Worker Adjustment in Action: Policies, Practices and Programs
For workers who have lost, or are in danger of losing, their jobs, effective worker adjustment policies or practices can help make the transition easier. Including skills development and learning in worker adjustment programs can increase the skills and career prospects of workers as well as enhance productivity or profitability for employers.
Worker Adjustment in Action: Policies, Practices and Programs examines:
• workforce adjustment programs in Canada;
• international examples of workforce adjustment practices;
• effective success criteria; and
• real-life case studies from Canadian and international organizations illustrating specific characteristics associated with retraining workers.
The report provides insight on ways to create a successful adjustment process, such as:
• seeking to avoid layoffs;
• developing a plan that includes funding to meet financial obligations to workers;
• developing a communications strategy;
• coordinating efforts among stakeholders to provide adjustment services for workers; and
• ensuring adjustment services are comprehensive and results-oriented, and include funding for retraining.
The report also highlights the need for continued work in the area of worker adjustment. It recommends more work be done to:
• examine ways to keep facilities open;
• explore the adjustment needs of small businesses;
• evaluate the effectiveness of centralized versus decentralized programming and adjustment centres;
• look at small communities facing the loss of a major employer; and
• assess the effectiveness of retraining programs.
Case Studies
The case studies examined in the report showcase real-life examples of workforce adjustment strategies in 10 small to medium-sized companies in Canada and internationally. The case studies can be found in the searchable Best Practices Database.
For more information, please contact: info@workplaceskills.ca
