Losing a Job is Never Easy Just Ask Ann Curry

Losing a Job is Never Easy Just Ask Ann Curry It pained me to watch Ann Currys goodbye on The Today Show today. Job loss isnt easy for anyone; having to make the formal announcement on national television was obviously very difficult for her. She showed all the classic   emotions of job lossshock, grief, fear, denial, and perhaps a tinge of anger.   Obviously Ann is in a much better place than many of us. She is being reassigned, she will still command a nice salary, and her new role will surely include some amazing perks. But job loss is still   a hard nut to swallow because many people equate their jobs with a large piece of their identity. Without a job, many feel lost.In my work I have met many of my clients just minutes after the news of their termination is delivered. Delivering news of a termination is never easy, but there are guidelines employers can follow to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Here are a few.Provide training for supervisors on how to respond to employee reactions, emotions, and behavio rs during this difficult time.Create scripts and follow-up support tools to help supervisors become comfortable in their notification role.Be clear on why people are selected for a layoff and explain the business circumstances surrounding the layoff.Avoid delivering the news on a Monday morning after a 90 minute killer commute.Giving notification on a Friday at 5pm or before a holiday is poor timing; it gives the person extra time to stew unproductively.Terminating an employee during the workweek helps them immediately notify unemployment and begin contacting their network.No employee should ever be notified of a layoff via email or social media. Respect employees enough to tell them face to face.Following a downsizing, company executives should be visible and available to listen and answer questions.Tell the employee how much you appreciate the work they have done and recognize their contributions.Some employees will cry or feel faint following the news. Have tissues and bottled wa ter in the room.Pre-arrange for transportation. Have a car service available for someone who is exceptionally distraught upon hearing the news.Plan for the person to clear out their desk while their co-workers are not around, but give them the opportunity to say goodbye.Have a plan for where the meeting will be held and how the meeting will end. Logistics can become awkward if not planned ahead.Give employees time to compose themselves before having to face co-workers.Give employees a good reference if they deserve one. Giving a positive reference may be one of the best things you can do.It was hard to watch Ann Curry say goodbye because it felt like she lost a piece of herself and maybe even a bit of her dignity. Many who have lost of job can relate to this. What is your layoff story and were you treated with respect and dignity?