Comments on: Layoffs or Not, How Some Ways Companies Let Employees Go

By: alain smithee

alain smithee — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:20:26 +0000

I remember Radio Shack firing a bunch of people via email and text message a number of years ago.

As for me, my last retail manager was a letch who punished people by cutting their hours and scheduling them for split shifts in an effort to force them to quit, however, I still love the way the 18-year old admin clerk got him to leave her alone.

Anne turned to this manager one night as we were closing the store after he had made repeated lewd innuendos and said, “I got your wife’s cell number from your personnel file earlier this week – if you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to call her with the number for a good divorce lawyer after I file sexual harassment charges against you”.

He quickly left ALL of the women in the store alone after that.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:02:42 +0000

It is actually the chicken head. The person that the chicken head points to is the unlucky fellow that is fired. Therefore, the chicken dish in the New Year meal are always served with the head removed signify no one is fired.

By: Survival Insight

Survival Insight — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:34:43 +0000

If these companies used some basic skills of compassion then thy would surely have a much more effective and enthusiastic workforce

By: Jim Landis

Jim Landis — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:53:44 +0000

I think no matter how the company does it, morale goes down. I was let go using method #1. I came in on Monday, worked the morning, went for lunch, came back and at 1:30 was called into the director’s office where I was given the good word. My manager said he had no idea until 30 minutes before the director called me into his office. The kicker was that I was the only one in the systems group that was let go, so no one saw it coming.

That was 2 months ago, and even though the team was given the “we’re done” green light, there is still a lot of uneasiness in the team

By: MITBeta @ Don't Feed the Alligators

MITBeta @ Don't Feed the Alligators — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:58:25 +0000

“Make the fight for it.” If an employer ever pulled this with me, I would simply say, “If you don’t know what value I bring to this company, then I don’t WANT to work here. Goodbye.”

By: maki

maki — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:22:12 +0000

“sure kill your employee’s moral”

By: Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com

Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:13:11 +0000

#5 above makes me think of The Apprentice and Donald Trumps board room. Never even heard of most of these methods of laying people off but I’m sure it happens.

By: Matt @ StupidCents

Matt @ StupidCents — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:44:17 +0000

I have heard of situations like Liz mentioned. Companies hire two or more applicants for 90 days and whoever performs the best during that time, continues on with their employment. I’m always curious what happens after. Will those employees be any better going forward now that they don’t have that competitive mindset?

Thankfully, I have not been a part of any job termination situations.

By: Moneymonk

Moneymonk — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:23:45 +0000

I don’t think everyone is comfortable in doing the dirty work. However, it’s apart of life. All managers don’t have that skill, therefore, to go the the list you have displayed

By: Imani

Imani — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:16:34 +0000

It is hard to believe the cruelty. I’d call it sadistic, actually. Sorry for all who are treated so. It is bad enough to lose one’s job without also being stripped of dignity.

I wouldn’t work for any company employing those tactics. You did well to leave and I’ll bet you haven’t regretted it.