Employers who cut staff in an attempt to create a more efficient business may find the transition period equally challenging, according to a new white paper from Corporate Counseling Associates. The paper, "Some Swim Upstream: Executive and Organizational Resilience," offers strategies to help business battle employee pessimism, reduced capital and the loss of valuable employees.

"In the aftermath of a downsizing, people and organizations struggle with 'loss' — under such circumstances, clarity of thought and purpose can be the first thing to go," explains Dr. Thomas Diamante, an industrial psychologist and senior vice president at CCA. "Loss and its emotional baggage must be faced in a mature manner, on both the individual and organizational level. Managers need to re-engage and re-align the workforce . . . this paper is for HR professionals who are helping managers and employees manage the aftermath of a layoff event."

Leadership and coaching programs, resilience seminars, data-based feedback programs and employee assistance programs are some of the methods CCA recommends to assuage employee fears. A free copy of the report is available at www.corporatecounseling.com.