Hi there, I'm Angela Oberer and the other day I had to fire somebody. As the person
in charge, I don't like to fire people because I know I'm taking away their livelihood.
But if you find yourself in a situation where you have to fire someone,
here are a couple of things to keep in mind: Number 1: Does this person have a set of skills
that be utilized somewhere else in the company? And if the answer is yes, then reposition
them immediately. Number 2: If this person has done something
absolutely unforgivable and despicable and you have to let them go, then do it quickly.
Don't drag it on for six months and let them ruin your customers and your company morale
and all of your coworkers. Don't let them do that.
Number 3: Keep really good documentation of the reasons you're letting this person go,
just in the event that the situation escalates. Number 4: Anticipate the firing.
If you kind of think this person has a violent temper and you're going to have to call security
as she leaves the building, have security on standby. Don't leave your company at risk.
Number 5: Fire her in person. Don't phone her, don't text her, don't email
her, this is not a Facebook thing. Do it in person, at least give her that curteousy.
Number 6: Don't apologize. She probably knows she's getting fired and so do you.
Don't say you wish things were different because they're not.
Number 7: This is a business decision, it is not personal. So keep your emotions out of it.
You guys might have become really good friends while you were working together, but
guess what? Keep it very clean and concise, otherwise you will muddle up the meeting and
it will just send mixed messages. Number 8: Don't promise things you can't deliver,
don't say you're going to write her a letter of recommendation or you're going to help
her find another job, if in fact, you're not. Number 9: If you have a severance package
you can give her, now is the time. Soften that blow with a check.
If you have no severance package, at least give her the dignity of cleaning out her desk
when no one else is around. Don't make her do the walk of shame and walk
the box of stuff out in front of everyone else. Not cool.
And number 10: If you've removed a toxic person from your company, be done with it.
Don't rehash it on social media. Don't talk about it at the water cooler, don't talk about
it with your colleagues, or your coworkers, or your employees. Be done with it.
Let the firing be the gut punch. Don't leave a trail of blood behind.
If you have to fire someone, do it quickly, do it quietly, and do it professionally.
It will make the situation a whole lot easier, and it's a good idea.
It's a good idea.