It is a topic that many steer clear of, and is often taboo: little attention is paid to an employee's departure – whether voluntary or not – beyond administrative or legal procedures.

Companies today are becoming aware of the impact this has not only on the continuity of service, but also on the image conveyed.

Mazars, the leading French audit and advisory group with a global presence, has chosen to turn it into a strength by creating the "Next Step" initiative:

• As soon as a departure is considered (up to 18 months before the planned departure date), the employee is given an initial (and strictly confidential) interview with an HR manager

• The company undertakes to search for positions that correspond to the employee's profile and an official request is sent to the potential recruiter once both parties have agreed

• If the hiring takes place, the employee is "seconded" for a 3-month trial period. If it proves to be successful, the company waives the notice period.

This initiative has several advantages. It is a genuine decision-making tool for employees, who can use it to successfully transition between positions, and it provides significant leverage to develop professional networks and forge innovative partnerships. For recruiters, it means security with respect to profile qualification, shorter time-frames and a means of facilitating integration.

¹ Mazars has 23,000 employees and is present in 89 countries.