I'm a senior manager at a large company, and I just learned that I have to layoff a dozen people. This will come as a shock to the employees and I feel terrible, but I'm also very concerned that those who are terminated will steal confidential company documents as a way of retribution. I want to make the transition smooth for these people, but protect the company as well. Where's the line?
You need to quit the Michael Scott act and stop wanting everyone to like you. Business is a tough world, and your first obligation is to forcefully protect the company secrets. It's time to call in some muscle.
Open the phone book and find a company that specializes in "Executive Protection," which is a high-end term for a bodyguard. In addition to protecting CEO's and VIP's, many of these companies also offer what is known as "Termination Service."
Not only does Termination Service protect management in the case that one of the pink-slipped decides to go postal, but it also protects your property, including company documents. Security agents will usually sit in a neighboring room and listen to the firing on a radio, ready to act in case someone's emotions get the better of them. When it comes time to clean out their desks, the agents can be called to monitor the situation if you worry that someone is going to try and walk out with more than a company stapler.
"Generally speaking, you should be able to clean out your desk in an hour," according to Ron Greco of BCI Security, a New England-based company with extensive experience in Executive Protection. "If they're taking two or three, they're up to something. And that's when we'll step in to monitor the situation and serve as a witness. People act erratically when their livelihood has been blindsided, and we're there to protect against that."
There's no easy way to do a layoff. You have to be stern. They can take their personal possessions and nothing else. If someone says they need to pull some things off of their computer, watch them. They can take the first draft of their novel and their kid's Little League schedule, but you don't want them stealing your client list or anything else that will come back to harm you when they put their resume out to a competitor.
You've got to put your company's interests ahead of your personal emotions. If not, you could wind up becoming very familiar with layoffs.
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