> Best Practices in Separations
Best practices in separations
Here we gather our experience from countless restructuring projects: how to plan job cuts, conduct termination interviews, retain top performers, and protect your employer brand. Practical, data-driven, and without sugarcoating.
Planning a restructuring: process, phases, tools
From developing the target image to selecting the set of instruments and creating the communication roadmap – what needs to be decided and in what order.
Artikel
Alternatives to Termination
What alternatives are there to redundancies? From hiring freezes and short-time work to voluntary severance programs: This overview compares the most important options, shows their opportunities and limitations, and helps you find a suitable solution for your company.
Leitfaden
Guide to Volunteer Programs
Is restructuring on the horizon? A voluntary redundancy program can be a fair and future-oriented alternative to layoffs. This guide outlines the advantages, design options, and success factors – and how your company can emerge stronger from the transformation.
Artikel
Restructuring Timeline: The Four Phases
Restructuring doesn't happen overnight: From initial planning to stabilization, the process typically goes through four phases. This overview shows what's important in planning, negotiation, implementation, and stabilization, and what companies should pay attention to in each phase.
Leitfaden
Guide to Job Reductions
Reducing staff is a challenging task – for companies, managers, and employees. This guide shows how restructuring can be carried out professionally, fairly, and respectfully, preserving trust and strengthening the organization's future viability.
Artikel
Volunteer program, job cuts
Voluntary redundancy programs offer companies an alternative to layoffs. Employees can leave voluntarily under clearly defined conditions, while employers can manage staff reductions in a targeted and socially responsible manner.
Artikel
Short-time work, hiring freeze, partial retirement: effects and limitations
Short-time work, hiring freezes, and phased retirement can help companies reduce personnel costs and postpone or avoid layoffs. This guide shows when these three instruments are useful, what risks they entail, and where their limitations lie.
View all content
Implementing staff reductions: Separation process & separation interview
The moment that determines how a separation is experienced – and whether those affected accept the offer or sue.
Artikel
The Separation Conversation – How to conduct it respectfully and professionally
Termination interviews are among the most difficult tasks for managers and HR professionals. This guide will help you prepare effectively, conduct clearly, and respectfully during these conversations, whether due to performance issues, restructuring, or other reasons.
Leitfaden
Severance pay benchmark: Guidance for fair separation agreements
How high should a severance payment be, and what conditions are typical? This guide provides transparency regarding termination agreements and downsizing programs. It shows how severance payments and other components of separation agreements can be structured effectively and in line with market conditions.
Podcast
Sabrina Zeplin on the OMHR Podcast
In the OMR Jobs & HR Podcast, Dr. Sabrina Zeplin, founder and CEO of Restart Career, discusses restructuring as a leadership challenge. The focus is on communication, termination meetings, voluntary programs, outplacement, and how to achieve a stronger fresh start.
Artikel
Offering a Termination Agreement: Procedure for Employers
How should employers offer a termination agreement? This guide shows what matters regarding the target group, conditions, negotiation techniques, and decision-making phase – and how the process can be designed fairly, clearly, and professionally so that both sides can make a good decision.
Artikel
Sprinter Bonus, Waiver of Legal Action, Turbo Clause: How Termination Agreements Work
Sprinter bonus, waiver of legal action, or turbo clause: This article explains how important instruments in termination agreements work. It shows what advantages and risks exist and what companies should pay attention to when drafting and implementing such agreements.
Artikel
Coping with Layoffs
This guide supports management, HR professionals, and executives during workforce reductions. It shows how unavoidable layoffs can be handled effectively to maintain motivation and performance – and what insights grief research offers in this regard.
Leitfaden
Guidelines for Separation Discussions
Termination interviews are among the most challenging situations for managers and HR professionals. This guide shows you how to prepare for these conversations effectively, communicate clearly, and deliver even difficult messages respectfully and with appreciation.
View all content
Knowledge that will take you further.
Receive monthly insights into trends and restructuring.
Recommended content
Here you will find our most popular content (guides, articles, podcast episodes and more)
Guide
Conducting separation talks professionally
Termination interviews are among the most challenging situations for managers and HR professionals. This guide shows you how to prepare for these conversations effectively, communicate clearly, and deliver even difficult messages respectfully and with appreciation.
Podcast
Seed Seed Newplacement Talk
Dr. Sabrina Zeplin speaks with Gero Hesse about responsible workforce reduction, clear communication, fair separation processes, and outplacement. From her book "Leadership in Transformation," she discusses how companies can combine profitability and humanity.
Study
Benchmark study on restructuring
The pressure to transform is increasing: Companies must manage restructuring and separation processes professionally, fairly, and effectively. The benchmark study "Restructuring 2026" by Restart Career, DGFP, and BCG shows what works in practice and provides concrete guidance.
