Losing a job can be a traumatic experience for anyone. However, if it is done compassionately and with a bit of tact the person getting laid off may be spared from additional torment. This was not the case when RadioShack Corporation eliminated hundreds of workers from their payroll. Instead, of meeting with the people who were about to be cut loose, the company sent out a mass email notifying about 400 workers that they were “being dismissed immediately as part of planned job cuts.” Can you believe it?
The email was sent to employees at the company’s Fort Worth headquarters and read: “The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated.” No, pat on the back. No, I’m so sorry. No, thanks for the years of hard work and dedication… just a sterile email notifying them to leave the building. How’s that for classy?
For their part RadioShack officials told local reporters covering the mass layoff that they had “told employees in a series of meetings that layoff notices would be delivered electronically.” Executives said employees were also invited to ask questions about the emails on a company intranet site. The company reasoned that the firings were done via email it was quicker and allowed more privacy than breaking the news in person.
“It was important to notify people as quickly as possible,” RadioShack leaders said. “They had 30 minutes to collect their thoughts, make phone calls and say goodbye to employees before they went to meet with senior leaders.”
According to news reports, the terminated employees met with supervisors and human resources personnel before leaving the building. Oh, and to soften the blow it was reported that the company “provided boxes and plastic bags for employees to pack their personal belongings.” Again, I ask: “Can you believe it?”
Derrick D’Souza, a management professor at the University of North Texas, can’t. He told reporters he had never heard of such a large number of terminated employees being notified electronically. He categorized it as being an incredibly “dehumanizing” move.
“If I put myself in their shoes, I’d say, ‘Didn’t they have a few minutes to tell me?'” D’Souza said.
For the record, according to the company, the laid-off workers got one to three weeks pay for each year of service, up to 16 weeks for hourly employees and 36 weeks for those with base bay of at least $90,000.
Still, I think a little tact goes a long way, and if I were the one getting the boot I would want to have been told in person. How about you?