If staff reductions are unavoidable , then change needs a reliable framework.
Such a situation is particularly challenging for HR, management, and the works council. Economic viability, legal frameworks, costs, communication, and responsibility for employees must all be balanced. At the same time, the goal is to ensure the company’s long-term viability and provide guidance for all stakeholders.
A transfer agency or transfer company can serve as a more useful framework in this situation. However, it is not the only factor that matters, that a transfer instrument is used or not. What is crucial is, how this framework is designed and whether it fits the specific situation in the company .
VBLP – Your Partner for Transfer Solutions
VBLP has been supporting companies through workforce changes for over 35 years. Our focus is on transfer agencies, transfer companies, and outplacement.
In doing so, we combine experience across many industries with a clear understanding of costs, funding opportunities, and the individual needs of each company. After all, no two transfer projects are alike.
Our work begins there, where companies need viable and economically sound solutions to address their challenges sustainable and economically viable solutions are needed. We provide support with the design, coordination and implementation of transfer solutions and keep in mind both the affected employees and as well as the remaining teams in focus.
Because especially in processes of change it is crucial that orientation, trust and the ability to act are maintained and preserved.
What Good Transfer Work Must Achieve
A transfer project must be planned thoroughly from a technical standpoint, structured in a legally sound manner, and implemented reliably from an organizational perspective. At the same time, it should ease the burden on companies and open up genuine career opportunities for employees.
In our experience, the following factors are particularly important:
1. Fast and stable structures
When workforce reductions become a reality, companies are often under significant time pressure. In such situations, they need robust structures, clear processes, and well-defined responsibilities—and they need them quickly.
VBLP helps companies quickly become operational and establish a stable framework for the entire process.
2. Concepts for Different Target Audiences
In transfer projects, there is rarely a uniform starting point. Employees differ in terms of qualifications, work experience, life stage, mobility, and career goals.
That is why we develop concepts that take into account different target groups and specific requirements. The result is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a framework tailored to the specific situation.
3. Calculations and Comparative Analyses
Management and HR need a clear basis for decision-making. This includes reliable calculations and comparative analyses, for example regarding:
- Transfer Agency
- Transfer Company
- Termination Agreements
- Retirement Models
- possible combinations of different solutions
This allows for a transparent evaluation of economically viable options.
4. Cost-conscious planning and responsible use of grant funds
Transportation solutions must not only be technically appropriate but also economically viable. That is why cost-conscious planning is essential.
VBLP supports companies in planning and implementation while taking potential funding opportunities into account. The goal is to establish a reliable framework that balances quality, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility.
5. Close coordination among all parties involved
Transfer projects involve various stakeholders: HR, management, works council, Agency for Labor and the affected employees. The better these stakeholders are involved , the more stable the process becomes.
We handle close coordination with the relevant contacts and ensure that information, expectations, and next steps are consolidated as clearly as possible.
6. Personal counseling for those affected—in person and online
The focus is on the affected employees. They need not only information, but also personal guidance and concrete support.
VBLP supports those affected both in person and online. This includes assessing their current situation, career reorientation, job application strategies, preparation for interviews, and support with the next steps toward re-entering the job market.
7. Realistic labor market strategies and active job placement
Effective transition support doesn’t end with counseling. What matters most is that guidance leads to concrete opportunities.
That is why we develop realistic job-search strategies and actively support job seekers. This includes, among other things, analyzing career opportunities, optimizing application materials, preparing for selection processes, and proactively identifying suitable opportunities.
8. Training, digital support, and guidance throughout the entire process
Depending on one’s starting point, training can be an important step toward opening up new career opportunities or specifically expanding existing skills.
Digital support can effectively complement this process. However, the combination of professional guidance, practical tools, and personalized counseling throughout the entire process remains crucial.
9. Focus on Remaining Employees and Top Performers
Staff changes don’t just affect the employees who are leaving the company. The remaining employees also experience change, uncertainty, and new demands.
High-performing employees, in particular, need guidance and a sense of direction so they can actively help shape the company’s future viability. That is why we also develop strategies to help companies retain their remaining employees, build trust, and offer new prospects for the future.
Our mission: to relieve the burden on companies and provide guidance to employees
Our goal is to significantly ease the burden on companies in transfer projects and provide employees with genuine guidance.
This includes implementation that is legally sound, economically viable, and as efficient as possible, as well as providing personalized support to those affected.
Effective job placement is not measured solely by structures, processes, or funding criteria. Above all, it is reflected in whether those involved regain confidence, the ability to take action, and viable career prospects.
Transfer Agency or Transfer Company: Which Framework Is Right?
Whether a transfer agency, a transfer company, outplacement, or a combination of different solutions is appropriate always depends on the specific situation.
Some important questions include, for example:
- How many employees are affected?
- What are the target audiences?
- What are the time constraints?
- What costs are realistically sustainable?
- What funding opportunities are available?
- What roles do the works council and the Employment Agency play?
- What opportunities do the remaining top performers need?
That is exactly why it is important to clarify matters early on and thoroughly. It creates a solid foundation for decision-making and helps develop the appropriate framework for personnel changes.
“Good transfer work is evident in whether those affected have confidence, capacity to act and a viable occupational prospect gain.”
Henrich Abegg
Managing Partner, VBLP
Conclusion: Effective transfer work requires experience, structure, and a keen eye for people
When staff reductions are unavoidable, change requires a supportive framework.
A transfer agency or transfer company can help businesses implement workforce changes in a structured, cost-effective, and responsible manner. However, it is crucial that this framework be tailored precisely to the company’s needs.
VBLP brings over 35 years of experience in workforce restructuring, transfer solutions, and career reorientation to the table. We support companies by providing a clear overview of costs, ensuring the proper use of government grants, developing tailored strategies, and offering personalized support to the affected employees.
This creates transfer work, which eases the burden on companies and opens up new opportunities for people.
Are you facing staffing changes, or would you like to know what options transfer agencies or transfer companies offer?
Then please feel free to contact us. We’ll share our experience and work with you to develop the right framework for your situation.
