How to... avoid redundancies when recession bites

Redundancies seem an obvious choice as organisations are forced to look for cutbacks, but they create insecurity and stress throughout the workforce. Moreover, the statutory framework can be rigid, expensive and time-consuming and requires employers to consider ways to avoid redundancies.

So how can companies avoid hitting the redundancy panic button? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but this five-point plan of options, with their pros and cons, should help employers maintain a diverse, flexible workforce.