Four Ways to Make Terminations Less Stressful

In the 2009 movie Up in the Air, George Clooney and Anna Kendrick play corporate downsizers—HR consultants that companies across the country hire to terminate employees for them. The practice wasn’t exactly common at the time, and fortunately never took off, but it...

Is there anything special we should know before terminating a remote employee?

Answer from Kim, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: Terminations involving remote employees function much the same as those in a physical worksite, but there are some things to keep in mind: If the employee works in a different state, you’ll need to follow that state’s laws regarding...

We’ve recently learned that one of our employees is planning to leave the company and has been applying for positions elsewhere. Can we terminate them?

Answer from Kelley, PHR: Terminating employment because an employee is looking for work elsewhere isn’t expressly prohibited by law, but we wouldn’t recommend it. You might be surprised by how many of your employees are looking for other opportunities—either actively...

How should we handle returning personal belongings to a terminated employee? Can we pack them up for the employee?

Question: How should we handle returning personal belongings to a terminated employee? Can we pack them up for the employee? Answer from Monica, SPHR, SHRM-CP: You may pack personal belonging for the employee or ask that they come in and collect their items. My...

Looking for Guidance on Handling Final Wages?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which establishes federal minimum wage and overtime laws, does not require that employers give departing employees their final wages immediately. In general, however, wages covered by the FLSA must be paid by the next regularly...