Dive Brief:
- Close to half of workers surveyed by Resume Templates said they are concerned that Trump’s policies will lead to layoffs at their companies, according to a Feb. 25 report.
- Of the nearly 1,200 workers surveyed, 59% pointed to tariffs and trade policies, 55% cited cuts to government contracts and 39% identified changes in immigration policies as potential causes for layoffs.
- Workers in accounting were most likely to say they were concerned about layoffs, followed by those in the education and information technology fields.
Dive Insight:
The Trump administration entered the White House on Jan. 20 and immediately began issuing executive orders and firing certain federal officials, prompting unease and uncertainty across both the private and public sectors.
“Leaders need to communicate, as much as possible, how certain policies may impact the business,” Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist at Resume Templates, said in a statement. “If your company isn’t planning mass layoffs, communicate that. Transparency and honesty are the best strategies for leaders right now. People need to know their jobs are safe.”
Immigration compliance may be top of mind for some employers, especially as net immigration falls and newly appointed federal officials promise crackdowns at worksites. Attorneys have continually fielded questions about I-9s, E-Verify and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Cozen O’Connor attorneys indicated during a recent webinar.
Various executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs may also have employers and employees alike on edge. According to Resume Templates’ survey results, 22% of workers surveyed said there has been a reduction or elimination of DEI programs at their workplaces.
Experts advise that employers evaluate and maintain their DEI programs, however; Emily Dickens, SHRM’s chief of staff, head of government affairs and corporate secretary for SHRM said that employers can use the upheaval as an opportunity to “elevate” their own programs.
