How to handle employee misconduct and bad employees

November 29, 2007

Smithfield Foods Profit Down (Laying Off Employees) 61%

Why you must fire a problem employee sooner than later


The meat producer said its fiscal second-quarter profit dropped 61 percent due to hefty charges related to a swine fever outbreak, higher costs and lower hog prices.
A separating employees guide also helps employers to ensure they approach terminations fairly and consistently. It reflects badly on you and the firm if the notification fails to communicate professionally. As a manager and executive, I've always appreciated the Human resources department's help. If the problems don't upgrade, separating the worker may be your only choice. If you are unsure of the contractual standards on missed days or termination, you must consult the firm's legal expert on work related termination laws. However you decide to layoff workers, you should do it consistently. In such a situation how do you make sure that your separation notification is worker foolproof? If a jobholder has taken too many sick days or repeatedly failed to call in, management should have recorded counseling sessions and warning notifications to the employee. If you're sacking for an improper or stupid reason, is it worth it? In other words, it is not a good public relations move to lay off personnel without prior knowledge.

With the sue-happy nation we live in, it is easy for a laid off at will worker to bring a case against you and claim that you had no real ground for lay off. In this way, the employee will probably keep their cool and not cause a scene. If counseling and warnings fail, the small business owner or Hr director should fire the problem worker and hire a better person for the job. A sacked worker is generally not angry. In return for the extra severance, the older worker signs a release of claims protecting the Firm from an ADEA legal action.

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Why you must fire a problem employee sooner than later