Expert Advice on Employment Termination Practices: How Expert is It?

Abstract

This paper compares expert advice as presented in employment termination literature with actual termination practices. For example, we review what experts say about who should be present during a termination interview, the best day and time to conduct a termination interview, and the best location for a termination interview. We then examine whether the use of expert advice and participation in employment termination training programs improves the termination process with respect to employee tension and hostility. Our results suggest most managers are using expert advice regarding who should be present during the termination interview, but not the when or where advice. Contrary to expert advice, managers were less likely to report having experienced a hostile or violent employee response when only one person delivers the notice of termination. Also contrary to expert advice, employees exhibited greater levels of hostility and violence when fired early in the week rather than later in the week. Finally, those managers who had received training on employment termination were more likely to have had a hostile or violent employment termination experience. These results and directions for future research are discussed.