Pinoy Tech

I am an IT Manager for an international company here in the Philippines. My department has grown to around 56 employees. I became a manager, a leader, a friend to them. Unfortunately, work for a certain company isn’t forever. Just like any organization or group, someone always has to leave. It’s not forever.

Firing both for non-performance, layoffs for financial reasons is very hard especially if you became friends with your staff. My supervisor and I find it hard to do. Guilt is often felt.

Yesterday, we had to layoff more than 15 employees because of financial reasons. Some were shocked by what happened, cried and even made angry comments.

I learned important points during the process.

A business should be transparent and should practice open-book management.
Financial information like economic problems should not be kept from employees. Employees who know about the state of the business will most likely understand. Also, talks about employee’s shortcomings with regards to their work shouldn’t be looked down upon. It is one of the best things you can do for your employees.

Management should practice candor.
Before the layoff, we never let one particular employee know that her shortcomings were really affecting the work of others. When the downsizing began, she was the first to go. She made angry comments about why she was the one chosen. Of course, another lesson learned.

People should know where they stand so that when the times when the firing happens, the employee wouldn’t be surprised. It would be clear to the employee why she got fired.

Firing and layoffs will always be a part of business but next time I will do it right.