Bob Wright, Brian Bemmels, John Leschyson, employment termination (Terminating Employee)

Giving notice allows the jobholder time to steal confidential information, stir-up the remaining personnel and commit sabotage. Keep a friendly tone and act like you're the fired employee's advocate with the business. Each day there are many lawsuits related to illegal termination, or alleged discrimination. Before writing this memorandum, you must gather as much detailed evidence as you can to support your case. Life is too short to deal with a bad employee permanently. These may include how the worker will empty her or his workspace and the company's need for the employee to leave the building immediately.

(She might have a point, don't you think? This sample discipline letter should clearly define the prior issues with the worker and then spell out the disciplinary action taken in the second paragraph. In recent years, courts have passed new laws that make dismissing an employee harder. In a fit of rage, you lay off the employee on the spot. As well, most contracts list a given amount of time the jobholder should work before the business can consider termination or non-renewal of a contract. If your small business does not have a legal organization, use an independent lawyer. If you had the foresight to have a clearly written company policy handbook read and initialed by every employee, the program becomes a simple matter of following company policy to the letter. Owners and managers dole out employee reprimands many different ways, but by being up-front with employees about the rules, enforcing those rules and fostering esprit de corps in the workplace, many employees will react positively. In this case, you should review the contract carefully before even approaching the jobholder.
When is it time to fire someone? Susan Hollis | Image: Jeremy Bruneel | Published: September 03, 2008 More