Find
Out More About Sample
Termination Letters & Firing...
So you have a problem employee who refuses to improve their
behavior or work performance. You have given many verbal and
written warnings the employee will not heed. And he has just
committed the same violation again and this time it's a doozy!
You've reached an impasse with this employee and to make matters
worse, you hear rumors that he has sought legal counsel. Can
you use a standard termination letter with this individual? Are
you putting your company at risk if you do so?
When you have no other choice but to fire an employee, a sample
termination letter can guide you on your way. It should help
you conduct a short, formal termination meeting and should summarize
everything that has occurred over the past several weeks or months.
A sample termination letter gives you a solid foundation to do
this, but you will need to tailor it for your specific situation.
Characteristics of a Good Sample Termination Letter
If you start with a good sample termination letter template,
writing your letter will be easy. What should you look for? All
templates will include the standard name, rank and serial number,
but a good letter will be concise and to the point. Avoid flowery
language and any sugar coating. For example, wording like "we
regret to inform you" or "we are sorry to tell you" will
cause you and your company heartburn later. These phrases may
sound compassionate, but they suggest that you and the company
are at fault for the termination. It may sound harsh, but remember
that this is a legal document. If not written properly, a court
can force you and your business to rehire this person and pay
them a lot of money for wrongful termination.
A good sample termination letter will have open sections for
you to complete. You must include information from all verbal
and written warnings. Also list out instances of bad behavior
with dates, the corrective actions you requested and any extra
training the company offered. Remember this letter leaves no
room for personal attacks or judgments. A judge or court can
use such statements as evidence that you terminated this person
because of a personal vendetta.
Finally the template letter should have an area to fill out
the reasons for firing the employee. Be clear and concise. Do
not leave any room for ambiguity or it can cause problems later
if the employee files a lawsuit.
Having a sample termination letter to work from is helpful,
so look for one with the above characteristics. But understand
no template is going to cover all of your needs. You must be
specific and tailor it to the termination you must carry out.
Also if you suspect the employee has already sought legal counsel,
have your corporate lawyer and Human Resources manager review
the document before you fire.
You must know how to fire properly to make it easier on yourself
and the employee. To learn how, we recommend the Employee
Termination Guidebook by Dan Betts. The guidebook
contains a well-written sample
termination letter. |