You're Fired: Termination Interview Blueprint

One primary point before looking at the three types of termination interviews.

This is a meeting in which you, as a representative of the company, are presenting bad news to an employee.

So here is a practical, effective blueprint to follow.

1. Get immediately to the bad news.
Do not greet the employee cheerily or open with congenial conversation ("How's the family?" or "How have you been?" as examples.)

I normally use this phrasing: "The decision has been made to release you from employment with the company/to terminate your employment with the company."

That is the worst part. If the employee asks who made the decision, the best reply is that this was a very serious decision and it was reviewed thoroughly by company management.

2. Next, move on to final transactions/documents:
-present the final paycheck
-present any severance pay/company liability release form
-review the unemployment insurance process

3. Move the focus to the future - AWAY from the pain and anger of the present.
Talk about reference checks and employment verifications.

Talk about the NEXT JOB. Discuss the labor market and future employment potentials.

Possibly offer resume and search assistance, depending on the circumstances.

4. Walk through the sequence of practical actions that follow:
-exiting the premises
-employee's private property collection and return
-outstanding expense reports

Employment termination is one area in which professional Human Resources support. I recommend having two members of management present, ONE BEING AN HR REPRESENTATIVE, in these meetings. One who delivers the information and one for witness purposes and, quite frankly, strength in numbers.

Lance