E049 - Laying Off an Employee Respectfully and in a Humane Way with Wendy Sellers

From MD to Entrepreneur with Dr. Pranay Parikh

When firing someone, it's essential that you handle the situation with respect and dignity. It should also be done professionally, allowing them to maintain their self-respect and dignity. This means having clear communication about why they are being let go, offering assistance during their transition period, and providing a respectful termination process for all parties involved. Join this conversation with Wendy Sellers and learn how and why it is important to lay off an employee humanely, as this will help them move on from the situation and succeed in the future.
Wendy Sellers, known as “The HR Lady,” is an involved business partner, educator, and HR consultant who strives to understand your current culture and desired culture and then helps you build HR policy and practices, management training, and tools around your unique environment and goals. Recruiting is an additional service offered. She is a thought leader, keynote speaker, trainer, consultant, advisor, and author. She has over 25 years of experience in HR operations in a wide variety of industries. In this podcast episode, we talk all about best practices in running a business. We also do a deep dive on how to lay off or fire someone in a way that they will not hate you for life and potentially even send you great referrals in the future.
Key Highlights from the Show
[00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest, Wendy Sellers
[04:45] How Wendy got to be an HR lady and started her consulting business
[07:01] What is really human resource
[09:26] One of Wendy’s worst experiences as an HR
[12:23] Questions you can ask a company to get a glimpse of its culture
[14:39] How startups can build a culture that attracts and retains the right people
[20:09] The process of respectfully firing an employee
[25:09] Should you lay off a well-performing employee on the basis of cutting costs?
[27:49] Wendy’s thoughts on Severance pay and the best ways to utilize it in your business
[32:33] Wendy’s strategies for letting go of a C-level performer in the business
[35:52] Best business practices from high-achieving companies to borrow
[39:56] Resources that can help you apt your management skills
[42:10] What Wendy wishes to have put more resources into when starting her
entrepreneurship journey
[43:55] Best ways to reach out and connect with Wendy Sellers
Notable Quotes
● HR people should help an organization from hiring to retirement and everything in
between. [08:37]
● Always communicate in your business and let the employees know your plans. If you
keep quiet and it becomes a rumor, the good people will leave to look for better jobs.
[20:33]
● Never lay off a well-performing and highly-paid employee in your team on the basis of you cutting the cost. It will backfire on you. [25:17]
● The more you help an employee who you have laid off and the more flexible you are with them, the nicer they are going to be to you. This means they will not sue you. In fact, they will come back to you or refer other people to you. [32:20]
Get Wendy’s Books
1. Business and HR Management Books: https://thehrlady.com/author
Connect With Wendy Sellers
Website: https://thehrlady.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thehrlady
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehrladyllc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3

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