Checklist: Behaviors to Avoid During a Termination Meeting

While conducting termination meetings: 

• Do not lose control of the meeting or stray from the central issue of informing the employee of a predetermined result.
• Avoid statements that might indicate distrust in the employee.
• Do not become emotional.
• Do not attempt to keep an employee from walking out of the meeting.
• Do not touch the employee.
• Do not make discriminatory or negative remarks.
• Do not raise your voice.
• Do not blame anyone or anything for the action.
• Do not indicate your opinion or feelings.
• Do not appear to enjoy the task or to be speaking from a memorized script.
• Do not create the appearance of wrongdoing by the employee in the eyes of others, including coworkers, during or after the meeting.
• Do not use more force than is necessary to escort the employee off the premises.

Reprinted with permission. © CCH