Table Of ContentSTRATEGIC REDUNDANCY
IMPLEMENTATION
Redundancy, restructuring, downsizing. There are few, if any, other manage-
ment books on this important topic, and yet the pace of redundancies has only
accelerated in recent years. Coupled with this, many companies that imple-
ment redundancies as a cost-cutting exercise often fail to achieve their goal.
Whilst viewed as an uncomfortable topic by many, guidance on how to
implement a redundancy programme that is fair, proportionate and ultimately
leads to improved organisational performance, has never been more needed.
This book fills this important gap. It takes the reader through a redundancy
implementation strategy – Re-Focus, Re-Organise and Re-Build – that incorpo-
rates the key aspects of planning and analysis, fairness and justice, and prepares
management for redundancy implementation through training. What will
your communications include? What will be your strategy for implementation?
What training does your management need? Various helpful template exam-
ples are included for employee consultation, communication and training.
The book will be invaluable for business managers, HR professionals,
employee representatives and HR students.
Madeleine Stevens is a senior lecturer in Human Resource Management
at Liverpool John Moores University. She has published a number of arti-
cles for the CIPD on redundancy implementation and how to mitigate the
negative impact of redundancies for individuals and organisations. Prior
to joining academia, Dr. Stevens worked as a HR practitioner for over 20
years, holding various roles internationally with extensive experience in
business restructuring and improvement. She has won several awards for
her research and innovative teaching from the Academy of Management
and Association of Business Psychologists. Dr. Stevens is a Fellow member
of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD), Higher
Education Academy (FHEA) and Paralegal Society (Specialist Employment
Law). She is also a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society.
“Madeleine Stevens has produced an important book for teachers, learners
and professional practitioners of HR. The book provides an original and
comprehensive guide on all aspects of redundancies, and supplements this
with practical examples and templates of associated documents. This is in
my view an unmissable resource for everyone with an interest and role in
managing redundancies.”
Professor Jim Stewart, Professor of Human Resource Development,
Liverpool Business School
“Restructures and redundancies are often an unavoidable part of a HR
professional’s working life, but knowing how to carry them out with
compassion is vital. Madeleine is an expert on limiting the negative effects
of such programmes and brings a fresh perspective on the impact on all
individuals involved in the process. This book is sure to be a must-read for
HR professionals.”
Katie Jacobs, Senior Stakeholder Lead, CIPD and business journalist
“Dr. Madeleine Stevens’ book offers a fresh and much-needed rethink on
the issues around how companies approach and implement redundancies.
It explores positive alternatives to redundancies that limit the emotional
impact on employees and the detrimental effect redundancies can have on
businesses.”
Colin Gosling, Senior Unite Rep and European Siemens representative,
Siemens ITS Poole
“At last a book about this difficult topic that is both practical about the
process but also deals with the emotional rollercoaster for all participants.
Maddy Stevens’ compassionate approach is no soft touch, and has the
authenticity of hard-won experience.”
Toby Peyton-Jones, OBE, Former HR Director Siemens UK and
Northwest Europe
STRATEGIC REDUNDANCY
IMPLEMENTATION
Re-Focus, Re-Organise and Re-Build
Madeleine Stevens
Cover image: © Matthias Kulka / Getty Images
First published 2022
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Madeleine Stevens
The right of Madeleine Stevens to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents
Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in
any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-0-367-46570-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-17052-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-03041-6 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003030416
Typeset in Joanna
by codeMantra
This book is dedicated to:
Dave Pickles – the smiling assassin of redundancies
Ke’ala and Kai – my children who put the purpose of life into context
Ron and Betsie Stevens – my ‘oracles’
Ronnelie Nieuwenhuis – a superhero, always there to make things
better
CONTENTS
List of figures ix
List of tables x
List of abbreviations xi
About the author xiii
Acknowledgements xv
Preface xvi
Part I Re-Focus: Understanding the challenge 1
1 The redundancy phenomenon 3
2 Success of redundancies as a business strategy 16
3 The negative impact of redundancies on the workforce 28
4 Limiting redundancies – alternative strategies 49
5 The legal aspects of redundancies 64
Part II Re-Organise: Redundancy implementation:
Planning and strategy 105
viii Contents
6 A review of redundancy-incorporating strategies 107
7 Strategic redundancy implementation 117
8 Communication strategy 225
9 Employee representatives: adding value to redundancy
implementation 262
10 Organisational support for victims, survivors,
semi-survivors and redundancy envoys 327
PART III Re-Build: Re-building the organisation 345
11 Re-building the organisation post-redundancy implementation 347
Index 357
FIGURES
3.1 Redundancy victim’s experience of change 31
7.1 Redundancy implementation strategy: Re-Focus,
Re-Organise and Re-Build 118
7.2 Eight stages of redundancy implementation 119
7.3 RRR strategy stage 1: defining the organisational goals 120
7.4. RRR strategy stage 2: cost containment 122
7.5. RRR strategy stage 5: people impact strategy overview 131
7.6 RRR strategy stage 5: people impact strategy process map 133
8.1 RRR strategy stage 6: communications strategy for
redundancy implementation 228
8.2 Redundancy communications channels 231
8.3 Redundancy intranet dashboard example 233
9.1 Key competencies for employee representatives 266
9.2 Employee representative committee structure 268
10.1 CV writing skills workshop content 330
10.2 Interview skills workshop content 331
10.3 Self-employment workshop content 331
10.4 Retirement workshop content 332
