How to Fire an Employee

Not anyone's favorite subject, but some day in your business the time will come -- if it hasn't already -- when you need to let somebody go. Be prepared, and know how to handle it before you need to do it. Jill Pugh offers 10 things to keep in mind when you need to fire somebody. Some of it seems pretty obvious, some not so. Here's the list, but read it in full for the explanations:

1. Don't lie
2. Don't leak the decision to anyone who doesn't need to know
3. Don't fire someone on a Friday or right before a holiday
4. Don't email of text an employee with the news
5. Don't withhold money from the paycheck, except what is allowed by law
6. Do have a third party present [This is tricky if the entire business is just you and one employee. See my note below on this one.]
7. Do have a security plan in place (in case something turns violent)
8. Do follow your policies and procedures [and I must add, have written policies and procedures, and share them with employees]
9. Do back up the employee's computer files and contact your IT person
10. Do contact an attorney in advance if you think this termination could lead to a lawsuit.

Now, on point #6, one of the subjects of my book came close to having to fire her sole employee who had taken a second job, was attending night classes, and whose attendance at work had become erratic. On several occasions, she backed up discussions they had about the problem with written "minutes" which she signed and had her employee sign, and each got copies. Although he protested at first, she explained it was for his protection as much as for hers.