Employers: Does Your Off-Boarding Pass the Newspaper (Reputation) Test in Business and at Work?

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Brooklyn Councilman Carlos Menchaca slashes staff days before Christmas

By | NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | DEC 26, 2018 | 4:15 PM
You’re a mean one, Mr. Menchaca.
Grinch City Councilman Carlos Menchaca fired three staffers just days before Christmas, the Daily News has learned — capping a year filled with turnover for the Brooklyn Democrat….
Menchaca let the three staffers — accounting for just under half of seven employees listed on his website — go last week, several sources told The News.
“I think the timing of this, for these three individuals, is unprofessional and just rude and disrespectful, to not only them but their families. It’s the holidays,” one source, a former staffer, said.
Here are some quick tips to avoid this cautionary holiday termination tale, a.k.a. HR Amateur Hour:
  • To quote Benjamin Franklin: “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.” Terminating employees without any apparent cause or preparation (e.g., if cash flow is tight, communicating tough business circumstances with some compassionate lead time, etc.) before, during or right after the winter or spring holidays not only demonstrates a lack of sensitivity, it demonstrates a lack of strategic leadership savvy.
  • One of the few plausible termination reasons passing the newspaper test during this time-frame is (including but not limited to) employee gross / willful misconduct such as theft, harassment ranging from touching to sexual assault, or threat of workplace violence / actual workplace violence.
  • Employees terminate themselves after a series of (documented) performance improvement coaching conversations – except for gross / willful misconduct reasons as mentioned above or the sudden shutdown of a business, leave the surprise factor out.
  • If the employer and the employee are not the best fit (this can usually be mutually determined within 30 – 90 days), work together to plan a transition that’s a win-win for both – e.g., 1 – 3 months’ lead time for the employee to find their next job, and for the employer to find their next employee. When both parties have the emotional intelligence to handle this option, it’s the best option of all. Again, avoiding the winter and spring holidays as a departure date is always a good idea.

Employers: does your off-boarding / termination process pass the newspaper (reputation) test in business and at work?