How to inform staff of a termination
In an August survey of more than 700 business executives by PricewaterhouseCoopers, 81 percent of respondents said talent acquisition and retention challenges present either moderate or serious risks to companies.
Fifty percent, however, said they are reducing overall headcounts.
That means despite hiring challenges, HR professionals may find themselves in the position of having to terminate select employees. This can be difficult to explain to those who remain on the payroll.
Firing someone is never easy, and after the person walks out, it’s tempting to want to close the book on the matter immediately. But other employees will have concerns that should be addressed before false information spreads.
While many details of a termination must remain confidential, get out in front of rumors by sending an email or holding a meeting to announce the employee’s departure. Do it the same day or first thing the next day. Also, it’s a best practice to avoid the word “fired.” Just say the employee is no longer with the company.
Be prepared to answer questions, such as:
- Who will take over the fired person’s duties?
- Where should calls for the fired person be directed?
- What should customers or clients be told?
- Will the position be filled soon?
- Is this an isolated incident or will there be more departures?
Those who interacted with the employee daily probably know the reason for the termination, so, you don’t have to share the reason for the termination. In fact, doing so could land you in legal trouble.
Be clear about the effective date so employees know they shouldn’t be seeing the terminated person on the premises after that time. This is mainly for security reasons, because you don’t want the former employee following an unsuspecting associate into the building.
After stating the basic facts that the employee no longer works for the company and the effective date, you could, if appropriate, add a few positive comments about how the company appreciates the terminated employee’s past contributions and wishes them the best in future endeavors.
Answer questions as well as you can without divulging confidential information. Reassure employees that it was an isolated case (if it was). Explain how the person’s duties will be divided for the time being and how soon you hope to fill the position. You can even review the job description and invite employees to refer qualified candidates.
Key to remember: While hiring remains a challenge, some employers are adjusting headcounts. That means HR professionals may find themselves having to terminate select employees. This can be difficult to explain to those who remain on the payroll, but it’s important to get out in front of it and address concerns before rumors start flying.