A reader writes:
I’ve all the time considered my job as a spot the place individuals didn’t get fired except they have been clearly and constantly dangerous at their jobs. I’ve been right here for six years and I do know that once we get the “goodbye so-and-so” emails from HR about individuals unexpectedly leaving, that in all probability means they have been fired. When individuals go away as a result of they received a brand new job or in any other case go away on good phrases, they often announce it themselves, with their ultimate date of employment listed so we will wrap up any initiatives, they usually usually embody a lot of thanks’s and appreciation for his or her coworkers. So when the information comes from HR with none advance discover, I assume it was in all probability a firing. Primarily based on what I learn about how our firm is run, I additionally assumed the fired individuals in all probability had been warned or in any other case had recognized that their efficiency wasn’t as much as par. And whereas I haven’t been aware about particulars, when it’s occurred up to now I haven’t ever been stunned.
Nevertheless, within the final couple of weeks, two workers have been (I assume) let go a couple of week other than one another. I don’t suppose both of their firings needed to do with the opposite. We received the standard emails from HR saying the corporate has ended their relationship with every particular person, contact their supervisor for challenge questions, and we want them the most effective. What has me thrown is that each of those individuals have been, for my part, stellar coworkers who had been with the corporate for years, one nearly for a decade.
This office is low drama, low gossip, and what I’d contemplate wholesome. However this has thrown individuals right into a tizzy. One of many fired individuals was the cousin to a present worker and I believe loads of people wish to ask her about it, or ask what occurred. I don’t know if anybody has. However everybody is absolutely confused, and personally I’m frightened! What may have occurred to those seemingly high-performing workers to have brought about them to lose their jobs? And who could possibly be subsequent?
So my query is, what sort of questions are applicable to ask, and to whom? Do I simply want to just accept that the individuals who make firing selections know what they’re doing and have their causes? Is it ever applicable to ask why somebody was fired and to specific that it’s making me nervous? I do know I’m not alone on this and the entire episode has brought about our quiet firm to descend into gossip and concern as a result of we don’t get it. What’s the greatest plan of action right here, if any?
You’ll be able to learn my reply to this letter at New York Journal at the moment. Head over there to learn it.