How to fire an employee...
It has come down to the unhappy moment when there is no other
choice—you must fire an employee. One of many valid reasons
(incompetence, violation of company rules, necessary downsizing,
and the like) has brought you to this decision. Now you must
take action.
First, you must act decisively. Once you decide to fire an employee,
procrastination will only make a bad situation worse. This is
especially true if the employee senses imminent termination in
his or her future. The longer you put off the procedure, the
more time the employee has to go into the defense mode. He or
she will consciously or unconsciously try to make you feel the
problem is you. In the worst case scenario, the employee will
take actions that hurt your business. The other end of that spectrum
is the employee will simply slack off; sometimes, stopping work
altogether.
Next step is to make a plan. When you are about to fire an employee,
it is not the time to shoot from the hip. If you fail to consider
legalities and proper procedures, this process can cost your
business dearly.
Planning to Fire an Employee
In the planning to fire an employee, there are several things
to consider:
*Do I need to give the employee a letter of termination? If
you fire an employee for “cause,” a clear, well-written
statement of the reasons for the termination will inhibit any
future legal action by the employee.
* Have I planned out exactly what I am going to say when I fire
an employee? A brief set of notes will help you be sure to “cover
all the bases” when you call the employee in for the termination
interview.
*Have I given the employee opportunity to change? In other words,
have I ever counseled the employee, given a warning letter, provided
enough training? Failure to follow such procedures may come back
to haunt you in a labor dispute.
*Do I need to prepare a letter of recommendation? You should
not give an employee whom you fire “for cause” any
recommendations. Other employees, however, may merit such consideration,
and a short letter of recommendation may take the edge off the
unpleasant situation.
These are just a few of the questions that could make matters
easier when it comes time to fire an employee. There are many
resources available to guide you through this process. If you
take the time to collect this information before you fire an
employee, it will make the termination go more smoothly and prevent
legal problems later.
Straight
talk from an employer about firing an employee
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