HIK Trainings Out January 15, 2027

New HIK research paper · ATD 2026

What to Do After the Layoffs Are Over?

Organizations plan layoffs for months. Almost nobody plans for the people who stay. Our new paper shows what survivor guilt costs your culture, and how to rebuild trust in the first 30 days.

What we found

We asked HR and talent professionals what happens after a layoff.

At ATD 2026, we surveyed 18 professionals across 7 industries, in organizations ranging from under 500 to over 50,000 employees.

78%

rated their organization's recovery plan for survivors a 1 or 2 out of 10.

83%

saw team morale or engagement decline within 90 days of a layoff.

44%

didn't measure how their people were doing after the layoff.

3.7

out of 10: how supported HR felt during and after the layoff.

HIK Trainings · ATD 2026 Exploratory Research · n=18

The planning gap

Layoffs get planned for months.

Legal is involved. Finance is involved. HR prepares the communications. Leadership plans the announcement.

But who supports the managers who have to rebuild their teams? Who checks on the people now carrying extra work? And who supports the HR team that just carried out the layoffs?

  • ✓Legal review
  • ✓Finance modeling
  • ✓HR communications
  • ✓Leadership announcement
  • The next morning

A layoff plan is not a recovery plan.

Inside the paper

A practical guide for the leaders and HR teams left to rebuild.

1

The full ATD 2026 findings

Every result from our research, from recovery plans and morale to manager emotional intelligence and attrition.

2

Why the first 30 days decide your culture

Handled with intention, trust comes back in about six months. Handled poorly, it can take up to two years.

3

What to measure after a layoff

Headcount and savings get tracked to the dollar. Learn how to track trust, engagement, psychological safety and manager readiness too.

4

Support for managers and HR

How to prepare the people who lead the morning after, and how to care for the HR team that carried the weight.

From the author

Karol Figueroa, CEO of HIK Trainings®

"How do you lead people the morning after?"

Over 20 years inside corporate organizations, Karol saw layoffs from every angle. She survived them, coached people who lost their jobs through HIK's Layoff to Clarity™ program, and led a team after letting go of their peers.

That question is where this research began.

Be ready for the morning after.

Get What to Do After the Layoffs Are Over? in your inbox on January 15, 2027.

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