Be open, honest, and informative in communications with employees and the community.
If possible, involve employees in decision-making or planning process.
Consider reducing in-house workforce through attrition only.
-Pro: less disruptive to current employees.
-Con: deferred savings.
Grandfather-in changes to wages and benefits to maintain compensation levels for current employees.
-Pro: less disruptive to current employees.
-Con: deferred savings.
Consider requiring the contractor to hire back any employees displaced by the transition.
Stay focused. It takes strong leadership to effect a change.
(Readers may also wish to consult Privatization and Public Employees. Guidelines for Fair Treatment, Reason Foundation How-To Guide No. 9, Reason Foundation, September 1993.)