In any event, you want to present your- self in a professional manner, get to the point, and be compassionate about the decision. Be clear on the next steps and in most cases offer yourself as a resource for the employee seeking fu- ture employment elsewhere. How you as an employer handle this situation will in most cases determine how that employee speaks about you and the company in their future endeavors. It’s never a good look for a company to have past employees speak in a nega- tive manner about their experience as
an employee. This can discourage fu- ture employee prospects from apply- ing to the company and can even get back to customers which can lead to loss in revenue. On the flip side, as an employee, whether you make the decision to leave the company or you are dismissed, it's important to approach the situation in a professional manner and that you express gratitude for the opportunity. Transitioning out of the role is also very important, handing off clients or tasks
and making sure that all tools and intel- lectual property are returned or remain confidential are essential in leaving on good terms. More times than not, a fu- ture employer will call a past employer for a reference and if you make a mess of this process, it will not reflect well on you or your chances of landing the pro- spective role.
There’s a reason why big companies have entire HR departments, proce- dures, and policies in place to deal with dismissing employees. One wrong move can spell big problems for a company if employees are not properly terminated from their posi- tions with just cause and or compensa- tion. Employee lawsuits against a big company can lead to big settlements or damaged reputations. For small-
er companies and startups, it’s main- ly the business owners or the founders who need to be educated on employ- ee rights and are actually the ones who have to deal with the dismissal process themselves. It’s arguably more import- ant for smaller companies to get this right as lawsuits or damaged reputa- tions could lead to bankruptcy if not handled properly.
One thing I’ve learned as a business owner is to lead with compassion and to put your pride to the side when dealing with employee dismissals. I still remember the first time I had to let an employee go. I was really anxious and uncomfortable, but you have to re- mind yourself that it's a business move and it can’t come off as personal no matter what the employee has done to justify the dismissal.
98 SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 24 ISSUE 4
SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 24 ISSUE 4 99
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