No one likes having to fire an employee- well, with the exception of Donald Trump. For the most, firing someone isn’t easy. It has to be done, but we are all human. If you do have to let someone go, here are some tips to avoid really making a mess of the situation.
1. Don’t make someone disappear. It is bad for the employees who are staying. Good companies communicate and do so in a positive manner. If you’re going to fire someone, explain to the rest of the employees (after he or she has been let go) why you decided to part ways with the candidate, the mistakes he or she was making, and how you hope to move on from there.
2. Don’t disclose any personal reasons for firing the person- not to him or her and not to any other employees. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen, so avoid it by keeping any personal dislikes to yourself. Even more so, don’t fire someone over a personal reason (unless their personal life is causing them to perform poorly). You are not going to like every employee, but you may need every employee.
3. Don’t fire someone with a 2 week notice. This is a horrible idea. Firing someone and then asking him or her to stay for two weeks while you find someone else has disaster spelled all over it. Be prepared to delegate the fired person’s workload to other staff until you can find someone.
4. Getting security is a no no. This action is added insult to injury. Unless there is a valid threat presented, the walk of shame from the building doesn’t need a security guard escort. Plus, it some states, it can be considered harassment.
5. “Go back to your desk and pack.” Why? If you are going to fire a person, promise to allow him or her to come back the next day early or late to collect their things. Or, you can even promise to pack them up in a box and have him or her pick it up the very next morning. Allowing a fired employee to go back to their desk and clean out personal items is going to lead to gossip within the office. Gossip distracts from productivity. You can pack up the office when the other employees are gone.
I hope you don’t have to fire anyone over the next week, but if you do- you know have the best tips to avoid a messy separation.
Britanie Olvera