A new RiseSmart study shows some of the trends taking place in the world of human resources that present challenges for companies.

The study, released Jan. 25, revealed almost half of responding companies don't prepare for the after effects of layoffs, which can leave an office with reduced productivity, understaffing and disgruntled remaining employees.

When companies try to cut too fast, or don't cut the right way, the negative effects can ripple around the workplace. To this end, RiseSmart has developed an e-book called "What About the Survivors?" that takes a detailed look at how to handle downsizing.

The guide helps companies struggle with issues like the emotional effect of their decisions to downsize staff.

"We wanted to support the companies," Kimberly Schneiderman, practice development manager at RiseSmart, told HRDailyWire Jan. 25. "We want to support those employers in support of their people."

Schneiderman talked about the imperative of more transparent messaging and explained how to help companies deal with the emotional impact of their decisions to jettison staff.

"People think: what's going to happen at work now?" Schneiderman said.

Also, she said, delegation can be tough when downsizing shrinks the company's roster of available people. There are fewer hands for the same amount of work.

"These people's tasks need to go somewhere," Schneiderman said.

Another negative effect of not dealing with downsizing correctly, Schneiderman said, is that outgoing employees may put negative reviews on sites like Glassdoor that new job seekers will see -- and that can lead to a more difficult time finding good talent.

"When job seekers prepare, they do a great deal of research," Schneiderman said. "If the manager doesn't have a good, solid black-and-white answer (for why downsizing occurred) they might be suspicious."

RiseSmart, she said, is dedicated to building support that helps clients to message and to have some resiliency while building trust in their workforce.

"It's so people can be as productive as possible in their daily work," she said.