Too often, our first thought when things go bad is to just “get rid of the problem.” I often find myself hearing that exact question, can I fire my employee, before all the facts are gathered. Often times, as humans we don’t want to deal with the fires or the fall out from difficult situations. We just want everyone to get along and do the job they were hired to do. If we are in a position that manages people, we need to be prepared for those difficult times as well. Humans are complex beings and each situation needs to be treated fairly.
Before any knee-jerk reactions are made, let’s make sure we have all the facts. You may have heard the details of the event from the front-line supervisor, a customer, or that employee’s co-workers. It still surprises me that the last person to get to tell their story is the person accused of creating the situation.
We often guide people on just being able to ask the right questions. One of the most powerful questions is “Tell me what happened.” Other perceptions can be created that may not be factual to an event. In addition, other things may be happening that may cause job protection to that employee and firing them without knowing all the details could potentially bring you more issues to deal with.
Before you terminate an employee, gather all the facts, check state and federal laws on the situation, and make sure you have a knowledgeable Human Resource representative that can guide you through this complex situation.
Do you need a knowledgeable Human Resource representative to stand beside you in these types of situations? Call OmniaHR today to learn more about our services.