust settles, you’ll have a team that has each other’s backs and is enthusiastic about getting to work.
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