Being Fired

[countrygirl12]

The one job I was let go from was on a Friday afternoon and without warning.  It was a big shock to the system but thankfully managed to find a new job within a few weeks.

But were you laid off?  Or were you fired?  There is a difference.  Say for example a person is fired for a customer complaint.  If the complaint (whether true or not) is enough that the person will be fired then they need to fire them immediately.  Not use them a couple more days thru a busy stretch or holiday and then fire them.  To me that is just wrong.  But then again, I wouldn't expect a place of business to treat their employees right anyway.

[Tresbn00]

I think that waiting until the end of the day is more than just getting more work out of someone. If you are thinking of letting someone go their work is most likely haphazard and you are doing them a favor by letting them see another eight hours. By waiting till the end of the day you are able to let the employee save face, able to keep that employee from poisoning others with negativity, and can ensure a swift departure from the building without much time for rebuttal. Firing someone at the beginning of a day can kill the productivity of others within the department as they chatter on incessantly about what just happened or start wondering if they are next (an end of the day termination lets people go home and think about all of these things and come back in with a fresher perspective).

[countrygirl12]

So they will "chatter" the next day.  And rebuttal can come the next day.  Usually when someone is fired there is a reason and other employees should not "wonder if they are next" unless they were involved in the situation.

The specific situation I am referring to or that I am thinking about that sparked the question was a person who was working on a job that is tons busier at the first of the month.  The company knew they were going to fire the person.  But yet had them work the 1st - the 3rd because basically they couldn't do it without them.  They really needed them to work those days because of the insane business at the first of the month.  You know when the government checks come in.
I just thought it was wrong, unfair, and mean on the company's part to have this person work those 3 days when they knew at the end of the 3rd day they would be firing the person.  If the person was okay to work those 3 days then obviously there was not an issue so serious that they needed to be fired.  The company was not doing the person any great favors by "letting them work 3 more days".  They were simply using the person.  They "needed" them desperately for those days.  Yes, that person got 3 more days of pay but that person also should have had the choice as to whether they work 3 more days or just go on home and let the company be short handed.  And just to clear the record the person in my opinion was fired unjustifiably.  There was no stealing, missing work, or anything like that.  Basically a he said she said deal.  Doesn't seem right that a person can be fired from their job because some anonymous person said he/she said something and there is no proof and the person accused say they didn't say it.

I just think that was really mean.  But then again, I wouldn't expect anything less from someone higher up the corporate ladder.

[fjaz1]

Hey they were going to work that day anyway and as long as they get a full days pay it really doesn't matter.  I know most of the time around here people get canned in the beginning of the day but still get the full days pay to try and keep the person calm. Yeah like a few extra bucks is going to make up for losing their job.  Bottom line employers do what they want especially in employment at will states like where I live.

[inertia4]

Bosses do that stuff everyday. It is cruel. I have been in a situation like that. The place I worked for got rid of upper management and put in a whole new crew. They decided to clean house and I was caught in the mix. And yes, they waited until the day was over to tell me.

[dancer139]

been laid off a few times,,,,  let go once ( hated that job LOL)  then got hired at a job that I was at for almost 18 years and they decided to close our store.  so wanted to make that 20 year mark.  But I had enough years in to retire so that is what I did !!!!

[fillfran82]

I may have asked this question before but can't remember.  The topic came up at work the other day and I wanted to get your alls opinion.  Do you think it is right for a boss to know they are going to fire someone but wait until the end of the day and then fire them because they need them to work that day?  Seems to me if you are going to get rid of them you should do it immediately when you decide that is the action you are taking.  In my opinion it is wrong to have them work all day then call them in and fire them.  A couple of co-workers said that is what they would do.

What do you think?

I think it is wrong to wait until the end of day and to let them go. However it's done more often then not. It benefit them better to let them work and to fired them afterwards. Otherwise who would replace the worker? I've had a situation that they let me come to work after I've been let go off for the weekend. I was mad that they let me spend my money to come to work. Only to tell me your fired.

[marciaenglish]

I have never been fired.  I have never really noticed if others were fired after their shift or not.... I just never paid any attention!

[countrygirl12]

I may have asked this question before but can't remember.  The topic came up at work the other day and I wanted to get your alls opinion.  Do you think it is right for a boss to know they are going to fire someone but wait until the end of the day and then fire them because they need them to work that day?  Seems to me if you are going to get rid of them you should do it immediately when you decide that is the action you are taking.  In my opinion it is wrong to have them work all day then call them in and fire them.  A couple of co-workers said that is what they would do.

What do you think?

I think it is wrong to wait until the end of day and to let them go. However it's done more often then not. It benefit them better to let them work and to fired them afterwards. Otherwise who would replace the worker? I've had a situation that they let me come to work after I've been let go off for the weekend. I was mad that they let me spend my money to come to work. Only to tell me your fired.

Who cares who will replace the worker?  If I am fired from my job then just fire me.  Don't have me work that day and finish the day just because it will leave you short handed if I am not there.  If the person can finish the work day then you can find another punishment and let them continue to work.  If the offense is serious enough to be fired for then you do not need them on your property.

[kingozzy]

I have never been fired from a job, I have had my hours reduced tho due to lack of revenue, but never fired or let go.

[reiddb]

Well, I guess you still got paid for the day....it's not like you worked for free~right?

[lvstephanie]

I've only witnessed one person being fired, but have seen several people laid off -- big difference. When the person was fired, they were fired immediately. The person's manager and 2nd-level manager took the person into a conference room, showed them the complaint and had them sign it, and then had security escort the person off the premises. However when the people were laid off, they would tell the person a few weeks before the official "resource action" so that the people could start working on resumes and job hunting. The official resource action would usually occur on Friday; at noon / lunch-time they'd then issue the "pink slip" and let the person take the rest of the day off (while still paying them for the full day).

I think that that is the best way to handle employee termination. If the person did something so severe to warrant being fired, then do so immediately. Otherwise if an employee is just being laid off, the nicest thing is to notify the person that they will be laid off shortly, but then assist them in trying to find new employment (even being notified a week or two before termination can allow the person to get ready for the future).

[ktheodos]

It's not unfair because the person should get paid for that day...I think the big reason for firing at the end of the day is to reduce the distraction to other colleagues..wait until everyone has gone home, then do it so that there's no interference or distractions, etc....and the person being fired can't try to do anything to others, etc

[countrygirl12]

I've only witnessed one person being fired, but have seen several people laid off -- big difference. When the person was fired, they were fired immediately. The person's manager and 2nd-level manager took the person into a conference room, showed them the complaint and had them sign it, and then had security escort the person off the premises. However when the people were laid off, they would tell the person a few weeks before the official "resource action" so that the people could start working on resumes and job hunting. The official resource action would usually occur on Friday; at noon / lunch-time they'd then issue the "pink slip" and let the person take the rest of the day off (while still paying them for the full day).

I think that that is the best way to handle employee termination. If the person did something so severe to warrant being fired, then do so immediately. Otherwise if an employee is just being laid off, the nicest thing is to notify the person that they will be laid off shortly, but then assist them in trying to find new employment (even being notified a week or two before termination can allow the person to get ready for the future).

I was not talking about being laid off.  I know the difference.  The person was FIRED.  They were called in the office and told "your services are no longer needed".  What was so bad was they were fired at the end of the day on the 3rd.  The place they worked was really busy on the first and the third due to the government checks received on those days.  I just think that is really dirty.  The company knew they were going to fire the person at least a week before they did so.  They needed the person's help because firing them would leave them short handed.  They were not laid off.  They were fired.  And the reason for being fired was not because of an offense they committed.  It was because of a lie an anonymous person told.

[countrygirl12]

It's not unfair because the person should get paid for that day...I think the big reason for firing at the end of the day is to reduce the distraction to other colleagues..wait until everyone has gone home, then do it so that there's no interference or distractions, etc....and the person being fired can't try to do anything to others, etc

Most times they are not kept and fired after everyone goes home.  And most times it won't be a distraction through out the day.  If it will be then it will be a distraction the next day.  I understand the person still gets paid for the day.  But my deal is, say on my current job, if my boss is going to fire me then they need to do so immediately.  Not have me work all day because it will hurt them to go ahead and let me go.