Rick Hevier explains how to gracefully let an employee go with poise and professionalism.

1. 5 TIPS ON HOW TO
GRACEFULLY LET
AN EMPLOYEE GO
RICKHEVIER.COM
By Rick Hevier

2. Imagine this: You have to let some employees go.
Maybe they haven’t been keeping up with their work.
Maybe the company simply needs to tighten its belt, and
they don’t fit into the new budget. Maybe they’ve been
working for you for a long time, and are a trusted member
of the company; maybe they were recent hires. No matter
the situation, terminating someone’s employment is not an
easy thing for anyone to do. So, here are some ways you
can make it as painless as possible.
INTRODUCTION

3. 5 TIPS
1) Be prepared.
2) Be clear.
3) Be legal.
4) Be quick.
5) Be kind.

4. BE PREAPARED.
01
Don’t wing it. It will almost certainly result in you
misspeaking or being unclear in some way that is hurtful
and unhelpful. Choose your words carefully, even writing
out what you plan to say beforehand. Consider
practicing on an advisor or close friend outside the
business. You may even want to prepare an
informational packet to give to each employee you are
letting go of, containing information they will want for
their transition.

5. BE CLEAR.
02
When breaking bad news, it can be tempting to beat around the bush.
You may even want to avoid the topic for a while, and talk about
something else, such as family life or the weather. Don’t. At the start
of the meeting with the soon-to-be terminated employee, make the
situation clear. Then, answer any questions they have as honestly as
possible. Make sure they know all the information: how they can
collect their last paycheck, how to apply for unemployment benefits,
and what to do about health insurance. Clarity might not soften the
blow, but it can at least reduce pain later on.

6. BE QUICK.
04
If someone is costing your company
money, and you know you need to
terminate them, do it immediately.
Putting it off won’t make it any easier
when it happens, and, in the meantime,
you will lose money.
BE LEGAL.
03A lot of employers fear legal retribution when
dismissing an employee, especially if it
happened under unfriendly circumstances. If
you are preparing to let someone go, check
with a lawyer to make sure that everything is
in order. If you have a contract with the
employee, there may be a protocol you have
to follow, or you may only be able to dismiss
them under certain circumstances. When you
meet with them, have a witness–ideally
someone from HR. And, although it should go
without saying, think honestly about your
motivation. Don’t fire an employee as an act
of discrimination–and that can include firing
them for taking a medical leave or getting
pregnant. Even in states where this is legal, it
can still invite lawsuits.

7. BE KIND.
05
Treat the employee respectfully. Take them
aside privately, ideally at the end of the day, to
spare them from the humiliation of packing up
in front of their co-workers. If possible, allow
them the option to resign, which will make it
easier for them to bounce back.

8. THANK YOU!
RICKHEVIER.COM
By Rick Hevier
& HAVE A NICE DAY