How much is "worker tension" costing your company?
Terminating an employee tips.

March 30, 2008

o All of your former workforce will land (California At-Will Employment)

Our problem employee said after we fired him "what took you so long". He's right. Here's what we should have done.

o All of your former workforce will land on their feet, and for the most part get better jobs than they had previously. When you find you should lay off a worker, attention to detail is important. The worker is generally eligible regardless of your protests. So doesn't it make sense to terminate your high paid workers first? Or, if the employee came in high from improper drug use, you must bring corroborators who can testify to his erratic behavior and physical characteristics (like bloodshot eyes or smelled like pot smoke). You place her into escalating discipline for her terrible productivity. You get the insubordinate employee out of the building with little disruption, and you don't have to worry about a half-million dollar lawsuit. You will not have to worry about the jobholder finding a loophole in the notice that he or she can use when filing a suit against you or the business.

On the day of the termination, the surviving workers feel confused, feel guilty for being "a survivor" and feel emotionally drained. The longer a bad worker makes problems, the worse the workplace becomes. You should give each employee his final paycheck during the firing meeting. Within this section, you must state that this final incident has left you with no other choice than to lay off this employee. o Inform the recipients of any garnishments and deductions. They realize they're the only ones getting written warnings, lackluster productivity reviews or shut out of the inner circle. Unfortunately, these are the workforce you are most desperate to terminate. o Are you sacking the jobholder for an improper, stupid or "no" reason?

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Our problem employee said after we fired him "what took you so long". He's right. Here's what we should have done.