Hollywood may have given us the impression that to fire someone you just need to shout ”you’re fired” – but it is a much longer process, and employers must ensure they meet all the requirements of the Labour Relations Act
“Dismissing and employee is never easy. It comes with careful consideration and the decision must be made with the correct research and observation. The dismissal of an employee does not occur immediately,” says Devan Moonsamy, the CEO of the ICHAF Training Institute
He advises:
Managers must assess if the person could improve before being fired
Keep a record of all you have done to try to improve the conduct of the employee and communicate with the HR department about how you are handling the situation
If you get to the point where dismissal is inevitable, do everything by the book
A dismissal should never be public; you should do it behind closed doors
The employee may deserve to be fired but they also have a right to their dignity
When firing someone becomes inevitable, make sure you have a witness, all the documentation, and are prepared to answer questions
This article was extracted from the local newspaper and written by Journalist, Margaret Harris