It happened again last week. I heard a business owner say “I’ve decided to terminate Bob, but I’m going to wait until the first week in January to do it. I don’t want to ruin someone’s holidays.”
I go through this every year. Employers who, in order to make themselves feel better, put their employees in an even worse situation. If you are planning on firing someone, do it now! Here’s why:
Some 34% of all Christmas spending is done in the last week before the holiday, and that is mostly on credit cards. Do you think the employee will be thanking you in January when the bills come in? Nope. he will be saying “I wouldn’t have spent all his money if the SOB has let me know I was being fired. Now I’m in debt because he was too chickens–t to tell me.”
Christmas is family time, when we are surrounded by support.You may not like the idea of mom and sis and uncle Ernie spending the holiday talking about what a louse you are, but it’s a big help to the unemployed relative psychologically.
The holidays are a good time to network. You can contact friends via social media and at parties. Lots more chances to spread the news that you are looking, before everyone battens down in January. Plenty of time to polish up that resume, too.
I said to the business owner “You know, if you are really worried about the employee’s welfare, you could terminate him now and just give him 30 days severance to hold him through until January.”
It seems he wasn’t THAT worried about the keeping the spirit of Christmas.