Each step in the process of terminating an employee should be carefully executed. Each step must be carefully and thoroughly documented. If an employee is discharged for poor performance and later sues alleging discrimination, the employer will have a difficult time defending if the personnel file is devoid of any documentation of the poor performance over a reasonable period of time.
Terminating an employee is a very sensitive matter, requiring careful communication and documentation to avoid potential lawsuits or other future problems. It is prudent to consult an employment law attorney or HR specialist before taking any specific steps should the need to terminate an employee arise.
Although “at will” employment is common to virtually all states, employees do have substantial statutory protection as well as remedies found in judicially recognized exceptions to the at will employment rule.
SIMA’s trusted HR partner, HR 360, offers comprehensive guidance on terminations. For more, including video tutorials, click here.
