Overview:

Current workplace restructuring strategies are shifting away from traditional layoffs and toward a more subtle, but equally disruptive practice: Quiet Cutting.

In 2025, companies facing economic pressures, AI adoption, and evolving business needs are choosing to reassign employees into new roles, reduce pay, or relocate workers, often without their input. While this avoids formal layoffs, it creates significant legal risks, employee backlash, and cultural damage if mishandled.

In this 90-minute session, we'll break down:

• What Quiet Cutting is & how it differs from layoffs (real-world examples of forced reassignments, pay cuts, and relocations)
• The economic and business drivers of workforce restructuring in 2025
• Legal & compliance risks for HR teams (WARN Act, EEOC, discrimination claims, wage violations)
• The ethical & cultural impact of Quiet Cutting (trust erosion, disengagement, and employer brand damage)
• Case studies of layoffs and workforce reductions done wrong, & what HR can learn from them
• HR’s role in ensuring fair, transparent, and legally compliant restructuring
• Best practices for communicating layoffs and role changes effectively

This session will provide HR leaders, legal professionals, and business executives with practical insights to navigate workforce restructuring while protecting employees, company reputation, and compliance obligations.

Why should you Attend: This must-attend session will provide HR and business leaders with critical insights into navigating layoffs, restructuring, and workforce reductions with compliance, ethics, and business continuity in mind.

By attending, you will:

• Understand the legal distinctions between layoffs, reductions in force (RIFs), and quiet cutting
• Learn how to comply with federal and state laws, including WARN Act obligations
• Identify the risks of discrimination and wrongful termination claims when handling layoffs
• Explore best practices for severance packages, outplacement support, and maintaining company culture during workforce shifts
• Gain insights on how to communicate restructuring changes transparently to employees
• Failing to prepare for these workforce shifts can lead to wrongful termination claims, low morale, and long-term brand damage

Areas Covered in the Session:

• What is Quiet Cutting & How it Differs From Layoffs: The hidden restructuring strategy impacting employees
• Why Companies Are Using Quiet Cutting in 2025: The economic, business, and legal pressures driving change
• Legal & Ethical Risks of Quiet Cutting: Compliance concerns, WARN Act obligations, and EEOC risks
• The Ethical & Cultural Risks of Quiet Cutting: Impact on morale, trust, and employee retention
• WARN Act & Employment Law Compliance: Understanding federal and state laws governing layoffs
• Case Studies of Workforce Restructuring Failures: Real-world legal and PR disasters companies faced
• Best Practices for Ethical Layoffs: HR strategies to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance
• How to Communicate Layoffs & Role Changes: Managing employee emotions, trust, and engagement
• How HR Can Lead Through Layoffs & Restructuring: Proactive planning, severance, and long-term culture rebuilding

Who Will Benefit:

• Organizations Preparing for Restructuring, Layoffs, or Workforce Realignments
• HR Leaders and Business Executives Responsible for Talent Strategy
• Companies Seeking Compliance Guidance on Employment Laws Impacting Layoffs
• Firms Managing Retention, Employee Engagement, and Workforce morale post-Reductions
• HR Professionals (Managers, Directors, VPs, CHROs)
• Corporate Communications Professionals
• Business Owners & C-suite Executives
• Compliance Officers & Employment Attorneys
• Workforce Planning and Strategy Leaders
• DEI & Employee Relations Professionals