You have an employee with serious performance issue. You’ve offered plenty of warnings. You’ve tried to help them get back on track and improve their performance. But the fact of the matter is this: It’s not working out. You know you have to fire them.

So when should you do it?

As one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, Murray Resources knows there are actually a lot of theories surrounding the best day of the week to fire someone. Here’s a look at them:

• Generally speaking, it’s thought you should terminate an employee in the beginning or middle of the week, later in the day. That gives the employee time to take action to handle their situation, such as filing for unemployment, and submitting their resume to a staffing company or to other job openings.
• In addition, by waiting until the end of the day, it gives the employee the chance to leave the office at their regular time, so they don’t call attention to the matter. They can even wait until colleagues are gone for the day to pack up their personal items so they don’t have to engage in any uncomfortable conversations.
• If, however, you fire them at the end of the day on a Friday, they basically have two whole days where their hands are tied. They can’t make any forward progress and all they can do is worry and wait…and potentially get angry.
• That said, there are some who do believe the end of the day Friday is a good time to fire someone because it gives them the weekend to digest the news and to make a plan for their job search.

In the end, the decision is completely up to you. Nobody likes to be fired. And whether someone is fired on a Monday vs. a Friday won’t make a huge impact on their reaction. They are going to be upset and emotional.

However you do decide to deal with the situation, always be respectful and kind. You’re delivering a major blow here and so it’s important you handle the circumstances very carefully. People may not remember exactly what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel – good or bad.

Also, once you decide to terminate an employee, take action quickly. Don’t let the situation linger on. You’re not only doing your company a disservice, but the employee, as well.

Do you have a job opening you’d like help filling? Call the experts at Murray Resources. As one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, we can assist you with the entire search process – from sourcing and screening to hiring and retaining top talent. Contact us today to get started.