Bilal Basrai on Surviving a Merger

Bilal Basrai and his fellow advisers in Chicago know that a downturn in the economy is the first sign of an uptick in corporate mergers. During a merger and/or acquisition, the company which is doing the buying or taking over stands to profit, while the lesser or smaller business is poised to suffer from the fallout. Unfortunately, that company being bought and restructured into the greater fold has an untold number of employees who will also have to contend with the aftermath of the positional changes. Employees who are anticipating having to deal with a merger or acquisition can weather the storm by following these tips.

• Employees should make a point to hope for the best but expect the worst. Of course, the worst case scenario in these situations is that the employee is deemed unnecessary and terminated without any form of severance pay. This termination can also come with very little warning. While this scenario is not as common as one would think, it should still be planned for to prevent future financial stress.
• It is important during a corporate merger that employees maintain their confidence and continue to show their value. The new business owner will be more likely to promote from within if they see that their newly acquired staff adds value to the company. Show an interest in the direction the new conglomerate will take and ask questions that are appropriate. This is also a good time for the employee to gather any and all documentation that proves their ability to cut costs or improve productivity.
• The employee of an acquired company should prepare an elevator pitch, a task that professional Bilal Basrai is able to help with in Chicago. This pitch will give the new employer the incentive to retain their services.