4 Important Things To Remember When Firing Someone

Sometimes, it’s time to let go of the virtual assistant you hired. They might be underperforming. Perhaps they’ve outgrown the role. Or it could be that your business is downsizing. Your company might be shrinking, or possibly, you just want to be smarter with the decisions you make about how many people to hire at a time. Regardless of the reason, it’s tough to fire someone. But before you lay someone off, you need to know these four very important things:

Let them know how they’re doing

Never let someone go without warning. Sudden terminations can lead to confusion, frustration, and unnecessary conflict. If an employee has been underperforming for weeks, don’t just keep them on out of habit. Instead, give regular and honest feedback. This not only gives them a fair chance to improve but also keeps them informed about where they stand.

Clear communication ensures they’re not caught off guard. If poor performance continues, they won’t be surprised when you decide to let them go, because you’ve been upfront about your concerns all along. Being transparent makes the process smoother for both sides.

Be 100% Sure

Don’t let one single mistake determine their fate. You might fire them at the peak of anger without considering the consequences. You may still need a couple of things done from them, or their behavior may not have been totally objectionable according to your policies and/or guidelines.

This is why you need to take the time to think about this decision. Review your policies and properly assess your workers. This is the only way you will be able to give a clear explanation for why you are firing this person. Not being able to give a proper justification might get you tangled in an unnecessary mess, legally or otherwise.

Don’t make them stop immediately

Make sure to give them ample time to prepare for the termination of their job. Just as you’d expect employees to hand over their resignation weeks before they will leave, they, too, need to prepare for getting fired. This is beneficial for both of you because your worker will need to turn over some files or tasks, and he/she will also have the opportunity to start looking for other places to work.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep

This is especially important if you’re firing someone because of factors that are not related to their performance (such as the company cutting some costs, or you not needing their service). Just wishing them the best for their career will do. Don’t give them false hope. Offering them help when you can’t give any will come out as insensitive, especially when you’re not sure that you can follow through.

Regardless of the reason for letting them go, respect is always key. They are still human beings, and they deserve to be treated well, even when you’re about to fire them. It’s also better for both your sake and theirs that you don’t part ways on a bad note.