According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 16 percent of all workplace violence is a result of firings. Employers who are adept at preventing such incidents know that steps must be taken long before the termination occurs.
In other words, a firing should never be a surprise to the employee. A regular performance review system should have been providing feedback to the employee that he or she is not meeting expectations.
Here are some steps to take to keep a volatile situation from exploding:
- Have several people attend the termination meeting.
- If the employee has shown previous signs of violence, include an outplacement counselor in the meeting and keep security on alert.
- Deliver the news directly and honestly early in the discussion.
- Listen to the employee’s concerns. Look for signs of anger and potential violence.
- Avoid sympathizing and talking about past performance. Focus on the future.
- Refer the worker to the employee benefits representative.