Work. Made Better. Series
By Alan Kearns, Founder, CareerJoy
In today’s workplace, layoffs are more than just a financial exercise — they’re a test of leadership, culture, and values. That’s why choosing the right outplacement partner is one of the most critical decisions an employer can make during a transition.
Companies like RiseSmart — now part of global HR giant Randstad — offer a wide-reaching platform, built for multinational scalability. On paper, they offer a sleek combination of tech tools, global reach, and virtual coaching.
However, for Canadian employers who care about nuance — including language, labour law, regional industry norms, and leadership continuity — global can sometimes miss the mark.
At CareerJoy, we do it differently: human-first, AI-smart, and 100% Canadian. With bilingual support, deep sector expertise, and real coaches who understand the emotional and strategic reality of transition, we help organizations turn layoffs into moments of leadership, not liability.
RiseSmart is a global outplacement platform based in the U.S., operating as a division of Randstad. Their model is heavily tech-forward: automated dashboards, curated job leads, and scalable matching tools. Their coaching is typically virtual, often assigned randomly, and may vary in quality across regions.
CareerJoy, in contrast, offers a Canadian-made approach: high-touch, bilingual, personalized, and deeply rooted in national workplace trends, regional cultures, and long-term career integration.
Where RiseSmart focuses on scale, CareerJoy focuses on trust, cultural alignment, and continuity.
Canadian employees facing a layoff encounter a distinct legal, cultural, and emotional landscape compared to their global counterparts. Expectations around fairness, bilingual services, unionized environments, and employer care are higher and more scrutinized.
According to the 2024 HRPA State of Work in Canada:
RiseSmart’s model may work well for volume-based transitions in global operations. But it often struggles with:
CareerJoy’s model is built around these gaps, where it is purposefully local, built to meet Canadian standards and expectations.
RiseSmart typically ends support at the point of job landing. But that’s when many Canadian professionals are just beginning to feel the impact of transition. Confidence is still rebuilding. Integration is just starting. Pressure is high.
CareerJoy’s model extends past placement:
These aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re essential in today’s Canadian workplace — and they mitigate real risks: early attrition, reputational damage, and poor onboarding outcomes.
A national non-profit preparing for a significant transition evaluated several outplacement firms. While RiseSmart offered a cost-efficient, global solution, the organization quickly realized that what they truly needed was a partner who could deliver culturally relevant, bilingual, high-touch support across all their Canadian regions.
They selected CareerJoy because of our:
“It was clear from the beginning that CareerJoy got us, not just our goals, but our values. We needed a partner who could connect with our people, in English and French, and who understood the kind of work we do. That’s what made the decision easy.” — Marie Desrosiers, VP, People & Culture, National Non-Profit
Within two months:
CareerJoy also offered something RiseSmart couldn’t: the ability to support both Canadian and global transitions with a human-first, AI-smart hybrid model.
Employers often ask, “Is it worth the extra investment?” The answer lies in what happens after:
CareerJoy’s post-placement support has helped hundreds of Canadian organizations avoid early exits, re-hiring cycles, and legal blowback. And it’s why our model is increasingly chosen by:
“What set CareerJoy apart was the blend of warmth and strategy. Our people didn’t just get jobs — they got clarity.” — Sarah McMillan, Senior Director, Crown Corporation
“They understood our sector, our regions, and our values. That’s what made all the difference.” — David Levesque, Manager, Talent & Culture, Public Health Sector
“After being laid off, CareerJoy helped me not just land — but lead. They saw me as more than my resume.” — Catherine Boyd, Career Transition Client
“I’ve worked with a lot of firms. CareerJoy felt different. Human, honest, and incredibly effective.” — Thomas Chan, Leadership Coaching Client
“The support I received helped me regain confidence at a critical time. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.” — Jasmine Patel, Outplacement Recipient
If your outplacement support ends at Day One, it might be time to rethink the model.
Let’s do it differently — with support that’s human-first, AI-smart, and built for Canadian workplaces.
CareerJoy is Canada’s national people & culture firm — trusted by the Government of Canada, Shopify, World Vision, BMW, YMCA, BGC Canada, and more. As an APEX partner with a 4.7 Google rating, we support career transitions, leadership development, and hybrid coaching across all sectors.
