Workforce reductions are one of the highest-risk decisions a company makes, legally and reputationally. In episode one of After the Cut, employment attorneys Elizabeth Gouéti (Avinu Consulting, LLC) and Ashlei Ferguson (Employment Attorney, Microsoft) break down what goes wrong when HR, legal, and the business are not aligned during a layoff or reduction in force. This conversation covers real cases, including notifications sent to employees on protected FMLA leave, and a severance negotiation that grew from two weeks to four months after a legal misstep. Elizabeth and Ashlei explain why every workforce reduction carries both legal risk and a human cost, and how CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and HR leaders can protect their organization while treating employees with dignity through the process. If your company is planning a reduction in force, this episode gives you the questions legal counsel wants you to ask before you move forward. Topics covered: * Why HR, legal, and business misalignment leads to lawsuits * Notifications sent during protected leave (FMLA, short-term disability) * Real severance negotiation case study * Legal risk vs. human impact in workforce reductions * How C-suite executives can lead a workforce reduction with dignity and compliance Views expressed are personal and do not represent the views of Microsoft or any other organization. If you're a senior executive, employment lawyer, or business leader navigating a workforce reduction, this episode gives you a real look at what it takes to lead through it, not just manage the logistics.After the Cut is a limited podcast series from Company Bridge Program, going inside the room with the executives, lawyers, and consultants who manage layoffs to ask what actually stayed with them. New episodes release the first Wednesday of every month.Featured Guest: Ashlei Ferguson - Employment Attorney, Microsoft Ashlei Ferguson serves as Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft, leveraging extensive experience across workplace investigations, government labor oversight, and legal leadership to drive equity, compliance, and organizational integrity.Connect: Ashlei LinkedIn Elizabeth Gouéti - Avinu Consulting, LLCElizabeth brings over a decade of labor and employment law experience, guiding executive leaders through complex workforce compliance, employment litigation, and high-stakes culture strategy.Connect: Elizabeth LinkedIn | Website About Your Host: Kanya Olivier is the Co-founder of Company Bridge Program, a South Florida-based firm advising and executing workforce transitions nationally.We work alongside your existing leadership, HR, and General Counsel—never replacing them. Your General Counsel reviews and approves every phase of the process, ensuring total legal alignment while freeing up your legal team to focus on core strategic priorities.Company Bridge Program helps senior executives navigate layoffs and workforce reductions with legal precision and organizational integrity. Considering a layoff and want to talk through your plan? Reach out for a free workforce risk analysis and consultation.Watch, listen, and subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts: click hereBook a consultation, Layoff hotline submission, book us to present or to facilitate a training for your HR Team: Linktree#Layoffs #ExecutiveLeadership #HRLeadership #WorkforceReduction #CHRO
