Ask HN: How to Fire Remote Employee?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25768971

by bigdang • 6 years ago

6 3 6 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

My company has been a remote company from day 1. Each member is located in a different part of the world, and we’ve never met in real life, beyond just video calls, Slack, and email.

I told a colleague about my intention to fire an employee by sending them an email, and he was taken aback. He said you should always fire face to face, in a video call.

Do you think it is “inhumane” to fire a remote employee via email, or is that, as I am thinking, perfectly fine?

LinuxBender• 6 years ago

I would first check with your HR department and find out if they have a policy and procedure around this, given your company has been remote since day 1. They could probably also offer advise on what is best plan of action that maps to the culture of your company. They could probably also suggest options that could be given to the employee in the off-boarding process that may soften the blow.

I think some would agree that letting someone go via email-only could be a bit impersonal and cold. Assuming you have regular one-on-one's with this person, it should not be too much of a surprise that you are letting them go? After talking to HR, the one-on-one should be the right time and place for that. If you are not comfortable having these discussions, someone from HR or your management org should be able to join the video call with you.

davismwfl• 6 years ago

Remote doesn't mean devoid of normal human behavior. Suck it up and call them on the phone or do a video call and take care of it. That is the proper way. You will send an e-mail as a follow up to confirm all the details and off-boarding information. But you should never (under normal circumstances) have a persons first interaction of termination be a text or email. The one time it may be acceptable is someone who is ghosting you and playing games, then, all bets are off -- if they act like a child they can be treated like one.

For reference I have worked remote and employed my teams remote for over a decade, not once have I ever used text, email or slack etc to fire or reprimand someone. I always use phone calls, video chats as the primary means of human to human discussion. I may use slack or email as follow up means on a conversation but not as the first conversation of a serious topic like their employment or job performance etc.

Would you really want your employer sending you an e-mail firing you? Would you like your significant other to dump you via text after say a year long relationship? If you are in the minority and like that idea, recognize most people are not like you and you need to conform, not them (not saying that to be mean, just to help you recognize it maybe). Being an employer is a responsibility to treat people with respect, dignity and professionalism. If I heard a startup or company was letting go of employees via e-mail (outside of extreme circumstances) I'd dismiss them as unprofessional and likely never consider them a serious business.

yuppie_scum• 6 years ago

Sack up and call them face to face. To do it by email would be.. without honor.

Or use cameo: https://www.baltimoresun.com/consumer-reviews/sns-nyt-want-a...

Ask HN: How to Fire Remote Employee?

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