Each week, Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on the workplace, career and leadership in her advice column “ Got a Minute? ” This week: letting go a long-term employee, a manager holding a grudge after a bad review and a rude coworker going through issues at home. It’s never easy to let someone go, especially in a small business. Credit: Dionne Gain I’m a small business owner with a dilemma.
I have only two employees, and one has been with us a little longer than the other. I’m experiencing a significant downturn and have been avoiding the inevitable of having to let someone go, hoping work will pick up, as letting someone go feels very personal. I feel it is probably time for the person with the longer employment to move on and get experience elsewhere, but as they are quite entrenched, I worry it will be difficult for them to see this.
Any advice? It is never easy to let someone go but the sooner you are honest with this person, the better. I would explain the brutal facts: the business simply can’t support the two roles in the team, and as a result, you will no longer be needing her role. They will ask about the other person so have your reasons clear about why this role needs to go and not the other one.
Try to focus on the role rather than the individual. I would acknowledge this must be a shock but reinforce how much you have valued their work and want to support their future career. If you plan to give a reference to any potential future employer, I woul.
