Restructuring Consulting
Restructuring & Workforce Reduction
Done with dignity. Secure the future.
What makes us different
Restructuring processes are among the most challenging tasks a company can face because of their inherent risks. Without tough cuts, the company's survival is at stake—but if the cuts are too severe, that poses risks as well.
To ensure that the right people leave —and just as importantly, that the right people stay — we believe that downsizing must be handled in a people-centric way. That’s not just the right thing to do; it also brings those who remain closer together.
We see ourselves as an extension of your team. We don't build dependencies; instead, we empower your leaders and employees to drive change on their own in the long term. This creates credibility in the management, among employees, and across the organization as a whole.
Awareness:Every restructuring process starts with radical clarity. What are the objectives? Which KPIs define success – headcount, costs, or both? We help you answer these questions honestly and communicate the outcomes consistently, right down to the individual business unit. No drip-feeding. No stalling. Because fear doesn't come from transparency – it comes from the absence of it.
Alignment:Restructuring is a high-risk undertaking: you are changing the organisation while it is still in full operation. Delivery capability, customer relationships, and company culture are all at stake. We ensure that HR and business units, leaders and works councils pull in the same direction. We equip your leaders to handle critical conversations with confidence, identify risks early, and act across hierarchies – building genuine leadership strength, not silo thinking.
Activation:The implementation phase is about bringing the new structure to life – with clear processes, active participation, and a sense of forward momentum. We invite your leaders to find answers together: How do we achieve the same or more with changed resources? Which tasks can be dropped, optimised, or handled digitally? And how do we preserve the knowledge of those leaving? Those affected become active shapers of the future.
WHY EXPERT GUIDANCE IN RESTRUCTURING?
Workforce reduction is not a purely operational matter
Restructuring processes are an emotional rollercoaster – for those directly affected, for those who remain, and for leaders themselves. Trust is lost, resistance emerges, grief surfaces. What many underestimate: these very moments also hold enormous opportunity. Organisations that handle workforce reductions with dignity emerge culturally stronger.
The employees who stay determine the future
Most restructuring efforts focus on those who leave. We keep both in view: the reduction process itself and the perspective of those who remain. Because only those who still believe in the company's future will carry the transformation forward. Paralysis and hopelessness cost more than any efficiency measure ever could.
Expertise protects against organisational trauma
Poorly managed restructuring processes leave deep marks – in the culture, in performance, and in the retention of talent. External expertise gives your management the confidence to navigate this complexity without losing sight of day-to-day business. We hold the threads together – so you can focus on your customers and your team.
Shaping restructuring with dignity and sustainability - our theoretical framework
To ensure that workforce reduction leaves the organisation stronger, we activate the following 8 levers:
Accelerate change now — with our ACTIVATE programs
to activate the organization
With our ACTIVATE THE BASE programme, you create a foundation on which your employees can actively co-create – even in difficult times. How do we maintain a strong sense of unity with changed resources? How do we preserve valuable knowledge? How do we bring experienced and younger employees together rather than set them against each other? ACTIVATE THE BASE gives your workforce agency, orientation, and perspective.
to lead the future
Leaders carry an enormous burden during restructuring – and are emotionally affected themselves. With ACTIVATE THE LEADERS, we equip your leaders to handle critical conversations with dignity, convey stability, and guide the team into the future. For a leadership culture that holds up even under pressure.
to harness the potential of AI
In restructuring processes, AI is far more than an efficiency tool, it is a source of hope. Through targeted formats, we empower your employees directly in their departments to identify and apply AI potential quickly and independently. No centralised IT bureaucracy, but real capability at the base – for the people who know exactly where the pain points are.
»“We experienced the change management support from Strasser & Strasser as extremely professional and appreciative. The change concept was logically structured, addressed all hierarchy levels, and involved those affected at the right time and to the appropriate extent. A particular highlight was the skillful management of the tension between proactive transparency and the feasibility of strategic communication—a good balance was always maintained. Risks to the project’s success were flagged early, which provided our steering committee with a solid decision-making basis. Working with the consultant team was characterized by professionalism, approachability, and a remarkable ability to connect with our staff. We are happy to recommend Strasser & Strasser.”«
Why Strasser & Strasser
As a leading company for change management and consulting, Strasser & Strasser works at the interface to the future of our clients: We move organizations from the big picture to the individual.
Established:Over 25 years of successful change management consulting
Profound:Scientific-psychological approach
Innovative:Digital Change Management Solutions
Participatory:Co-Creation with our clients
Personal:Owner managed company
Frequently Asked Questions
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