Community SaysFree
HR leader says: pressure to deliver will make layoff decisions harder to put off
In short
- % of US HR leaders in an LHH survey expect workforce cuts in the next 12 months.
- Fewer employers are offering more generous severance; 38% have reduced packages.
- Keep your resume current and ask about career transition support if you are affected.
Who: John Morgan, President of LHH, the career transition and recruitment firm, commenting on LHH's survey of 600 US HR and business leaders, reported by HR Dive on 5 November 2026.
What they said: "In the year ahead, pressure to deliver results will make workforce decisions harder to defer,"
Context: In the survey, 66% of US HR leaders said they expect workforce reductions in the next 12 months, nearly double LHH's 2024 figure. Only 56% of organisations are offering more generous severance policies, down from 76% in 2024, and 38% of companies said they had reduced their severance packages. One positive: the survey found 85% of exempt employees are being given career transition services, up from 61%.
What it means for you:
- Even if your job feels safe, keep your resume and LinkedIn profile up to date so you can move quickly.
- If you are laid off, read the severance offer carefully before signing, and ask whether career transition (outplacement) support is included.
- Build a small savings buffer if you can: severance may be less generous than it was two years ago.
Source: HR Dive, 5 November 2026