The 3 Steps to Terminating Employees

For most managers, it is better to terminate employees who have no hope of becoming productive members of your department sooner rather than later. The actual firing of the employee should take place in your office or any other private location and not done via email or in an open area such as the pantry. 

Here are some steps to guide you: 

Step 1: Inform the employee that he or she is being terminated

Firmly tell the employee that the decision is final and not subjected to appeal. In the majority of such termination cases, the announcement should come as no surprise as the said employee would already have been placed on probation for performance or behavioural issues. However, whether it is expected or not, being terminated will still come as a shock to even the most hardened employee.  

Step 2: Tell the employee exactly why he or she is being terminated 

For instance, if the decision to terminate the employee was due to misconduct, describe the policy that was broken and what the employee did to break it. If the termination was due to a failure to meet performance standards, remind the employee of previous counselling sessions and attempts to improve his performance that led to the decision to fire.

Step 3: Notify the employee on the effective date of termination and provide details on the termination process 

The termination is usually effective on the day that you conduct your termination meeting. Go through the termination paperwork with the employee, explain the handling of final wages and accompany the employee to his office space to pack up his belongings. If the employee becomes violent or emotional, be prepared to call for security if necessary.