Employer branding is usually associated with how a company treats the employees who stay — benefits, workplace atmosphere, flexibility and organisational culture. Less often do we talk about the fact that an employer’s image is shaped just as strongly at the moment when an employee leaves the company. And it is the termination of employment — not onboarding or an annual performance review — that can become the most emotional and most memorable point in the entire employee–employer relationship.
Why the Way a Company Handles Layoffs Affects Its Reputation
According to data from the Gallup Institute, employees who feel that their organisation genuinely cares about them are 59% less likely to look for a new job. This statistic refers to the engagement of people who remain with the company, but the same mechanism also works in the opposite direction. Employees who are being let go and who receive professional and empathetic support are less likely to leave negative reviews on LinkedIn or Glassdoor, more willing to maintain good relations with their former employer and — importantly from a recruitment perspective — may even return to the company in the future or recommend it to others.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in its 2022 guidelines on mental health at work, clearly indicates that an employer’s responsibility for employee wellbeing does not end on the last day of employment. Companies that understand this treat offboarding — including outplacement programmes — as a natural extension of their wellbeing policy, rather than merely an HR formality.
Dismissal as a Critical Moment — for the Employee and for the Employer Brand
From the perspective of the person being dismissed, losing a job remains one of the strongest life stressors. It activates the stress response, raises cortisol levels and leads to specific, measurable effects: sleep problems, muscle tension, reduced immunity and low mood. From the employer’s perspective, this difficult and emotional moment — observed by the entire team — is one of the strongest tests of whether declarations about “caring for people”, written into company values, are truly reflected in practice.
Standard outplacement, limited to help with writing a CV and preparing for job interviews, addresses only the professional layer of the problem. Meanwhile, wellbeing — understood in line with Gallup’s model as a combination of physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing — requires something more: real support for both the body and the mind at a time when both are under significant strain.
Why Comprehensive Care Is Not an Add-On, but a Standard of Responsible Outplacement
Comprehensive care in health-oriented outplacement should not be treated as an additional benefit, but as a standard of responsible support for an employee leaving the organisation. Job loss triggers both psychological and physical reactions at the same time: anxiety, tension, a sense of losing control, sleep difficulties, neck and shoulder pain, and problems with breathing. That is why effective support should include both sessions with a psychotherapist, who can help organise emotions, work through negative beliefs and restore a sense of agency, and osteopathic work with the body, tension and regulation of the autonomic nervous system.
For the employer, such a programme is a clear signal that outplacement is not merely a formal element of restructuring, but a genuine action supporting a person at one of the most demanding moments of their professional life.
We Help Restore Balance, Relaxation and Mental and Physical Comfort During a Difficult Period of Change
Companies planning responsible outplacement programmes can include the health support available at the 3xZdrowie centre at 15 Limanowskiego Street in Kraków. Such assistance can become a practical element of the employee separation process — showing that the organisation cares not only about the formal side of dismissal, but also about the wellbeing of the person leaving the company.
Companies interested in implementing a health-oriented outplacement programme for employees are welcome to contact the 3xZdrowie centre in Kraków.
E-mail: [email protected]
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a doctor, psychotherapist or osteopath. In the case of severe anxiety or depressive symptoms, or thoughts of resignation, it is advisable to seek support from a mental health specialist.
