When Should an Employee be Terminated?

This Week with Sara Fitts looks at how to make the best of an employee termination decision. This type of decision is never really as easy as you might think it is, but there is a way to make it as painless as possible.

First, when should an employee be fired or terminated? There are many reasons why you might fire an employee. Among them might be:

• disregard for their job performance
• disregard for their colleagues
• disregard for the position they hold within the organization
• failure to perform certain (if not all) tasks associated with the job description
• failure to contribute to the overall culture and climate of the work environment
• failure to address the issues brought to their attention during performance reviews
• failure to work as a productive and efficient team member
• refusal to accept responsibility for their work and for the results of their work
• not "showing up" for work

No matter what business you're in, everyone on your payroll should be earning their pay every single day. I firmly believe that everyone should show up for work everyday; however, I also firmly believe that the owner has the responsibility to set the stage for the culture and climate of the business.

If you're the owner, you must motivate your people to work hard for your business, your products and services, and your customers or clients. Creating the right culture and climate for your business is as important as hiring the right people from the start. Everyone should want to be there and should enjoy the work and the environment in which the work is done.

Here are some questions to answer when you are trying to decide whether or not to terminate an employee.

1. How much time have you invested in this employee? How much effort has gone into the "fix" of the problem issue? Has too much time, effort, and energy gone into a lost cause?
2. How has the employee's performance changed over time? Or, was this simply a poor hiring decision initially?
3. What is the benefit to you, your other employees, and the business to terminate the problem employee? What are the risks of terminating this person?
4. How will this decision fuel you and your business? How will this decision drain you and your business?
5. How can you surround yourself with the best people possible?

I think the real key here is that every business owner must take responsibility for all aspects of the business - and make the best business decisions possible at all times, in all cases.

Small business owners and self-employed professionals struggle with growing their businesses and balancing their lives. I provide strategies, techniques, and resources for better time management and goal-setting so they can get better results. I help them move forward faster to experience greater business success as well as greater personal success. The benefits for every one of my clients are freedom from stress and strain, improved cash flow, more balance in their lives, more time and energy, and renewed interest and joy in their businesses.

If you'd like to talk with me about your business, please contact me directly to set up a complimentary 30-minute conversation. Call me directly @ 703.791.4741 to schedule a time to talk. I look forward to it!