Facing redundancy is one of the most challenging moments in any professional’s career. Amid the uncertainty, there’s a silver lining that many employees overlook: outplacement support.
If you’ve never heard of it or assumed it’s something only executives receive, think again. Outplacement can be a game-changer during career transitions, offering tools, guidance and confidence to navigate the job market. And if your employer isn’t offering it, you can (and should) negotiate it into your redundancy package.
What is outplacement support?
Outplacement support is a career transition service offered by companies to employees facing redundancy. Modern outplacement takes a holistic approach; beyond tweaking your CV and giving you interview tips, it encompasses one-on-one career coaching, personal branding, resilience training and mental health support.
Outplacement reflects a culture of care in the workplace, ensuring individuals can turn a moment of loss into an opportunity for growth. By addressing professional and emotional needs during what is often a distressing time, exiting employees will gain the confidence they need to thrive in a turbulent job market.
Benefits of outplacement: Why it’s worth fighting for
Negotiating outplacement into your redundancy package isn’t just about “getting something extra.” It’s about setting yourself up for success – and for employers, it can be the edge they need to stand out as an employer of choice. Here’s why it’s so valuable:
- Personalised career support. A top-tier outplacement provider offers one-on-one coaching tailored to your specific goals, strengths and industry. This bespoke guidance often leads to faster, more targeted job placement.
- Confidence to navigate change. Career transitions are daunting. Outplacement equips you with practical tools and strategies so that you can step into the job market with clarity and confidence. For example, following City CV’s bespoke series of outplacement workshops, 98% of candidates felt more positive about moving forward.
- Faster re-employment. Programmes that combine expert advice with structured guidance significantly shorten the job search. In fact, employees who receive outplacement support resettle 50% faster than those who don’t.
- Mental health and resilience. One in 10 people develop depression after being made redundant, making it critical for employers to address the psychological dimension of change. Many outplacement providers have expanded their support to manage mental health, build resilience and maintain focus during transitions, ensuring individuals receive the emotional support they need to keep going.
- Upskilling and adaptability. Today’s job market demands continuous learning. According to CBI, 90% of the UK workforce will need to reskill by 2030 to keep up with evolving markets and forces like digital transformation. Outplacement services include training to bridge skill gaps, preparing you for emerging opportunities.
- Competitive employer branding. For employers, outplacement enhances reputation by demonstrating a commitment to their people, making them more appealing to top talent – something you can highlight when negotiating.
- Better talent retention. Providing outplacement support to staff also improves relations with remaining employees, contributing to a more positive workplace environment while increasing talent retention. This is especially important when you consider that 61% of layoff survivors are less likely to recommend their company as a great place to work.
How to negotiate outplacement into your redundancy package
In 2025, outplacement has become an integral part of workforce strategy. 60% of UK employers already provide it, and by 2031, the UK outplacement market size is expected to more than double (to the tune of USD $8.41bn).
This surging popularity shows that employers are increasingly recognising the value of treating departing employees with care and dignity. This means that asking for outplacement isn’t just reasonable – it’s aligned with the evolving expectations of modern workforce practices.
Here’s how to approach the conversation:
1. Understand what’s on offer
Start by asking whether outplacement is part of your redundancy package. If it’s not mentioned, ask HR or your manager directly. Frame your inquiry positively:
“I’ve been researching career transition support and noticed that many companies offer outplacement services. Is this something included in our package?”
2. Highlight mutual benefits
Outplacement isn’t just good for you; it’s good for your employer, too. It:
- Protects the company’s reputation by demonstrating care for departing employees
- Reduces the risk of negative feedback on platforms like Glassdoor
- Supports smoother transitions, creating goodwill among remaining staff
Make sure to explain this to your employer, positioning outplacement as a win-win solution.
3. Be prepared to advocate
If your employer hesitates, be ready with data and a persuasive case. For example, you could highlight that organisations offering outplacement 81% more likely to shorten time-to-hire. They also double productivity gains and improve profits by 50%.
The key is to quantify everything you’re saying and frame it in a way that speaks to your employer’s needs, so that they can’t help but think “we’re missing out if we don’t do this.”
4. Illustrate outplacement in action
Provide tangible examples of what outplacement support could look like for your company. Highlight reputable providers with proven results, like City CV, whose six-month programme helped 90% of participants secure a new role.
This approach shows employers how effective and seamless outplacement can be, and makes it easier for them to envision it in the organisation.
5. Leverage existing policies
Some companies have discretionary budgets for redundancy support. Ask if this can be allocated toward outplacement. If they have existing contracts with providers like City CV, you’re halfway there.
Why City CV is the gold standard for outplacement support
When it comes to career transition support, City CV leads the way. Our bespoke, end-to-end outplacement services are tailored to empower individuals at every stage of their journey.
From group workshops to one-on-one support, our award-winning team delivers practical, results-driven support that can be tailored to an organisation’s exact needs