How To Fire An Employee

Ever dealt with someone who was hard to deal with?

We all have.

There’s the rude salesman at the clothing store… the angry customer who won’t stop yelling… the unemployed sibling whose constant dependence on you is becoming a real burden…But unless you live in a hole in the ground (and with technology these days, probably even then!), you’ll have to learn how to deal with all types of people in order to succeed in your business and personal relationships.

Now with a management position come power, broader responsibility, greater freedom, and better pay. But there are also a few downsides to moving up the ladder.

For one thing, you will eventually have to fire someone. Firing an employee is an unpleasant task that’s at best uncomfortable and at worst potentially dangerous. But there is a way to make the best out of a bad situation.

When preparing to terminate someone’s employment, you want to make a clear case for dismissing him and back it up with documented proof of past misdeeds, poor performance, or redundancy of job function. For example, it’s best if you have records of written reprimands or warnings and evidence that the employee didn’t rectify the matter.

Once you dismiss an employee, it’s best for all involved if he immediately leaves the premises. You don’t need to give him until the end of the day or week to clear out. Before you dismiss him, you will want to ask the employee to bring any company assets (like a company-issued laptop computer) to the office so that you won’t have to worry about retrieving them after the employee has been let go.

Here is a lighter side of viewing it

Two managers are heatedly discussing on how to lay off one of their two assistants, Jack or Jane. They go back and forth but can't decide who to lay off. Finally, one manager decides that they lay off the first person who gets up from their desk.

In the meantime, Jane is hard at work but suddenly gets a headache. She gets some aspirin from her desk drawer and gets up from her desk to get some water. As agreed, one of the managers gets up to break the bad news to Jane.

Jane, I need to talk to you. I've got a problem. I either need to lay you or Jack off..."

Jane responds..... Well..... Jack off ! I've got a headache.

Bottomline... remember, it is never easy...