Deciding an Employee's Fate
by Dera DeRoche-Jolet

Troubled over whether to fire an employee? Deciding an employee’s fate can be both complicated and difficult. Letting an employee go is often an overwhelming task for anyone in management. But sometimes it has to be done.

On a basic level, if you’ve made a mistake and the employee isn't working out, then it's probably best to fire the employee as soon as possible. There should be no real surprises if they receive a pink slip. Right from the start you should give employees performance feedback so that they know what is expected.

Some people are very good when given direction, but aren't self-starters. They do well as long as someone is telling them what to do. I'm a strong believer in giving someone a chance so furnish employees with the tools and encouragement they need to do the job. Always let employees know when they have done a job well and what improvements must be made.

If you are unsure of whether to fire an employee, the first thing I'd suggest is to get an accurate picture of exactly what your employee does on a typical day-to-day basis. If you aren't completely sure, then you’ve done a poor job of management - and if you’re an owner, it’s possible that you've spent too much time away from the business.

Think back. What were the deciding factors that went into hiring this individual? Sometimes a resume looks pretty good on paper. Often, the person is simply likable but may not have enough experience for the job. Maybe he was a great salesperson so you promoted him to supervisor. Unfortunately, he may not have the people skills to be a good manager.

Not only do you now have a bad manager who is making decisions that could cost your company tremendous amounts of money, but you’ve also lost a top-notch salesperson. So hold off on firing him. If he has the company's best interests at heart and was adding to your bottom line before, you might want to keep him as a salesperson.

If you're still unsure with your decision, you might want to ask your other employees to see how they perceive the leadership of the manager. Just keep in mind that sometimes a more effective manager isn't as well liked as someone who is more easy-going.

Finally, if you're still uncertain about your decision, consult with a human resources expert who has the knowledge and experience to discuss the situation in greater depth with you.

Sometimes we don’t really have a choice on whether to fire someone especially if the person’s behavior is improper. Often, we know deep down inside that we made the right decision even though we dreaded making it. Most likely, you’ll look back and realize that you worried about the decision far longer than was necessary.

That’s good to know because most business owners believe that it is the employees they should have fired, but didn't, who cause them the most grief.