In today's business world, more and more companies recognize the value of their employees. Appreciation has become an important element of corporate culture, as it not only increases employee morale and commitment, but also offers long-term benefits for the company itself.
While companies often focus on attracting and retaining talent, a positive separation culture is often underestimated. But the departure of an employee can say just as much about a company's culture and values as welcoming new talent.
Employees have a powerful voice
We're not living in the 19th century anymore. In today's connected world, in which social media play an enormous role, there is a great deal of transparency. Negative experiences can be spread quickly by former employees and, in the worst case, trigger a shitstorm. It therefore also plays a decisive role how the approval was perceived. Because a negative reminder of the degree increases the likelihood of writing a bad review about the former employer.
A positive separation culture also influences the remaining employees in the company. When they see that their colleagues are said goodbye in a respectful and appreciative way, they feel more connected to the company and are motivated. A negative or cold separation, on the other hand, can create uncertainty and mistrust within the team, which can lead to a worse working atmosphere.
What happens if employees quit and the new job isn't the right one after all? In this case, it is important that you have broken up on good terms - and, at best, never break the connection. In fact, it may well be that former employees become active colleagues again. True to the motto: You always see yourself twice in a lifetime.
Companies should accept the decision of employees to leave with respect and openness. As a result, former employees feel that they have been treated fairly and leave the company with a positive impression. Managers should communicate openly with their employees the reasons for the separation and ensure that they have the opportunity to express their point of view.
An appreciative approval is therefore in the interest of companies and helps to ensure that the reconciliation process is perceived as fair and transparent. This can also increase the attractiveness of the company and strengthen customer loyalty. Because we all know that word of mouth is usually the best form of advertising! When former employees speak positively about the company, the chance increases that potential applicants will become aware of the company.
What can sustainable offboarding look like?
Companies should develop a well-structured offboarding process that ensures that all relevant steps are covered. This includes information from those involved, rapid provision of all documents and open exit discussions that collect feedback and insights. Companies can also offer support for professional development, share network contacts, or maintain contact. This makes it clear that the company is still interested in the former employee's success.
But in addition to technical and factual offboarding, there is still the human part: the approval. For departing employees, the last day and the farewell are an important moment. It is therefore only appropriate that companies take this seriously and that mutual recognition and appreciation are paramount. Because a farewell is like a laudatory speech: It is about ending the collaboration with a positive feeling for everyone.
An appreciative farewell is important because it shows employees that their contributions and commitment are recognized and appreciated during their time with the company. This can take the form of recognition for their achievements, a personal message of thanks, or even a farewell ritual. An individual farewell gift is a very good way not only to express appreciation verbally, but also to underline it with a well-thought-out gift and to give the farewell a personal touch.
For companies, a successful offboarding process and an appreciative corporate culture definitely pay off. In this way, employees are fondly remembered and become a supporter of the company who will speak positively about their own experiences in the future. This strengthens employer branding in the long term and allows companies to position themselves as attractive employers on the job market in the future as well.
About Books4Memories:
Books4Memories has set itself the task of sustainably recording memories and special experiences and making them tangible. The young start-up from Berlin has developed a digital platform for this purpose, on which personalized books can be designed together for various occasions and shared online. Especially for companies, this offers the opportunity to say goodbye to departing employees with a personal and appreciative gift.
