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Discussion

Facing a layoff...advice please

I work for a midsize home health agency and manage the private duty nursing department. We have 40 complex pediatric patients and about 80 nurses. The owner called me in yesterday and said our department was losing money and he was closing it. I have 3 weeks to find placement for all the patients. I started this program from scratch 3 years ago, and honestly don't believe there is any way it is losing money. He showed me the supposed figures but I don't trust them. I think he is selling agency and new owner doesn't want pediatrics.

I want our nurses and patients families to hear it from us first, but am desperately looking for another agency to pick up the program, and hopefully all our staff with it. So word is bound to get out. Would you go ahead and inform them? Or wait? I am so devastated right now, I can't imagine dealing with the panic from all the nurses and families before I have a solution. Part of me wants to run, get a new job and be done with it. But I care about these people. Any advice welcome.

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    As an employee, I would love to know about my impending termination. I was let go suddenly right before the birth of my 3rd child and it was awful. I understand businesses need to do that sometimes as employees will just quit or will not always put in the same effort for their remaining time.

    Sounds like you're out of a job soon anyways, so I don't see how it would hurt to tell everyone. I sincerely wish you the best of luck and I hope you find a great place to work moving forward!

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    • Expert

    What instructions did your boss give you about telling the staff? If you violate any instructions you were given, you could be jeopardizing your career, references, severance pay, etc.

    If you haven't been given the details of those issues (such as severance pay, continuation of insurance coverage, retirement plan options, etc.) find out that stuff BEFORE you tell anyone. Those are the types of questions they will have and you need to be able to answer them.

    If the owner is not giving you information on these things, then you need to ask those questions. You may also want to talk with an attorney to find our what your rights off. Usually, when people are laid off, their are legal requirements that need to be met. If your owner is not meeting those requirements, that's a big violation of the law.

    Get all the information before you take any actions -- including violating your boss's confidentiality. As you are in a management position, you have certain obligations and you need to know what they are before you stick your neck out.

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    • Expert

    As one who was laid off in a downsizing, please waste no time in informing your nurses. You know who informed me first? One of the other people who was laid off. I should have heard that news from the boss. The sooner these nurses can start looking for work anywhere, the better for them, and they will respect you for the consideration you showed them. And if I were you, I would go. This admin cares for no one but himself.

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    • Author

    Thanks for the advice. I did tell the staff. They are wonderful. We have two good possiblities of getting picked up by a new company, so there is hope!

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    A common number I see is that over 50% of HHAs lose money (or claim to lose money), and they open and close all the time. Here's a biggie: Gentiva Laying Off Hundreds, Closing 46 Home Health Branches | Home Health Care News

    How it can be that cuts keep coming to home care, even as 70+ million Americans are becoming seniors, makes me wonder how it will all end up. They don't want to pay for hospital care, or SNf care, either. Can't have it both ways. The seniors are going to keep coming in waves, and they will be living longer, and need even more care over their lifespans. Seems to me they way it is being dealt with is by ignoring basic numbers.

    But you're talking pediatrics. What a challenge you face to try to find a new source of care for them. If your agency loses money on them, why would another agency want them? Seems callous of the owner to give you so little time to find those patients care- after all, the place didn't just suddenly start losing money, he must have seen it coming long ago.

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