Torque

Off-boarding employees: Fond farewell or fallout fiasco

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In business, reputation is the shiny trophy on the shelf—everyone admires it until the shine fades.

When a company’s rep takes a hit, the ripple effects are real, especially with off-boarding employees. Think of it as a break-up; if handled poorly, you’ll find your ex-employee airing dirty laundry to anyone who’ll listen.

That’s where embedding a solid Employee Experience (EX) comes into play. Happy people turn into brand advocates, boosting your reputation and turning potential PR nightmares into tales of triumph. After all, a company with a great reputation attracts not just customers but also talent, making it the place to be.
 
One of the most common misconceptions we’ve come across with our clients is that off-boarding is non-essential. By treating off-boarding as a mere formality, a done-and-dusted deal, you miss a perfect opportunity to turn ex-employees into advocates and brand ambassadors.

Off-boarding myths and missteps exposed

  • “We’ll fix it if it breaks” Believing that you can quickly repair a damaged reputation is like trying to mend a fence with duct tape—it might not hold up. It’s always more efficient and effective to proactively manage your reputation than to scramble to fix it once the damage is done.

  • “But we have a great onboarding process.” Research reveals a significant gap: while 58% of organisations have a formal onboarding process, only 29% have a formal off-boarding process. This discrepancy highlights a trend where companies invest more effort into welcoming new employees than in managing their departure. Focusing solely on onboarding is a missed opportunity!

  • “Employees only leave if they’re unhappy.” Wrong! Employees leave for a variety of reasons—better job offers, immigration, personal challenges, retrenchment, and more.

  • “Once an employee leaves, their employee experience (EX) ends.” Not true! Employee experience doesn’t have a defined end—they might return to work for you, act as brand ambassadors, or become your customers.

Off-boarding can sometimes feel like a hurried goodbye at the end of a party. But what if you could turn it into a more memorable send-off?

Check out our full blog post for our insights and advice on how you can make those final goodbyes truly impactful.

Need more support bringing magic to your employee journey? Contact Torque to schedule a chat!

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