How do I graciously let my employee go?

Dear Aunty B,

I recently had to let someone go because despite intensive performance reviews she would not improve. It has proved very disruptive because the person has been with us from day one and appears not to have any understanding about why we need to move her on.

I did the decent thing by not advertising her job before I told her (she would have found out) and then I have given her two months notice so she could look for another job while still employed by us, thereby improving her chances (she looks great on a CV and won’t have any trouble at all getting another job).

I told her that I will provide a reference for her as she was great in our start-up phase and she is free to spend a few hours a day looking for another job. But instead of appreciating our assistance she is spending her days bitching to other staff (who can’t wait for her to leave), not doing any work and loudly talking to her friends about how much she hates me and how glad she’ll be to leave.

She has another four weeks to go, including the staff farewell and present that has been organised for her but I don’t think I can stand it! What do I do? Everything I have done was in her best interests – even sacking her actually as she will go on and get a more suitable job!

Mr Nice Guy,
Perth

Dear Mr Nice Guy,

You call her in, pay out her four weeks, add a few weeks for good measure and tell her it is best since she is obviously unhappy that she leaves immediately. Stand next to her while she packs her things and walk her to the door.

Understand that no matter how you reason it out in your own head, being sacked is devastating. There is no way to make it better for the person involved and in future you are better paying them a bit more to leave immediately.

Always make sure you regroup with staff afterwards to reassure them and then go home, have a stiff drink and get under the doona.

You will feel better tomorrow and then when she gets a job and you get a great new member of staff and all the staff have moved on, you will feel a whole lot better!

Good luck,
Your Aunty B

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