It pained me to watch Ann Curry’s goodbye on The Today Show today. Job loss isn’t easy for anyone; having to make the formal announcement on national television was obviously very difficult for her. She showed all the classic emotions of job loss…shock, grief, fear, denial, and perhaps a tinge of anger. Obviously Ann is in a much better place than many of us. She is being reassigned, she will still command a nice salary, and her new role will surely include some amazing perks. But job loss is still a hard nut to swallow because many people equate their jobs with a large piece of their identity. Without a job, many feel lost.
In my work I have met many of my clients just minutes after the news of their termination is delivered. Delivering news of a termination is never easy, but there are guidelines employers can follow to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Here are a few.
- Provide training for supervisors on how to respond to employee reactions, emotions, and behaviors during this difficult time.
- Create scripts and follow-up support tools to help supervisors become comfortable in their notification role.
- Be clear on why people are selected for a layoff and explain the business circumstances surrounding the layoff.
- Avoid delivering the news on a Monday morning after a 90 minute killer commute.
- Giving notification on a Friday at 5pm or before a holiday is poor timing; it gives the person extra time to stew unproductively.
- Terminating an employee during the workweek helps them immediately notify unemployment and begin contacting their network.
- No employee should ever be notified of a layoff via email or social media. Respect employees enough to tell them face to face.
- Following a downsizing, company executives should be visible and available to listen and answer questions.
- Tell the employee how much you appreciate the work they have done and recognize their contributions.
- Some employees will cry or feel faint following the news. Have tissues and bottled water in the room.
- Pre-arrange for transportation. Have a car service available for someone who is exceptionally distraught upon hearing the news.
- Plan for the person to clear out their desk while their co-workers are not around, but give them the opportunity to say goodbye.
- Have a plan for where the meeting will be held and how the meeting will end. Logistics can become awkward if not planned ahead.
- Give employees time to compose themselves before having to face co-workers.
- Give employees a good reference if they deserve one. Giving a positive reference may be one of the best things you can do.
It was hard to watch Ann Curry say goodbye because it felt like she lost a piece of herself and maybe even a bit of her dignity. Many who have lost of job can relate to this. What is your layoff story and were you treated with respect and dignity?
