Employee Terminations Are Not for Amateurs, Says Canadian Expert
Canadian law, governing employment, may be different than U.S. statues, but Howard Levitt, who practices employment in eight provinces of Canada says, “Firing employees in a fit of pique, using colourful expletives, is for TV dramas. Employers who compound dismissals with a dose of embarrassment will incur judicial wrath.” According to Levitt, Employers will assign inexperienced personnel (managers) to conduct termination meetings without training, planning and legal advice. Dismissed employees can make mental distress claims if they experience poor exit interviews. Levitt suggests a number...
Read MoreIt’s Important to Have Steps in Place Before You Fire an Employee
In the small-business environment, the business owner may also be the “HR manager”; in that, he or she is likely to be the person who must dismiss high-risk or medium-risk employees. High-risk employees are those that must be leave the premises as soon as possible because of the severity of the infraction that led to termination. Before he or she is escorted through the door, the small-business owner or manager must create a termination notification that briefly describes why the employee is being terminated. Business policies that are explained to all employees, even verbally, can protect...
Read MoreFiring via E-mail Bad for Everyone
When facing the reality of terminating employees, there is a trend towards using e-mail to make the notification. Although it may save manager’s hurt feelings, it doesn’t do much good for the fired employees or those remaining in the company. Paul Munoz, president of the HR Group Inc. in Plainview, doesn’t endorse firing by e-mail because it does more harm than good. But he understands why some managers resort to it: It helps to minimize anxiety or fear over having to tell someone his or her position is being eliminated. It also saves time “as each person would have to...
Read More10 Mistakes Employees Make When Leaving
The ten most common mistakes employees make when leaving their jobs. Not only may some of these mistakes get the employee in legal trouble, but they can also clue in an employer that the departing employee may be engaging in some suspicious behavior that can harm the employer’s interests. Taking business records with them. Telling clients that they are considering leaving the company or are leaving the company. Telling co-workers that they are leaving the company before telling management. Sabotaging records. Granting an exit interview. Failing to segregate between private company...
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