Layoffs got more likely. Severance got smaller. Finance moved closer to the pen.

A severance benchmark from LHH, reported by HR Dive this week, surveyed 600 U.S. HR and business leaders. 66% expect workforce reductions in the next 12 months, nearly double the share in 2024.

The detail an operator catches sits further down. 38% of organizations have reduced severance packages, up from 9% in 2024. HR leads outplacement decisions at 30% of organizations, down from 58%. CFOs lead at 18%, up from 6%.

What it means for hiring

People leaving on thinner packages have less runway. The study doesn't measure candidate behavior, so we can't say they move faster. It does tell you who is about to be on the market, and that finance is closer to deciding when.

Three checks for this week

  1. Which companies in your market announced cuts or buyouts this quarter, and does anyone on your team hold the list?
  2. Who owns the conversation with those candidates, and how many days does your process take to give them an answer?
  3. If finance now has more say in when roles open, have you shown them what a vacancy costs per day?

The offer

Talent Map shows where the people you want already work, gather, and get certified, so your recruiters stop guessing.

Book a Talent Map session with Jackye Clayton

Source: HR Dive reporting on the LHH U.S. Severance and Separation Benefits Benchmark Study.