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Would you rather have to speak in front of a stadium full of people or tell a person one-on-one that they no longer have their job? Probably neither, right? But as a small business owner, you’re unfortunately in a situation where an employee isn’t working out, and you’re feeling anxious and stressed about firing them. This won’t be an easy conversation to have, and you’d like to get through it without hurting them. Here’s how to have that talk while allowing your (former) employee to keep their dignity. DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only and shouldn’t be considered legal advice. To make sure you’re abiding by your area’s legislation, talk to an employment lawyer, speak with a local labor standards representative, or read up on termination laws in your country (including Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom). What it means to fire someoneFiring someone means ending their employment with your business because of their actions or their performance. Letting someone go, on the other hand, means you’re terminating the employee because they aren’t a good fit, you don’t have enough work, or you’re getting rid of their role. The difference between these terms is based on whether or not the employee can control the reason they’re being terminated. For this article, though, we’ll use the term “fired” to keep things simple. Either way, whether they’re part-time or full-time, an employee or a subcontractor, your working relationship is coming to an end. How to know it’s time to fire someone (and what to say)Getting fired shouldn’t be a surprise. Both of you should see it coming because you’ve talked about the situation before in the employee’s performance review. Whatever your reason is for firing someone, make sure you can articulate it clearly, because you’re going to have to explain it to your former employee. IMPORTANT: Just like when you’re hiring an employee, you can’t discriminate when you’re firing. This includes ethnicity, origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, family or marital status, health, or appearance. Here’s what some possible reasons for firing an employee might be—and how to fire someone nicely for those reasons: 1. Low performanceA low-performing employee can take many forms. Maybe they’re always late for work, taking long breaks, not following standard operating procedures, or not completing tasks properly. Sometimes you can address these problems, and you should always try. Quality walkthroughs after visits, alternative training methods, accommodations, and performance bonuses and incentives can help. But other times, the employee just isn’t improving. You can’t keep spending the time and effort managing their performance, so it’s time to say goodbye. Use this script to do it: How to fire someone nicely for poor performance:“I’m sorry to say this, but I have to fire you. Some of our clients have raised concerns about your attention to detail during visits. You and I have already spoken about ways to improve, and your crew leader provided work checklists and extra training to ensure everything gets done, but I haven’t seen the changes needed. Today is your last day.” 2. Poor conductYour employee isn’t acting like a professional. They might have a bad attitude, be disrespectful to you and your clients, or generally behave badly. Whatever they’re doing, your clients or other employees might have reported their behavior. It’s bringing down productivity, and it’s damaging the business reputation you worked hard to build. READ MORE: Hire better team members with an employee referral program If this behavior is rare, you might be able to work with them on it. But if it keeps happening, you can’t risk your business—you need to fire them. What to say when firing someone for poor conduct:“I hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but I have to fire you. Your attitude toward me, your team, and your clients has been disrespectful, and I’ve gotten too many complaints about the way you conduct yourself. I can’t have that behavior associated with my business anymore. Today is your last day.” Pro Tip: Create an employee handbook to lay out expectations around performance, attendance, and conduct. If an employee reads it and still isn’t meeting those expectations, it’s much easier to end the working relationship. 3. Legal issuesYou might run into a situation where you have to fire an employee for violence, harassment, theft, forgery, sharing proprietary information, lying on their job application, or even more serious illegal activity. This type of behavior goes beyond poor conduct and could involve law enforcement. You’ll need proof of their actions, so make sure to document everything before terminating the employee. When you’re firing someone for legal issues, the last thing you want to be is nice. Still, it’s a good idea to keep a cool head and not say anything that could get you into trouble later. Try this: What to say when firing someone for legal issues:“I’m firing you for your personal use of the company credit card. I have a statement from the card company showing that you used it at a clothing store. We have a policy about personal use of company equipment in our handbook, and you signed the paperwork saying you read this policy when I hired you. “I made it clear what the consequences of breaking that policy would be. You need to collect your belongings and leave.” 4. No-showingWhen an employee no-shows, they don’t arrive for work and often don’t call, either. This leaves you wondering what’s going on—and scrambling to cover their assigned tasks for the day. Unless there’s a good reason for a no-show (like an emergency), you can’t allow an employee to get away with a no-show. It affects your business and tells your team that they can do it, too. READ MORE: How to attract employees who stick around It’s ideal to fire an employee in person, but this can be hard to do if the employee isn’t showing up for work. After confirming they don’t have a legitimate emergency, like a sudden illness or accident, you can send a text message or email like this to end their employment: What to say when firing someone who no-shows:“I’m firing you for non-attendance. Today is now the second day you haven’t shown up for work. You haven’t answered any of my calls, texts, or emails, and I don’t know where you are or when you intend to come back. “This tells me that I can’t depend on you to do your job. You’re no longer employed by Plum Landscaping, so I’m sending your last paycheck.” 5. Not the right fitSometimes employees just aren’t the right fit. Their skills don’t match up with what you need, their performance is fine but could be better, or you know they have potential but can’t reach it with you. In this case, you aren’t firing someone for not meeting the needs of the role. You’re letting them go because they don’t align with the company—and you don’t align with them. It’s better for both sides if you part ways now and each find an opportunity that will better fit your needs. Here’s how to fire someone who is not a good fit: What to say when firing someone who is not a good fit:“This isn’t working out, so I’m letting you go. I understand you have questions and are likely surprised, but we’re ending this employment relationship because it isn’t a good fit. The decision that we have made, while tough, is final. So the most productive thing to do today is not to discuss why, as it won’t change the circumstances.” 6. Not enough workYou might find yourself in the tough situation of not having enough work or cash flow for the number of employees on staff. As a result, you need to let someone go. This employee may not have done anything wrong. They were just the newest or lowest-performing member of your team, and you have to prioritize which employees you’re keeping. Because the reason for termination is outside the employee’s control, a little kindness goes a long way. Here’s how to fire someone nicely when you’re downsizing: How to let someone go when downsizing:“This is hard to say, but I have to let you go. We’ve had less and less work to do over the last several months. The company’s financial situation isn’t what it used to be and we can’t afford to keep operating with our current team. I can only keep a few of our highest-performing employees, so I’m letting several people go, including you.” Get paid fasterNeed to improve cash flow? Jobber provides convenient, touchless payment options for your customers—with no hidden fees. Get Started How to fire someone nicely: 10 best practicesIt’s important to fire someone with kindness. They have feelings, too, and you can imagine how much it hurts to be fired. And in some circumstances, they may not have done anything wrong. You also don’t want to risk your company’s reputation. Sites like Glassdoor allow employees to leave company reviews, and negative reviews can affect whether future candidates will apply for your job postings. You can fire someone nicely using these best practices:
Pro Tip: Was the person a good employee, but you had to fire them due to lack of work or other reasons outside their control? You can soften the blow by offering a severance package, letters of recommendation, or an introduction to other business owners who might be hiring. What to tell your team after a terminationAfter you fire an employee, the rest of your team might be worried they’re next. This can affect morale and productivity. And depending on who you fired and why, other employees may leave on their own. Your team will ask questions. There’s no way around it. So it’s best to call a quick meeting or send out an email to provide answers instead of letting them wonder what happened. Be transparent and stick to the facts, but don’t get into too much detail. Reassure your team that they still have jobs and that this decision was made with them and the business in mind. What to say to your team after firing a problem employee:“Unfortunately, I need to share with you all that Jane will no longer be part of our team. Her work was not up to company standards, and it’s important to keep our clients happy, which I know the rest of you excel at. “None of your jobs are in danger and the business is continuing to do well. I value your contributions and hope you’ll continue working here. If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them now.” You might be worried about how a termination will affect your team, but it’s better to fire a problem employee than to keep them around—which could still affect your team in the long run. When you fire an employee nicely, the rest of your team will see that you’re a fair employer who values good work, sets reasonable expectations, and treats them with respect. READ MORE: How to build a business where employees want to work If you had to fire an employee due to lack of work, though, you might not be able to reassure your team about future work. Be extra transparent about how you’ll keep them employed—and understand if they decide to leave, too. What to say to your team after layoffs:“I had to make the difficult decision to lay off Jane, John, and Alan. As I’ve mentioned in past team meetings, we’ve had less and less work to do over the last several months. The company’s financial situation isn’t what it used to be and I could only keep a few of our highest-performing employees. “This has given us some extra breathing room in the budget, so I’m confident we can keep you on staff for the time being. I’ve also dedicated some of that budget toward marketing so we can get more money coming in. I understand if this still feels very uncertain to you, so I can answer any questions you might have.” Pro Tip: Tell your clients about the change in staffing if it affects them—for example, if someone new will be cleaning their home each week. Just say, “John is no longer with the company, so Steven will be cleaning your home. I’m confident you’ll be happy with his work.” READ MORE: Try these expert tips for engaging employees Terminating an employee isn’t easy, but it’s a reality of running a business. Knowing how to fire someone nicely can at least help you handle this uncomfortable task in a compassionate way. This is what’s best for your company and for the rest of your team. When you feel anxious or uncertain, remind yourself that your former employee will be okay—and you will be, too. Team scheduling at your fingertipsManage your team more easily and book work faster with Jobber’s simple scheduling and dispatching. Get Started Originally published March 2017. Last updated on November 10, 2021. How do you write a termination letter to an employee during probation period?This letter is to inform you that you are terminated from your probationary employment with _____________ County effective today, ___________. The reason for your termination is your failure to successfully complete your probationary period, as outlined in County Policy __________.
How do you terminate an employee script?I'm very sorry, but your position is being eliminated and we are letting you go.” “Renee, your behavior yesterday was completely inappropriate and violated both the rules and the values of this organization. You are being terminated, and your position here ends now.”
What do you say to terminate an employee for performance?Tell Why. Explain to the employee why he is being fired. Be specific and tell him he had been warned about his performance. Keep this brief: If you can't explain the reason for firing him in one breath, it's too long.
How do you announce an employee termination?It's best to announce that an employee is leaving your company in a brief but informative email. Some of the most important details to include in an employee departure email are the departure date, new workflow protocols and whether you're seeking a replacement.
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