MANAGER'S TOOLKIT: FIRING EMPLOYEES - BREAKING THE NEWS
Okay, it is the moment of decision. You have provided a
good orientation to your employee, given him a written job
description, explained policies and procedures, provided as
much training as any reasonable person can expect. None of
it has worked. He has missed work seven times in the past
two months, been late another six days and his standard of
work is far less than you can expect. What now?
1. Schedule a meeting. Do not walk by Sam
in the hall, say out of the corner of your mouth, "By the
way, you're fired," and keep on walking.
2. During the meeting, keep to the facts.
"You have missed work seven times in the past two months.
According to our policy manual, missing work an average of
three times per month is reason for termination. I provided
you a copy of that policy and a written notice last month.
I would advise you to seek other employment." It is an
uncomfortable situation to fire an employee and many
managers feel the need to go into more detail than
necessary.
DO NOT 'OVER-EXPLAIN' YOURSELF
"You see, Robert, when you miss work, it means that I
have to wait on the customers you were supposed to be
serving. Then, I get behind on the reports and payroll I am
supposed to do and I have to work until late at night. When
I get home, my family is all upset with me because I have
been gone ten hours, missed dinner and wasn't around to
drive the kids here and there. On top of that, if another
person is late, too, the customers have to wait ten or
twenty minutes to get a table. Since I am not a waiter, it
takes me more time to do it, plus, I am doing the work of
two people sometimes and then the customers are even more
upset. So, the situation has just gotten out of hand and we
are going to have to let you go."
Situations when you fire someone bring out defensiveness in
that person. Let's listen to some of Robert's possible
answers.
"What about those other people who are late all the
time? Are you going to fire them, too? You just said it is
not just me that shows up, that sometimes there are two
people, so why are you picking on me? What about the fact
that I do good work? Doesn't that count for anything? You
just said that you can't wait on the customers as fast as I
can, but then you want to fire me. That doesn't make any
kind of sense. It's not my fault if your family is mad at
you. Maybe you are slow at your paperwork, too. That's no
reason to take it out on me."
Simply state your policy. State the actions you have taken.
State your decision. What do you mean you don't have a
written policy? Go back to the sample attendance policy or go to the
Virtual Library to get other documents
you need.