Jerry's thread about being terminated got me thinking about how some people find out that they are being terminated.

I thought that I had a bad experience back in 1985 after the new owner took control of the company and systematically axed myself and twenty-eight other managers over a three month period. One felt like a turkey on the day before Thanksgiving. The managers of this manufacturing company had reserved parking spots with our names painted on the curb stones. One would arrive at work and your name would be painted over. That was your hint.

That lead to a discussion with a current co-worker that used to work with a technology company that re-sold to Uncle Sam. When that company got bought out they had an even worse way in my opinion of axing people. According to my co-worker at his former company when one arrived at the main entrance to the reception area there was an access control card that allowed one to proceed past the receptionist into the office space. To the side of the receptionist there was a waiting area for guests. When one arrived at work if your access card denied one access to the office space one was instructed to sit in the reception area (in plain view of all of the other workers coming to work) until someone from Human Resources came to give you your personal contents of your work area and your exit interview. How wrong is that?

What is your horror story about the way you have either been terminated our heard about others being terminated? What ever happened to civility? I guess that if Congress and the Senate are setting the example, that goes a long way to helping to understand what happened to civility.

 

Matt, I think it's a perfect example of the sad lack of moral fiber and an even bigger lack of backbone in our society today. Another way to avoid taking responsibility for ones actions. It's one thing to terminate someone for poor performance and a totally different thing to show no respect for a person thats been employed there for sometime and whom you've gotten to know, had lunch with and attended retirement parties and company functions with- yet don't have the berries as a supervisor to face that person and at least explain !

 

There never is a good way,for such a situation.

 

 

I was general manager of a family owned construction company in Virginia. The owner died and other family members took over the business.

A few months later I took my scheduled vacation, and while on vacation they called me and told me I was being "laid off". When I asked how long they thought the layoff would last, they responded that I wouldn't be coming back.

Six months later, they went out of business.

 

Way back in 2004 (when I started the original 'downsized' thread), I was terminated in a respectful way. I was called into a meeting with my friend Tom (HR director who hired me) and two of the principals of the firm (total 140 in 3 offices). I was not surprised....having seen the 'handwriting on the wall'. When my friend Tom was 'reading me some of the formal BS', I stopped him and said, "Tom, I've sat in meetings with you to terminate a couple people. You don't have to read me the chapter and verse!"

I was given a couple days to clean out my stuff; say good-byes to a few people; de-briefed; and given the full severance that was outlined in my employment agreement: 3 months salary and continuation of healthcare benefits. There was no animosity.....I still give high marks to The Company and occasionally have lunch with my friend Tom

Now, in comparison, my termination process in early Dec started a similar fashion: I knew that it was coming and understood the reasons: lack of business and my poor relationship with the two other "Principals" (word in quotes b/c they have no Principles ). At the actual 'notice' meeting, we exchanged some discussion about details and then I was handed a blistering letter (obviously written by a lawyer but signed by the unprincipled Principals)....outlining all sorts of fabricated reasons for my termination. In a nutshell, they paid me 2 weeks severance and 1 month healthcare....whereby a written employment agreement calls for 2 months severance and 2 month healthcare continuation. I finished cleaning out my workspace and left at the end of that day.

The contested $$ amount is not an earth-shattering figure, but I have started the process of collecting it.....believing my chances are much better than 50/50. I will pursue it aggressively as a 'moral' issue. Unlike the 2004 event, this ending was made 'ugly' in order to try to save the company a few bucks....trying to void a signed agreement. Whatever the outcome, it will cost them significant hours of time and quite possibly more $$ than the contested amount. They have also put out in the street a well-connected professional who will be....over time....sharing their unprofessional desperate actions with his network in the metro area.

 

I used to work with several people who had worked together at a previous employer. They always said that at that company, a group of managers would invite an employee out to lunch, never to return.

For most of my adult life, I've been fortunate to work for employers who have a clue. I've never been let go, but acquaintances who have were treated with some basic human dignity, and better severance than the law requires. (Except for a couple of acquaintances who did the things that get you terminated immediately anywhere: Internet $$$$$$, Internet gambling, etc.)

 

My manager, whom I seldom saw in person, came to town to take me out to lunch for my birthday. I had taken the day off, but because I so seldom got to see my manager I told him I'd come to lunch.

We had a nice lunch, a long talk, and he told me how well I was doing and how pleased he and his superiors were with my performance.

An hour after our lunch he called and told me my position was being eliminated.
He tried to act like he was surprised.. I found that hard to believe.

Willinathen

 

jerry,
what I meant,is that this is always an unpleasant situation...
it can be done with,or without class,but if you are at the receiving end,no matter what or how it is done,it is always unpleasant.

And,even if you're the one giving the terminating notice,it is also,VERY unpleasant.

Once,I had to terminate,two of my supervisors;both wre over 50 years of age,and both had more than 30 years of service with the company;
and all this happened,a couple of weeks before Christmas...

Had it been better,after Christmas,???before Easter ??? before the Summer vacations ??? after Labour Day ???

It is never easy,beleive me.

 

I was on the job 2 months before I was laid off. The company that I worked for had a yearly "house cleaning." Much of it was based upon Last In First Out (LIFO). The good news, is that they sent me to HR to interview for another position. Luckily, I only lost one week and 35 years later I retired from that company. During that 35 years, I saw many of my collegues "walked out." The company policy (Defense Contractor) was to show up at the employees desk with a security guard and give the employee 30 minutes to clean out their desk and hand in their badge. Not a pretty sight. . .