Hiring and firing – ah yes, the “circle of life” in organizations involves all of us. We gotta get in the door, and sometimes, we may not leave on the best of terms. Thus, hiring and firing are critical moments in our lives-both as managers and as employees. How should these best be handled? Ann Fudge, former CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands, shares her insights in this short video:
How can you best apply her ideas? What is the worst layoff/firing situation you have seen or been involved with? If you have any ideas on this subject, email me a dwyld.kwu@gmail.com and I will post a follow-up. Looking forward to the discussion.
David Wyld, Professor of Management
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Wyld About Management (http://wyldaboutmanagement.blogspot.com/) and
Management in a Minute (http://managementinaminute.blogspot.com/)
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72 comments:
Working for a government contract for 10 years taught me the importance of stability. There is nothing like the stress related to the end of a fiscal year and wondering if your corporate contract will be renewed. Today, I am employed as a federal employee and since gained stability. Of course this is not taken for granted more so appreciated.
I like some of the ideas shared in this video. When managers have the responsibility of laying someone off, it is important that they understand each person has a family to support and a livelyhood to maintain.
She had an infectious smile. I bet she could fire you and you'd walk out of the office feeling good about it.
It is always hard to lay off someone. I really can't imagine doing that. The fact is, if I become a human resource assistant or manager I may have too. I really like the idea of providing the employee who is laid off with the job assistance to help them get back in the game.
Of course managers now when they are firing someone that the person has a family to support and whatnot. The manager is not ignorant. But, you have to understand that what needs to happen is best for the company and if the employee was smart and saved money then he or she will be alright until they got back on their feet again.
I agree with David. She looked like she was secretly cruel deep down and would love feeling the surge of power when she let someone go.
I think manager should take in consideration that people have families before they lay them off or fire them especially in this economy today. I was laid off in May and I am still unemployed.
I have teachers tell me all the time that is the things you do that set you apart from all of the other applicants. What she said in the beginning reminded me of that. You can have the same thing on your resume like a bachelors degree or good grades, but things that you've done that set you apart really can make a difference when it comes to be hired or not hired.
Getting laid off is a miserable process. I think larger corporations should focus on helping the former employee find another job, especially if they've been with the organization for a long time. This would also benefit the economy.
getting laid off sucks I have never been, but for my friends i have seen their struggles it was not pretty. but they pull through pride takes them in a whole different feel also.
I think when someone gets laid off they take it to heart and shut down instead of pushing themselves to find another job that wants them for who they are.
Very interesting video. I'll definitely keep what she said about being creative and innovative in mind when I have interviews in the future. I agree with giving employees freedom, within boundaries, to do their job like you want it, but also put their own input in.
I think that some good points were made in this video. When laying off someone, managers need to be considerate. I really care about others’ feeling so I know I would have a hard time firing someone.
Very good points made in this video. I couldn't imagine having to fire someone, but I'm also wanting to eventually get into HR so I'm assuming one day I might. I also learned some good advice about going into an interview.
Hiring and firing are extremely sensitive processes that could easily have a negative impact on the organization. The people you hire will determine the overall work ethic and morale of the company. When firing, its always best to do it in private and keep the details confidential so that the employee can save face and harbor good will towards the company.
Hiring and firing are important aspects of managing a company. Hiring is important for the success of a business. Employees must work efficiently and constantly doing whats best for the business. When an employee does not fill these task, managers have to make a tough decision to fire someone. Firing is something that is never easy but is necessary. But it should be done respectively.
I believe she is looking for the right things in hiring people. You can apply here points to today's employers. The traits she mentioned in the video are traits in employees that makes a company a fortune 500 business.
Great video. I agree, and like these ideas that are talked about in this video. When a manager has to lay an individual off I believe that is important for them to think about that these people have families to support.
Getting laid off is no fun, and very hard on a person. I myself have never been fired and I couldn't imagine having to fire a person.
I like her words of encouragement to never give up and to be creative and innovative! How you interact and what you say is what sets you apart from all other applicants. I couldn't imagine being laid off. I would probably be hysterical. Even if I wasn't the one being laid off, I would still wonder if I'm the next one. Just like she said, there's no guarantees so work hard and control your own destiny.
Having to lay off someone is really hard. I have seen many people I know get laid off and I know that it has a terrible impact on the person and their family. There is never a guarantee that you will have a job tomorrow in today's economy. So work hard and try to show your employer that you are a valuable asset.
I like the way she describes everything and seems to put her emotions and feelings into it. She knows that you need to act and treat others as humans even if what you are discussing isn't pleasant. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to have to lay off someone just because the company is cutting back and not because of something they actually did or didn't do.
I once was the hiring manager for Sav-A-Center which was a branch of the A&P grocery family and I know that sometimes firing people can be extremely difficult. I once had to fire my own girlfriend. She made the mistake of blowing up on me in front of customers and I had to let her go. Imagine how that relationship flourished. I think the reasons firing is so difficult is because the hiring isn't always so excessive. We look all around for good help and it just doesn't always exist.
It is important for a new hire to be creative because they are just that a “new” hire. If they wanted the same old people they would just keep everyone and never hire new people. She says it’s important to find people who want to make things happen. I like how she made a point to highlight the positives of the way the economy has been instead of reiterating the negatives we all already know.
In finding people who want to make things happen, you aren’t to tell them how to do it, but instead tell them what needs to be the outcome and let them figure our their best way to accomplish it. Having taken many HR class, I cannot imagine having to fire someone!
Interesting video. I think it is important to be able to sympathize when having to layoff someone. If it was someone who worked really hard, then I would do anything I could to help them out.
When I went to comment on this link it said that it was currently unavailable and couldn't be used.
I can imagine the level of stress that comes with having to lay people off or fire them. It's hard to break that news to someone so finding the best appropriate way to do it is so important.
I thought her discussion about differentiating yourself as a new hire was very interesting. These ideas are very helpful because I will be in the job market very soon, and I would like to have an advantage going into an interview. As far the firing part, its so awkward I don't even want to talk about it...
I agree with her. You want to have self-motivators on your team. These are the the people the bring ideas to the table and you can typically rely on them. When it comes to firing people, it is just something that has to be done. It may be hard, but there is always room for comforting. Certain benefits and care will be taking depending on the situation of course. Everyone person being dealt with is different, so they must be put in the right hands. I am sure there is a great weight lifted off of the shoulders on the other employees after the firing, but they also may wonder if they are next.
Im in my senior year so it won't be long before i'm looking for a job and I think that setting yourself apart from the group is very important when trying to win a position. As far as the hiring part, as a college student I havn't had any experience with firing anyone.
I liked that the video talked about how a person goes to school and they are sorta pigeon holed into a framework. I think this is true. Innovation is key. I hope that as I enter the business world that I can be an innovator.
It is important for a new hire to be creative because they are just that a “new” hire. If they wanted the same old people they would just keep everyone and never hire new people. She says it’s important to find people who want to make things happen. I like how she made a point to highlight the positives of the way the economy has been instead of reiterating the negatives we all already know.
It is very important to set yourself apart to stay in a company. I have teachers tell me all the time that is the things you do that set you apart from all of the other applicants. What she said in the beginning reminded me of that. You can have the same thing on your resume like a bachelors degree or good grades, but things that you've done that set you apart really can make a difference when it comes to be hired or not hired. The trick to getting hired is not getting fired. People start and quit jobs all the time but its even more important to be respectful and put your two weeks in and end on respectful terms.
I can’t imagine having to lay someone off, especially in this economy. However, I understand that in certain situations being laid off is part of life. I think it’s important for managers to understand that people have families to support.
I think she is right about successful people being innovative and self-managing. I think that is something isn’t really recognized in school because often we talk about the definition of innovation or the steps to self-management, but rarely do we participate activities that teach us to perform. It is has been said that leaders are born not taught. I agree with that in many ways, but I think there are activities that are lacking in business education to awaken, exercise, and strengthen these skills.
Video was good, I think when comes to laying people off, managers should take a very delicate approach and be extremely considerate, especially in these times.
She made a lot of good points in this video. Managers are now looking for people who can bring more to the company and are more creative and innovative finding solutions. People working for a company that has made layoffs worry everyday if they still have a job.
Interesting video. There were many good points that were made. I agree with what she said about standing out, being innovative and self-managing. A company wants to get more from an employee than just what is written on a resume. Managers must also be aware of emotional and financial situations when laying off or firing employees. You never know how people will react to bad news. (Be kind and supportive).
As they come they go...I believe the way people are fired is if your not fit for the job you should be let go, no questions asked. If you can quit at your will you can be fired at there will.
I think my favorite thing she said was that you should give your employees breathing room. I know that I personally work best when I'm not being hovered over or being micro managed every minute. You have to give your employees the freedom to venture off, be creative and as a result showing them that you have enough trust in them to do the right thing.
I thought these techniques and tips were helpful for me since I am about to go out into the world and look for a job. It gives me an idea of what I can expect if I get laid off in my job ever. I know what to expect in the world of work.
Laying people off has got to be the hardest thing in the world for a person to do. I become sympathetic really easily, which I why I think I’ll never be able to run a business. There are still good aspects to that, and I think it helps managers be more supportive toward their employees to an extent.
These tips can be very useful for anyone going into the business world. It gives you a look at both sides of the hiring and firing aspects.
These are all good observations made about the hiring and firing in an organization. I like what she has to say about the hiring aspect. She looks for people that are creative or innovative. What has that person done different in their life. She believes that winners are those who help the organization creatively. I am going to remember that when I start looking for a job after graduation. That will be very helpful to me in my interviews. I will say that I am a self starter and want to make things happen. All good suggestions for looking for a new position. The other aspect of firing is just a terrible position to be in. I have been let go from two jobs in my career. Both were a total shock to me and devastating. It took a lot for me to get back out there and look for another job. But in reflecting back on those two layoffs, I am certainly better for being let go. This last time, it gave me the opportunity to become brave enough to stop being a part-time college student and go to school full-time. I do not know what the future holds for me but come July 2012 I will be a college graduate and can already see the difference that makes in the few verbal requests I have made for a job. I am very hopeful for my future.
These two concepts does affect us all in our lives at some point or in a different way. The speaker offers valued points to look for when hiring individuals who want to make a strategy progress and succeed in a company. On the other hand, firing will always be a difficult task because people are human beings with personal responsibilities and they must be acknowledged and recognized during this process.
I'm pretty sure I would be one of those people to make someone else do the dirty work. I don't see myself every being able to lay someone off to their face. I do think it's a good idea to help the employee find another job though.
I agree. I wouldn't want to fire any one. I wouldn't put the pressure on any one elseto do it.
This didn't really feel like a help to figuring out when to fire and hire but it seemed more like a "You need to look for this". The ideas seemed really superficial. It seems like a lot of "Here's how to not feel bad about what you have to do" rather than "Here's how to handle the process of doing it" which is what I was hoping for with it all.
I think that when to hire someone or fire them is if the company is in a good position to do so. In my opinion a company should question whether the company is going to struggle or improve with firing someone. WHether to hire someone or not is all up to the person in charge. You can usually figure out when someone is going to be a right fit. And I think everyone needs managing at some point.
I think that it does cover both sides of the hiring and firing process. I know for me the firing part of management is the hardest. Sometimes it can be confusing to know when that person is hurting the company over helping the company.
Firing someone can be a great challenge. You don't like feeling the pressure of holding someone else's future in your hand. I would have to make sure that firing this person is for the greater good of the business. If I had great reason then I don't think it would be as hard to fire someone. I would never want to be that person who has to fire someone just because of budget costs. That must be a hard position to have.
I like this. When hiring or firing someone, you want to make sure they are going to be the "right fit" for your business. If you are firing someone, you should concider whether or not they are an asset or a liability to the company. Then make your decision. Same with hiring. You want to question whether or not they are going to help you and be an asset to you before you hire them. Other wise, you will not be happy with the end results.
Firing people from a job is definitely a hard thing to handle and deliver to a person. Some managers can relate when it comes to family issues that will arise from this but they have to make decisions that will benefit the company in the long run. If they feel they need new people to step in the company well then they need to be able to handle the steps and consequences of those decisions and follow through with what needs to be done.
These two concepts does affect us all in our lives at some point or in a different way. The speaker offers valued points to look for when hiring individuals who want to make a strategy progress and succeed. its not so easy to fire someone at all espically if you are friends with that person.
I really like this ladies ideas on hiring individuals. Especially when it comes to creativity and just something that the individual has done to make themselves stand out. Companies want people that are unique and will think outside of box everyday to make things happen and give new ideas within the work force.
It's interesting how creativity is probably the number one quality employees look for in any workforce. But not everyone is creative. Does that mean that they can't be a good employee?
The thing every employee is looking for is job security. The stress of knowing if your going to have a job is horrible. That being said a lot of people have lost their jobs. Its just a natural part of being in the working world. Some people keep jobs forever and some can't.
I think she is right about giving people guidelines and letting them be creative. Being creative is definitely a good thing but you have to let your employees be creative to get the most out of them. If you do not allow them any freedom to be creative then their talents are wasted.
The best thing that has happened to me recently is getting fired. I was working at a super strict fast food chain. Since getting fired I now have two jobs with a lot of autonomy and am making more money than I ever have. We are in control of our own destiny.
I think that the outcome of the company must be weighed but at the same time there is a lot of consideration that must go into the financial support of the employee if terminated. A dead weight employee can only be carried for so long at a business.
It's all about setting yourself apart from every one else. The company needs to feel as though you are and asset to their company and that they couldn't run the way they currently are if you weren't there.
Firing someone can be a great challenge for some. This is something I’ve had to do multiple times at my current job. The level of difficulty really depends on whether or not I feel the firing is justified. I don't like feeling the pressure of holding someone else's future in my hands. However if they screwed up the n I feel like it is on their fault and don’t really have a problem handing down the consequences.
I would not want to be the person to have to fire someone. Jobs are hard to come by and It would be so much pressure to fire someone...I would much rather prefer to be the person hiring someone.
Having to fire people is not something fun to do but Ann Fudge expresses it in a different view. Companies grow and companies need to be pruned. I have never looked at it this way it is interesting way of seeing layoffs. It is a circle of life, the circle of company growth.
Although it's very necessary at times, it's still never easy to do. It's not always because an employee has done something immoral or completely out of line. It can have a lot to do with keeping the best interest of a company at hand too. I've been on the receiving end of being fired due to "over staffing" in a parish courthouse position. Although it was a blessing in disguise and handed to me with kit gloves, it still sucked. But overall, it's a part of the job that we must all accept. Good video!
This article was very helpful and showed what important qualities it is to show in an interview or application. One of the things that they look for is to see if you are creative person which I think is important in hiring a person. If you hope to promote within a company than it's important to have creative employees who know how to solve problems.
Firing is the one thing I hate about being a manger. I think hiring is a good thing for companies because you get to bring in new people with different views and ideas to help work towards a common goal.
Firing is a natural part of life and business. Don't want to get fired, Get a job for the state. You will die with job security. If fired, you clearly weren't worth what they were paying you.... should have been more competent
I have teachers tell me all the time that is the things you do that set you apart from all of the other applicants. What she said in the beginning reminded me of that. You can have the same thing on your resume like a bachelors degree or good grades, but things that you've done that set you apart really can make a difference when it comes to be hired or not hired
I think this woman is very smart and having her share her wisdom is a great thing for me because I tend to be very emotional at times and it was nice to hear her say that when it comes the time to lay people off or let them go that you have to remember they are a human being and to not let yourself shut down as a protection mechanism.
It is important for a new hire to be creative because they are just that a “new” hire. If they wanted the same old people they would just keep everyone and never hire new people. She says it’s important to find people who want to make things happen. I like how she made a point to highlight the positives of the way the economy has been instead of reiterating the negatives we all already know.
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