The Jobago Blog. Your best resource for Outplacement and Career Coaching

Delivering layoff news is one of the most difficult tasks a manager can face. It requires a careful balance of honesty, empathy, and professionalism. When handled poorly, layoffs can damage trust, morale, and the company’s reputation. When done well, they can preserve dignity, provide clarity, and support employees through a challenging transition. This post offers practical strategies for managers to approach layoff conversations with compassion and clarity. It covers how to

Managing redundancies is one of the most challenging responsibilities any organisation can face. Alongside legal obligations and operational planning, businesses also need to consider the employee experience throughout the process. Building outplacement support into the redundancy timeline from the beginning helps organisations manage change more responsibly while supporting employees through an uncertain period. Outplacement support should never be treated as an afterthought

Employee transitions are one of the most sensitive moments any organisation can manage. Whether caused by restructuring, redundancy, mergers, or changing business priorities, the way employees are supported during times of change has a lasting impact on workplace culture, trust, and reputation. Businesses are increasingly recognising that strong transition support is not simply a formal process. It is an opportunity to show genuine care for people while helping individuals mo

A practical comparison to help HR leaders choose between personalised service, enterprise scale, and the new generation of AI‑powered providers You're an HR leader. You've just been told to find an outplacement provider. Maybe you're facing a restructuring. Maybe you want to be prepared before the next one hits. Either way, you're now staring at a vendor landscape that feels overwhelming. On one side: boutique firms promising white‑glove service, personal attention, and deep

The moment you hand someone their exit papers, you also hand them a microphone. I learned this the hard way. A few years ago, I watched a talented colleague walk out the door after a restructuring. She was smart, loyal, and had given the company nearly a decade. She left with a severance letter, a cardboard box, and nothing else. No resume help. No coaching. No sense that anyone cared. Six months later, she was still angry. And she told everyone. Former coworkers. Industry pe

How to protect your employer brand, support displaced employees, and prove ROI, without breaking the bank Let's be honest. If you're an HR leader reading this, you've either managed a layoff recently, or you're preparing for one. AI is reshaping entire departments. Budgets are tightening. And the pressure to protect both your people and your employer brand has never been higher. Here's the problem: Most outplacement providers are still operating like it's 2015. They charge £1

When Airbnb laid off 25% of its workforce in May 2020, nearly 1,900 people, something unusual happened. The survivors didn't panic. They didn't disengage. They didn't flood Glassdoor with angry reviews. In fact, according to peer‑reviewed research published in 2023, many survivors remained remarkably satisfied with their jobs and trusting of their leadership. Why? Because Airbnb treated the people leaving with extraordinary care. Laid‑off employees kept their company‑issued l

When employees face career transitions, the support they receive can shape their future success. Outplacement services have become essential for companies aiming to help departing employees find new opportunities while protecting their brand reputation. But in today’s world, a key question arises: should organizations rely on AI-powered career coaching, human coaches, or a mix of both? I’ve seen how combining AI and human career coaches creates a powerful outplacement experie

Choosing a career coach can feel like navigating a maze without a map. Especially when you're at the mid-level of your career, the stakes are high. You want someone who understands your unique challenges and can guide you toward your next big leap. I’ve been there, and I know how crucial it is to find the right partner in this journey. Let’s explore how to pick a career coach who truly fits your needs and ambitions. Why Mid-Level Professionals Need a Career Coach At this stag

In today’s fast-paced world, the way we approach job placement is evolving rapidly. Traditional methods often fall short in supporting employees through career transitions, especially during times of organizational change. That’s where job placement innovation steps in, reshaping how companies and individuals navigate the job market. One standout player in this transformation is Jobago , a platform that’s redefining outplacement services with a fresh, AI-powered approach. Le

Understanding Statutory Redundancy Pay in the UK In the UK, redundancy pay is a legal entitlement for employees who have worked continuously for at least two years. Unlike the US, where severance is often discretionary, UK law mandates statutory redundancy pay based on age, length of service, and weekly pay, subject to a government-set cap. Calculation Basics Half a week’s pay for each full year under age 22 One week’s pay for each full year aged 22 to 40 One and a half

At-Will Employment: The Foundation of US Termination Law Unlike the UK, where employment contracts often include notice periods and redundancy pay, the US follows the principle of at-will employment . This means: Employers or employees can end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all. There is no statutory requirement for notice or redundancy pay. Exceptions exist for discriminatory or retaliatory dismissals, but generally, no advance warni

The rise of remote-first companies has created a new way for professionals to work across borders without relocating. For UK professionals facing redundancy, this shift opens doors to international roles in markets like the US, EU, and the Middle East, all from their home base. HR leaders managing global or hybrid organisations must understand the complexities of supporting this kind of global mobility. This post explains how HR teams can help displaced talent access internat

The rise of the gig economy has transformed how many professionals approach work. In the UK, 36% of the workforce now operates independently, a figure that continues to grow. For HR leaders, this shift presents a challenge: traditional outplacement programs often focus on placing displaced executives and mid-career professionals back into full-time roles. Yet, many of these individuals are choosing portfolio careers that combine freelance projects, consulting, and fractional

In today’s fast-paced world, finding the right job or the perfect candidate can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But here’s the good news: smart job placement tools powered by artificial intelligence are changing the game. These tools are not just making the process faster; they’re making it smarter, more personalized, and more effective. Whether you’re managing a startup, running a small business, or part of an HR team, embracing these innovations can transfo

Navigating a career change can feel like stepping into uncharted waters. The uncertainty, the questions, the pressure to find the right path, it’s a lot to handle. But what if I told you that artificial intelligence is transforming this journey, making it smoother, smarter, and more supportive than ever before? Today, I want to share how AI-powered career transitions are reshaping the way organizations and individuals approach career changes, especially in a world where agili

Background and Transition to Entrepreneurship Question: Tell us about your background and what led you to start MK Talent Advisory. Melissa Kelly: I've spent 15 years in talent acquisition. I began in travel and tourism, then moved through various businesses before joining PwC. Last year, I took redundancy from PwC and launched MK Talent Advisory in August. It's been an exciting 15 months! During lockdown, I made a significant life change. I moved from London to Norfolk, wh

Organisational change, whether sparked by AI adoption, restructuring, or economic shifts, can leave teams feeling unable to keep up. For HR leaders, this moment calls for a different kind of support that helps employees build confidence in their future skills. When roles shift or disappear, employees don’t want empty promises. They want practical, honest tools to help them move forward. Backing skill development during transitions shows more than just goodwill. It answers key

The email is drafted. The severance packages are calculated. The legal team has signed off. For you, the HR leader, the upcoming redundancy process is a complex project to manage, a checklist of tasks, communications, and logistics. But for the employee who will open that meeting invite, it is not a project. It is a profound psychological event . It is a seismic shock to their identity, security, and sense of worth. How you manage that shock doesn’t just affect them; it rippl

A closed-door meeting. A hushed conversation in the hallway. Then, the official announcement hits your inbox. The dreaded "organisational restructuring" is here. For you, the HR leader, the next 72 hours are a blur of logistics, legal checks, and managing the fallout. But for the employees receiving that life-altering message, the immediate question is: “What now?” And then, a second, more dangerous question forms: “How will I talk about this?” That second question is the one