My Team Was Laid Off: Now What?

The sudden loss of key team members due to layoffs can be both emotionally jarring and operationally challenging. 

For managers and business owners, the immediate priority becomes keeping essential functions running smoothly while ensuring any remaining team members are taken care of.

Rebuilding a workforce is never easy, but there are strategies to quickly and effectively restore operations, maintain continuity, and even strengthen your team with the right talent mix.

What to do if your team has been laid off

If your team has been laid off, evaluate the gaps, assess immediate needs, prioritize remaining team members, and consider internal vs. external resources.

1. Prioritize remaining team members

Assess your current resources and workflow, redistributing tasks and implementing automation to ease your team’s workload to avoid burnout and overworking. 

Offer mental health support, such as wellness resources or regular check-ins, to help maintain morale and resilience. 

Most importantly, be transparent about organizational change and involve your team in the reorganization process to rebuild trust.

2. Evaluate the gaps

Start by identifying the specific roles and critical functions that have been affected.

Knowing exactly where the talent gaps are allows you to determine the skills that are essential to maintaining daily operations and long-term objectives.

3. Assess immediate needs

Focus on the roles most vital for business continuity and customer satisfaction.

By addressing these first, you ensure that service levels remain consistent while you work to fill other roles.

Immediate action in these areas helps stabilize your organization and assures stakeholders that operations are under control.

4. Know what’s available to you

Do you have a line item in your budget for contingent or freelance workers? If so, this tends to be a “use it or lose it” portion of most budgets.

In a time where layoffs occur, organizational restructures may be taking place, and FTE headcount may be on a freeze.

Connect with your finance team to know what financial resources are available to tap into in the interim.

5. Consider internal vs. external resources

Determine what your current team can realistically handle and where outside support is needed.

Tasks that require specialized skills or substantial time may be better suited to external resources, such as freelance or temporary workers, while your internal team can focus on their core responsibilities.

Explore workforce options

A successful team rebuild often involves a mix of hiring solutions tailored to specific roles and project needs. Each option offers unique benefits depending on the scope and duration of your requirements.

Temporary staffing

When you need to keep operations running during a period of transition, temporary staffing can bridge the gap.

This allows you time to reassess your long-term strategy while ensuring that no critical tasks fall through the cracks.

Freelance/contractor work

For project-based tasks or specialized skills, freelancers and contractors provide flexibility and immediate expertise.

This option can be ideal for roles with a defined start and end date, allowing you to scale your workforce up or down based on current projects without long-term commitments.

Contract-to-hire

Contract-to-hire positions provide the flexibility to assess a candidate’s fit and performance before committing to a full-time role.

This approach lets you gauge the individual’s impact on the team and culture while fulfilling urgent staffing needs.

Full-time hiring

If you have long-term positions that are critical to the core of your business, full-time hiring is typically the best route.

These roles require sustained focus and dedication, making a full-time employee the most viable solution for maintaining your company’s direction and growth over time.

How staffing agencies can help

Partnering with a staffing agency can streamline your workforce rebuilding efforts by providing a tailored blend of talent solutions.

Blended workforce solutions

Staffing agencies can supply a mix of full-time, freelance, contract, and contract-to-hire talent, aligning with your specific needs.

This hybrid approach creates a well-rounded team capable of managing different aspects of your operations without the commitment of a full-time payroll for every role.

Access to top-tier talent

With pre-vetted talent pools, agencies like Mondo have access to some of the best professionals across tech, creative, and digital marketing fields.

This access saves you the time and energy required for extensive screening processes, enabling you to get the right skills in place faster.

Speed and flexibility

Agencies bring agility to the hiring process, helping to fill roles quickly and minimize downtime.

They can adapt to your changing needs, whether it’s an immediate short-term hire or a specialized role for a long-term project.

Benefits of a blended workforce

A blended workforce can offer a sustainable solution that balances cost, flexibility, and scalability, aligning with both short-term needs and long-term goals.

Cost-effective

With a blend of freelance, contract, and full-time positions, your organization can optimize budget resources by allocating full-time salaries only to essential roles while meeting other needs through flexible arrangements.

Agility

Temporary and freelance roles allow your team to pivot quickly as business priorities evolve. This flexibility is particularly valuable in rapidly changing industries, enabling you to respond faster to emerging trends and shifts.

Scalability

A blended workforce provides the ability to scale up or down based on project demands. This approach helps save on resources and creates a nimble workforce that adjusts with your business needs, ensuring continuity without overextending budgets.

Finding the right fit

Selecting the right combination of talent is critical to a successful team rebuild especially when budget constraints are tight and there is resistance to hiring anyone new.

Consider the skills and experience needed

Define the core competencies and expertise required for each position. Prioritizing skills over specific role titles can also allow you to attract talent that brings a fresh perspective and additional capabilities to your team.

Be open to flexible solutions

Consider blending full-time, freelance, and contract-to-hire roles for a tailored solution. Flexibility in your approach allows you to address immediate needs while building a foundation for sustained success.

Leverage staffing agency expertise

Staffing agencies offer guidance on the workforce model that aligns best with your organization’s goals and budget. They can assist in identifying and onboarding qualified candidates quickly, ensuring a seamless transition as you work to rebuild and realign your team.

What to do when your team has been laid off

While layoffs are emotionally and professionally challenging, they also present an opportunity to reshape your workforce strategically. 

By exploring blended workforce models and leveraging staffing agency expertise, you can maintain continuity, support growth, and rebuild with a balanced, agile team. 

Connect with Mondo today to discuss how we can help you find the perfect blend of talent to meet your needs and drive your business forward.

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