What Kelly Ripa lacks in size, she makes up for in attitude. At just 5’3″, the petit daytime talk show star measures but a fraction of the size of her former co-host, Michael Strahan, himself a former New York Giants defensive end and Super Bowl champion. But Ripa’s actions since news broke of Strahan’s planned departure from Live! for a permanent slot on ABC’s Good Morning America show the pint-size starlet is anything but meek. 
Strahan, in classic defensive end style, reportedly blindsided Ripa and the Live‘s producers with news of his move shortly after the show on April 19. Ripa, who was reportedly shocked and furious with the announcement and its delivery, was conspicuously absent from the show the following few days, allegedly celebrating her and her husband’s wedding anniversary. Despite Ripa’s being all smiles when she returned to the show, guests commented that interactions between her and Strahan were noticeably tense. On air, Ripa also got in some passive aggressive digs at her soon-to-be ex-co-host, making it clear to the viewing public Strahan wasn’t the only one skilled in the art of the sneak attack.
On the business side of things, Ripa and her producers bumped up Strahan’s exit to last Friday, May 13, rather than waiting until September as originally planned. According to an ABC spokesman, the move, which garnered the show more attention, was done so that Ripa and her team could “immediately begin the on-air search for a new co-host.” This past Monday, Ripa also changed the name of the show to “Live with Kelly” and released a new logo bearing the revised brand (mind you, a brand that is now very used to transition, having first been Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, and then Live with Regis and Kelly, before the recently defunct Live with Kelly and Michael.
Lessons for employers
The drama surrounding Strahan’s departure from the Live franchise underscores the importance of having a plan for dealing with key employee resignations. While the loss of an employee will no doubt affect your business, taking a few steps can ensure the impact isn’t fatal. For starters, employers should craft a plan for communicating the exit to the rest of the company. ABC’s communications to Ripa and the Live team regarding Strahan obviously left something to be desired. Instead, other key employees and team members should have been the first to know the change was likely happening, both to avoid the shock factor and to allow for ample time to plan for the replacement. On the flip side, it may have been advisable for Live’s producers to have a back-up transition plan even before the announcement, as a “just in case” precaution.
Another good step, which Ripa seemed to have taken, is to determine a date of departure that works best for the company. Details surrounding the employee’s payout can be worked out between the parties, and might even help shape a severance package if the company wants the employee’s exit to be sooner than the employee had planned, but is still willing to provide him/her with compensation for a time beyond that date. If the company is willing to provide such a severance plan, management should also attempt to negotiate a release of claims from the employee in exchange for the additional compensation.
Lastly, it is important that the company make a clean break with the employee and attempt to part on amicable terms if possible. Regardless of the circumstances of the employee’s departure, it’s best for management to avoid any lasting animosity that may fester into lawsuits against the company.
With a little planning and good execution, your employee transitions can be smooth and create the least impact on your business.
okay how does kelly tell her kids not to judge their friends because they don’t like what they did? i a really surprised at her reaction to a long time friend and can turn the friendship off (snap) just like that. personally finding a long time friend now a days is hard to come by.so what if her kids or husband want to see hi and because of her feelings they don’t. that is a big loss for them and for a life experience it could have the kids see how easy freinds come and go. this a lose, lose situation with. i hope she doesn’t pick and choose for everyone in her family.
I am sick of Kelly Cry Baby Ripa behavior. How many employees get to tell their boss who and when to promote or change a coworkers position. Spoiled rotten grown woman.
I’m really surprised at the way she acted towards him, all the things she said to him and about him was really uncalled for. He would have never said those things to her or about her, he has been a total gentleman to her. Is this what she is teaching her own children how to treat other people?? I believe in “Karma” and the way she treated him will all come back to haunt her. I think it will be very hard to get another co-host, and when they do they won’t stay long. Michael wanted to tell her his plans, but the bosses told him they would take care of it; they did but very badly. Michael will be very successful in everything he does, but sadly “Live with Kelly” will not.
I think what people don’t realize is that Kelly Ripa was not angry at Michael Strahan. She was angry at the way the people that she works for handled the situation. Michael told her the news because ABC was about to release it. I’m sure he too would have preferred to tell her with ABC. It was the big bosses who screwed up.
I know that what Michael did was wrong……But he has been on the show for 4 years and of course there is something behind the scenes…..But it take 2 in a scandal and why is she getting all the credit…She has been label with her co worker is hard to work with for so many years. Ok when Regis retire she hasn’t even seen him since he left. I think when you can settle after and try to be respectful and try to go on and become a higher person. Listen she will run into him they both live in New York and they were good for 4 years and I think it was him that let them win a emmy….. Personally I don’t think her rating will get better.
The real news will be when this show is cancelled. I appreciate Kelly showing us the authentic Kelly.. One who continues to make derogatory slanderous statements against her former cohost after he’s gone? Kelly demands respect in the workplace yet fails miserably to give respect to others.