As more organisations become headlines for reducing headcount, a new report has found that layoffs and restructuring are increasingly becoming topics at work that people managers may not be fully equipped to handle.

New findings from Careerminds showed that most HR professionals (83%) and people managers (76%) are seeing increasing volumes of conversations on layoffs and redundancies in the past 12 months.

They are among the "more sensitive and emotionally charged" conversations that have been increasing in volume over the past year, alongside increased workload, career development discussions, and employee anxiety about AI.

"The research shows the volume of these conversations has increased considerably over the past year, reflecting a broader period of workforce uncertainty," the report read.

Managers are the "first point of contact" for employees seeking reassurance, guidance, and support for this uncertainty, it added.

Training disconnect for hard conversations

But while 97% of HR professionals surveyed said the training provided to managers in handling these "emotionally charged" conversations is adequate, just 41% of people managers agree.

"This is one of the most striking disconnects in the research and suggests organisations may be underestimating the support managers need to navigate increasingly complex workplace discussions," the report read.

Jen Allen, senior talent solutions partner at Careerminds, pointed out that the skills to navigate complex and difficult conversations in the workplace need to be continuously practised, adjusted, and grown.

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