DePauw partnered with Purple Ink, an experienced outplacement firm, to deliver high-touch career transition services during a period of organizational change.

The Client

Our client, DePauw University, is a premier private university known for its rigorous curriculum and commitment to the success of each student.

The Situation

Higher education was at war, battling to boost enrollment and balance budgets amidst heavy competition. DePauw University learned that to stay competitive with their peer and aspirational institutions, there would need to be some changes. In a time when many educational institutions were failing financially or closing their doors, they would have to right-size their staff.

DePauw embarked on this challenge knowing that taking care of their employees was first and foremost. In their research on how to best conduct the reductions in staff, they were referred to Purple Ink to help guide them through the process.

The Solution

Purple Ink offered a multi-pronged approach involving training the staff on how to conduct the notifications and, most importantly, working with those employees who were losing their jobs. DePauw is very embedded in their community, and they knew that it was going to be an emotional blow to the community, the people losing their positions, and those remaining.

We worked with our client to create a severance package that was head and shoulders above what most companies do when downsizing or right-sizing. Comprehensive outplacement services were a key part of that offering, designed to support employees through every stage of their career transition. DePauw wanted to give their employees the best start toward a new career. As an outplacement firm, we delivered a high-touch solution that combined group training and personalized career transition services for each employee affected.

In meeting with DePauw, the empathy for their team was apparent from the beginning. Delivering a personalized experience was crucial. We created a completely customized training program for the managers that gave them the tools and expertise to conduct their roles with more confidence. Employees were trained on how to search for a job and introduced to career coaches who provided individualized guidance. Some employees took advantage of an assessment to help them determine new career paths or give them insight into their unique strengths. Our coaches guided them from resume to interview to salary negotiation.

The Outcome

When the day came to deliver the news that there would be job eliminations, it was difficult. No one likes going into work and breaking bad news to their team. By conducting training ahead of time and working closely with our client, we prepared the team for what to expect and mitigated risk. Although it was an emotional day for the whole transition team and the community, the day went smoothly. None of the potential worst-case scenarios came to fruition and minor bumps were handled with grace.

DePauw felt that the process went well, and they were more confident with us there to guide them through this challenge. Later, we returned to do additional training and work with their teams as they realigned their roles and responsibilities.

Looking for an experienced outplacement company to support your team through change? Learn more about our outplacement services here! Or send us a message here, and we’ll guide you to the right path.