Question

Review the discussion question and answer below. Do you agree with the answer? why or why not? Give your opinion.

Discussion Question: In today’s economy, it is inevitable to layoff or communicate negative information with employees. Is it ethical to fire by email and/or text messages? What is your strategy to convey negative messages to employees?

Answer: With what is happening around the world, layoffs are bound to happen but there is a way to do it in the right format. It might not be illegal for a company to fire their employees by email and text messages but using electronic means to do it is definitely at the lowest end of the best ethical guideline and no employees are expecting such an act coming their way. Thus, the choice to layoff with email or text message by the companies can have a negative impact in their employees’ mind. First of all, this process can affect them on their way to find another job or more affected them in terms of self-esteem in real life in general. This is mainly because the employees will not have an opportunity to get necessary feedback. There are several strategies to deliver negative messages to employees one of them being to call them and explained to them the problem that the company is facing at that moment and explained to them company’s decision to lay-offs them. A face-to-face interaction, also on the simulated modes of contact or in person phone call and recorded can be a good way too. This process of phone call can lead to an appeasement for employees as they might get some of their question answered even though they might not be able to avoid being laid-off. Oral communications support the written formal modes of communications. It helps in availing instant feedback and accordingly designing the written form of the formal communication to support such serious actions. Of course, a face-to-face interaction is the best approach someone can use in this case but with new technological advances people can now have video calls in case in person meeting is not available or possible. In any cases, this shall be my preferred strategy that is to orally communicate and discuss with the employees about the grounds on which the layoffs because that is essential before formally sending away mails to them. Furthermore, even thought my preferences strategies is the phone call or face-to face meeting to lay-off employees but with this actual situation around the world, companies don’t have the necessary time to do the phone call or face-to-face lay-off because of the volume of people that needs to be let go. Also, the lay-off process should be a whole process before a company can do it which is at the first to determine the potential number of layoffs required and HR will determine the specific individuals to be laid off. The HR determines who receives layoff notices and provides the official notice to units/supervisors to give to the affected individuals. They should inform your staff about the layoffs to be made and any related changes in job assignments. HR will schedule informational meetings with those individuals being laid off. The informational meetings will cover. HR will also inform the unit of needed documentation, the status of various payments, the status of laid off employees, bypass arrangements for laid off employees for withdrawn.

Answer 1

Yes, I agree wiith the answer because it provided a right approach on how to communicate with the employees in case of lay off happens.

If there is an individual needs to be layoff then a face to face discussion with the manager and HR can be happen but in case a group of employees need to be lay off then, HR takes the lead and should inform employees well in advance and employees should be given option to change the job role with the avaiable job role, if possible.

Then , if no choice is left then HR should inform employees and can have a meeting with the group and can listen their concern.

Employees may demand ,compensation which can be negotiated with the managemnet and best possible soultion can be communicated to employees through mail.This is also a documented version and employees consent can also be taken on mail.

E-mail is the best way to communicate information in company.So, I do agree with the answer above.