so, i received this email today @ work:
"This is sent to let everyone know that (name redacted) no longer works for (business name redacted). If this creates any problems for anyone, please see (h.r. person redacted) or myself about your concerns. Thanks."
obviously, i took out names to avoid any issue, to embarrass anyone, or to expose my employer. this isn't the first such email i've received, but they've always struck me as odd and callous. i understand that they need to notify the rest of the staff that a particular employee is no longer there, but is this the best way to go about it? what do you think?
when someone has left there under good circumstances, or their own accord, they have often sent out an email about their leaving. or not at all. i'm not sure how they would handle it if it was a layoff. it seems these emails go out when someone gets fired.
12 comments:
I don't really see how else to go about doing that that would make it any better. I have worked for companies who do not make any announcements whatsover when someone is fired and it causes confusion when they don't answer an email or a phone call and you don't know it is because they are no longer there.
The other options would be to go around and tell everyone personally or tell the department heads to tell everyone in their departments, which is just as awkward and people may be more likel to ask questions than they would if they received an email.
I think it is just an awkward thing when people get fired and there is really no way to get around that.
Can you think of a better way?
no, i haven't yet. but i think they pique so much curiosity. i don't expect all the details, but i want to know a little about the situation. what did this person do to get fired? especially because we're mid way through a term, assuming this person had classes right now.
and frankly, i'm not terribly upset about some of these firings.
Oh yeah, I would totally want to know the details too. They sound like they arent too keen on gving them out though. You should contact that person they mention to contact with concerns and ask what happened:)
Can you be sure these emails go out for people that are fired and not laid off or quitting?
I would verify that before anything else.
Plus, there might be laws about revealing the circumstances of an employee's separation to other coworkers.
adam,
you could be right about the quitting, but knowing the circumstances of some of the people these have been sent out over my 2+ years they were fired.
i'm sure it's all about the legality issue of what they can say, but i just think it's strange to send out these tersely worded emails about someone not working there.
My thoughts are that this is more of an email PR issue. I receive emails all the time from management regarding people who are no longer employed for a variety of reasons. If they left on good terms the email usually gives more details that are approved by that individual.
I'm sure there is no good way to let people know that someone is fired but it seems to me that there is a more professional way of saying it.
Our email always says something about wishing the person the best in their future endeavors. Point is that if someone was fired you will find out the juicy details through the workplace grapevine. But emails and announcements should be professional but not cold and abrupt.
I think there is a problem with the wording as well. "If this creates a problem fr anyone.." It's almost aggressive. "If you got a problem, say it to my face!" or "If you think we were wrong, maybe you should swing by HR so we can talk about whether you should go join your friend at the unemployment office"
you know, when i first read the email this morning i thought it said "if (2nd person pronoun) creates a problem..." and was like, uh oh, someone may go all postal. then, i reread it later and was like, oh, if it creates a problem for me. which it doesn't. i keep my head down and avoid the lightning bolts.
but, i imagine those coworkers that were real friendly with the person may be upset by the issue and might want to have a talk about it.
it just makes me sort of want to hit up the grapevine to see what news is a travellin.
Ed is just being nosey. And now I kinda want to know why this person doesnt work there anymore either. Let me know if you find out!
so, i heard some news via the grapeline that i can talk about offline.
"If this creates any problems for anyone, please see (h.r. person redacted) or myself about your concerns."
See, and I read this sentence more as like a workplace thing. Like, "if this person's absence makes your job harder in some way or leaves you in the lurch, let us know."
Not as in "if you're disgruntled by this action" kind of thing.
here's some more to add to the situation. on friday, this email went out to us all,
"This is to inform you that (name redacted) is no longer employed by (company). If you have any questions or concerns, please see me or (h.r. person). Thank you."
minor differences in wording, but feels a whole lot differently to me. we'll see if it's actually any different.
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