How to Fire Someone Even Though It’s Difficult

Being a manager comes with lots of different tasks and one of those is having to fire someone. If you haven’t done it yet, then get prepared because you are going to have to do it sooner or later.

If you’re one of those people, then you might be trying to figure out the right way to fire someone. Well, don’t fret because we have you covered.

Whether you’re looking for the best time, place, and way to deliver the news we can help you along the way.

Keep reading for our guide on how to fire someone even though it can be difficult.

How NOT to Fire Someone

Before we get into the right way of firing an employee lets discuss how you should not go about firing someone.

Most people feel like getting right to the point and only saying what you need to is the best way to go about it. If you get them in and out of your office as fast as possible then you will be all set. This is not the case.

You might even think that forcing them to sign a document agreeing not to sue you or the company is important. Unfortunately, this makes it seem like the employee you’re firing can’t be trusted.

If an ex-employee feels like they were treated in a poor or unfair way during the firing process, then they may go about trying to press legal action. Which is why you need to treat firing someone delicately.

Treating your employees with respect and fairness can start all the way at the hiring process. If you’re a law firm management then make sure to get help with your hiring process. Hiring the right people from the start will make it easier if there are any bumps in the road later on.

Don’t Procrastinate

Once you’ve made up your mind to terminate employment don’t procrastinate firing someone. It is going to be a tough conversation to have especially if you’ve known and worked with the person for years. Yet, it is something you must do once you’ve made up your mind about it.

If you’ve finally decided that firing someone is the right thing to do, then you already know that it is the right decision and shouldn’t wait any longer.

Clearly, they’re doing more harm than good for the company which is why you’ve decided to fire them in the first place.

Procrastinating on firing someone can hurt your team even more in the process which is why you need to get it over with. It could take longer to find a replacement which means that the rest of your team is going to need to pick up the employees slack. This could result in them being overworked.

Pick the Right Time

When deciding how to fire someone you need to pick the right time to do so. Many companies will decide to terminate employment on a Friday because it is the end of a workweek. This will give the person time over the weekend to update their resume and start looking for a new job.

Yet, it could also limit the employee that you’re firing. They might have the weekend to recover, but they have many days where no one will be available to talk to them about getting a new job.

Firing someone in the middle of the week or the beginning gives them more opportunity to start looking for a new job right away. In this case, they might be able to find a new job before the weekend hits. As for the time of the day to go about firing an employee, it is up to you and your work environment. The best time is when there aren’t a lot of people around and the employee can pack up and leave quietly.

Some will argue that firing someone at the end of the day means that an employee puts in an entire workday before getting fired. Yet, if you fire someone right when they get to work, then everyone will see them packing up and leaving.

If you’re not sure whether you should fire someone at the start of the day or the end, then it could be a smart move to fire someone around lunchtime. This is when there aren’t as many people in the office. It is up to you and your discretion to pick the right time to terminate employment.

Be Compassionate

The conversation of firing someone for a manager is going to be a difficult one, but for the person getting fired it is going to be awful. Some people might see it coming but for others getting fired could be a shock to them.

As a manager, the best way to fire someone is to be compassionate, but be firm with your reasoning. Giving an open and honest answer to why the person is getting fired can also be helpful.

If you feel like the person that you’re firing is a good person and has skills, then offer to be a reference at a new job. Sometimes people aren’t the right fit at your company which is why they need to move on. You might even want to work with them and ask when is the best time for them to pack up their things and leave. If they truly are embarrassed about getting fired, then they may want to wait to pack up their belongings for everyone to clear out of the office.

Especially if you’re firing management, you will want to work with the person and show compassion. Getting fired can be a traumatic experience for anyone so make sure that you’re respectful.

Our Best Advice on How to Fire Someone

As a manager, it is never an easy time when you’re figuring out how to fire someone. Especially when you work side by side with the person that you need to fire.

Unfortunately, it is something that needs to be done sometimes to make your team operate stronger.

The best advice is to make sure that you follow through with your decision so that you both can move on. The number one thing to do is be respectful.

Our website is filled with plenty of advice for business professionals. Be sure to keep scrolling for more tips and tricks to help you out.