Connex Think Tank: Right-Sizing with Empathy and Care

Layoffs are among the most difficult moments in leadership, carrying emotional, cultural, and operational consequences. Leaders must balance business imperatives with empathy, clarity, and transparency to protect dignity for those leaving while preserving trust and morale among those who remain. Done poorly, layoffs can undermine culture and reputation; done thoughtfully, they can reflect an organization’s values even in its hardest decisions.

This Session Will Examine

• Why empathy and clarity are critical in communicating layoffs.

• The unseen emotional toll on leaders who deliver difficult news.

• Providing outplacement, career, and mental health support for those impacted.

• Protecting trust, morale, and culture for the workforce that remains.

• Ensuring layoffs are handled in ways that reinforce organizational values.