How to Tell an Employee, You're Fired
No one but Catbert enjoys firing anyone, even when it's unavoidable. It won't be fun, but here's how to do it right.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Human Resource services
- Spiral notebooks
- Manila file folders
- Computer discs
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1
Make sure your documentation ducks are in a row before the meeting. Have important paperwork with you, such as previous performance reviews, probationary warnings or other relevant personnel material.
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2
Decide the details of the employee's departure before you sit down with him. How long will he have to clear out? Does he have a company car or a laptop to return?
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3
Arrange to have a human resources representative present. Not only can the representative give the fired employee information and answer questions about severance and continuation of benefits, but she can also ensure that the meeting follows the company's HR guidelines.
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4
Get right to the point. The employee's fate has been decided, so just say it.
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5
Take responsibility. Even if you're not the one who decided to take the action, if asked directly, "Whose decision was this?" be prepared to say, "Mine."
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6
Offer whatever assistance your company provides in the way of outplacement, counseling or other services, no matter how acrimonious the parting.
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7
Communicate the essentials of the employee's departure to other members of the department. Avoid details about why he was let go; it's unprofessional and could have unpleasant legal repercussions.
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8
Document the meeting, and follow up with an HR letter confirming the details of your conversation.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Choose your time carefully. Experts recommend that you avoid firing or laying off an employee on a Friday or before a holiday.
Back up the employee's computer files before you break the news. Resentment has driven more than one fired person to delete important files out of spite.
Recognize that you will feel lousy about the whole process even if you do everything right.
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Comments
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No one except God and we ourselves can decide our fate.Our employer can at maximum sack us from job.But He is No one to decide our fate.
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No one except god and we ourselves can decide our fate.Our employer is no one is decide our fate.
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lilmisstrouble
Dec 28, 2010
Ooo.. Oooo... I got one! You forgot to mention firing employees via telephone while the employee is suspended! That's what my previous employer did! Guess they must've thought I'm the type of loose canon that may try and do something crazy! Haha! Wow.. They were giving me way too much credit if they really thought I was capable of that. =) But it does make sense... If you think an employee is qualifiable for a straight jacket and at risk for creating a scene if faced with unjust and wrongful termination... It may be a good idea to let them think nothing is going on while conducting the pathetic "investigations" with old biddies that make up lies because they are jealous... And wait until the evening to call the targeted employee (whose fate lies in the hands of backstabbing, jealous ,old ,clucking hens), and then enforce the suspension. Be sure to tell the targeted employee... -
benandjerry
Mar 27, 2010
You talk about employees as if they are a different breed than yourself. To most employees being let go is a blessing. People that make comments about how furniture should be arranged and having all your ducks in a row are managing places that most hate to report to every morning. They usually lie about how great the company and the benefits are to get you on board and then within a week the employee finds out the real truth. If you are running a good company with a good environment that is not always putting policy in ones face then firing is a scarce event. I worked at a place where they replaced over 200 people with a call center in India and every Friday the Corporate Counsel a HR rep, the Department head and the immediate supervisor would enter the floor, walk to someones desk with a box in hand and walk them out. Overkill, intimidating for the rest of us and embarassing for the...
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benandjerry
Mar 27, 2010
You talk about employees as if they are a different breed than yourself. To most employees being let go is a blessing. People that make comments about how furniture should be arranged and having all your ducks in a row are managing places that most hate to report to every morning. They usually lie about how great the company and the benefits are to get you on board and then within a week the employee finds out the real truth. If you are running a good company with a good environment that is not always putting policy in ones face then firing is a scarce event. I worked at a place where they replaced over 200 people with a call center in India and every Friday the Corporate Counsel a HR rep, the Department head and the immediate supervisor would enter the floor, walk to someones desk with a box in hand and walk them out. Overkill, intimidating for the rest of us and embarassing for the...
