Ethically Letting Go of an Employee - Spark Hire

Ethically Letting Go of an Employee - Spark HireLetting go of an employeeis never an easy task, but it becomes necessary in order to keep a business running smoothly. If it becomes apparent that its time to part ways with an employee, here are some steps you can take to make the process as smooth and as fair as possibleIssue a warningIts important to first give the individual a perspektive to improve their behavior. Sit them down and explain why youre unhappy and how they can improve. Also set a deadline about when you need to see improvement. For example, you must see changes within 30 or 60 days. Being upfront prevents any confusion or miscommunication, and gives the person a chance to change their ways before youre forced to take action.Document warnings and past incidentsTo prevent an issue in the future, make it a point to document warnings, problems, and conversations youve had with the employee in question. This record illustrates that youve given the person chances to improve , and shows that youre terminating them for cause.Get specificIt can be uncomfortable when youre forced to talk with someone about how theyre underperforming. But dont let the nature of the conversation prevent you from getting specific. Instead of saying, You need to do better, offer examples. What can they do to perform better? What steps can they take? What measurable goals do they need to be hitting? When an individual has a clear sense of exactly how and why they need to change, it makes it easier for them to adjust their performance in the office.When its time to act, keep emotion out of the processWhen it becomes clear that you must terminate the employee, keep it short and sweet, and avoid emotion. Dont go into a long and in depth explanation. Instead, explain when the person will be expected to leave the office, titel any severance that they will receive, and dont debate with them if they get defensive.While firing an employee is never a pleasant task, doing so in a careful and respectful manner helps to make the process more manageable for everyone involved.Image Wavebreak Media Ltd/BigStock.com