10 Things I Know About...Terminating An Employee
10. Be Prepared
Have the employee’s final paycheck ready before meeting with them.
9. Zip It
Keep your mouth shut. The employee should not be the last person to know they are fired.
8. Timing Counts
Do it in the morning. It is disrespectful to make an employee work all day, then fire them at 5 p.m.
7. Be Brief
Tell the truth about why they were fired. A few solid examples is all you need.
6. Be Gentle
Don’t grind them up into mincemeat. Never kick a man when he’s down.
5. Location, Location, Location
Do it in a private, neutral place. A conference room, not the supervisor’s office.
4. Expect Emotion
Give the employee time to vent, cry, etc. then pull themselves together.
3. Plan The Exit
Show them some dignity on the way out. Give them the option of coming back to say their goodbyes, collect their belongings, etc.
2. Bring A Friend
Never do it alone. HR or a neutral third party should be present. If you feel there is any chance of violence, hire a security guard for the day. I know from personal experience that this is money well spent.
1. Keep It Professional
Communicate the termination to the rest of your employees without bad mouthing the employee after they’ve gone. Never let the grapevine be the method of communicating a termination.
Amorelli is the HR director for the Worcester Business Journal and its parent company New England Business Media. She can be reached at damorelli@nebusinessmedia.com.
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