Saturday, March 1, 2008

Setting the Proper Tone for a Termination Meeting

Firing an employee can be difficult, but if you approach it the right way, it doesn't have to be torturous for you or the employee.

While you can't control an employee's actions, you can maintain a positive and professional attitude that may help prevent any bitterness. Keep the tone of a termination meeting positive; creating a tense atmosphere may make your employee resentful and more likely to resort to legal action. Consider these ways to help keep the meeting upbeat:

Thank the employee. Start the meeting by sincerely thanking the employee for their contribution to your company.

Don't assess blame or make apologies. There's no reason to blame the employee or the company for the termination. Just explain that the company's needs don't match the employee's particular skills.


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