Pros
Layoff of employees acts as an advantage to an organization. This is because the organization has an opportunity of adding to its institutional knowledge. This occurs since employees left are trained effectively by the outgoing employees on procedures, processes, and handling special situations in the organization. Further, having outgoing employees provides adequate time for documentation of procedures and processes for reference in the future. On the same note, employees who are left gain confidence in handling job responsibilities for the laid off employees. Moreover, putting employees temporary out of the organization is a clear illustration of the respect for the employee based on experience and knowledge (Mohammad 1). As such, a positive separation between the organization and employee is created. In addition, layoff of employee contributes towards building the reputation of the organization in terms of employee treatment with dignity.
Cons
In cases where the work is categorized as of sensitive or confidential nature, employee layoff is not an option. This is because such an option would lead to attainment of poor results for the work being done. Departing employees may engage in activities such as sabotage of the organization operations. This would lead towards destroying the corporate reputation of the organization. Such cases may occur when departing employees’ exhibit anger or animosity to the left employees. Furthermore, departing employees may affect the emotional status of left employees, which compromises their ability to carry out duties effectively. Consequently, the performance output of the organization declines subsequently. Moreover, layoff of employees denies them their enjoyed wages or salary. As such, these employees may become a social problem when they lack income to meet their daily needs.
Work Cited
Mohammad, Laura. Employees to Ease the Transition, 2011. Web. 11 July, 2012.
