15 Things You Should Never Do When Letting an Employee Go

A dismissal is bound to be an emotional experience, and not just for the person being dismissed. Your feelings, and those of your other colleagues, will also likely be affected, albeit to a lesser degree. So you must approach this sensitive task with empathy to minimize confusion and distress.

It’s also important that you understand the law so you can mitigate serious repercussions such as being sued for wrongful dismissal, or compromising your business’s security through loss of data or shared passwords. A fair and professional dismissal strategy will help protect everyone involved.

A successful dismissal isn’t just about letting someone go. You need to follow best practices for a dismissal process, as with every other aspect of the business. That means being well-prepared beforehand, staying calm and professional during, and anticipating and managing the impact it’ll have on workplace morale.

It’s natural to feel stressed or anxious about the prospect of telling someone they’re fired, but you mustn’t let nerves get in the way of your professionalism. Although a dismissal will never be the most rewarding part of your work, you can turn it into an opportunity to show good leadership and enhance your team.

To help you prepare, HeadwayCapital have created this checklist of 15 mistakes to avoid during the dismissal process, along with some useful tips on how to do it right.