Aileen MacMillan

Managers need to be prepared to handle potential layoffs and cutbacks. Reuter’s reports numbers from employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. that show “downsizing at U.S. companies last month totaled 88,736, 14 percent lower than a month earlier but 12 percent higher than August 2007.”

Without a doubt, telling an employee that he or she has been terminated is one of the most difficult messages that a manager may have to deliver.

Terminating an employee due to poor performance differs from terminating a top-performing employee due to challenging business/economic conditions. When an employee is underperforming, a manager can re-state expectations and offer training and support to hopefully avoid dismissal. As always, documentation, clear communication and ongoing feedback are critical. If circumstances dictate that a top-performing employee must be let go, clear communication remains critical.

A number of read-worthy articles are referenced below and offer advice related to how to inform an employee of a termination. Regardless of the reasons behind the dismissal, some common principles exist.

Communication must be direct, open and honest -- get directly to the key message and stick to the facts

Put yourself in the employee’s shoes and always be respectful

When terminating a high-performing employee, Goldsmith suggests that managers expect the employee to express some anger but be prepared to not take it personally. He also warns managers against selling out co-workers or the company.

Hopefully you will never have to deliver a message of this sort, however, if you do - some of the advice from the articles referenced below may help guide you.

References:

Bogomolny, Laura. “How to give someone the boot: Fire someone while protecting yourself.” Canadian Business Online, February 14-27, 2005.

Goldsmith, Marshall. “How to Terminate a Great Performer in a Tough Economy.” Harvard Business Publishing, August 5, 2008.

Harvard Management Update. “Will You Help or Heave Your Underperformers?” Harvard Business Publishing, March, 2004.

Leong, Richard. “CORRECTED – U.S. layoffs fall 14 pct in August vs July – survey. September 3, 2008.

Reeves, Scott. “Firing A Worker.” Forbes.com [www.forbes.com]. April 27, 2006.