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Similar is okay. The same is not okay. Like, you wouldn’t want to have one room that’s the firing room. Then people know, “Oh my gosh. I have a meeting in conference room D. Holy smokes.” It has to be – you have to have the right people there for that person. You have to have someone who understands that person, someone who had some experience with that person. That’s going to be different for different people. But on the similar side you always want to have at least two folks there. You never want to have so many folks there that it’s intimidating. You want to prepare in the same way, go through the same steps, and you want to think about what it feels like to be in the seat of the person who has to leave employment. Those are similarities for each and how that feels is going to be different for each. So, you’re going to have different strategies for each one.
Minneapolis and St. Cloud employment law attorney Sheila Engelmeier describes how employers conducting similar termination meetings is ok, but not in the same manner. She explained that while employers should follow a consistent process when conducting termination meetings, each situation should be handled according to the individual’s circumstances rather than using an identical approach. She advised against designating a specific room solely for terminations, as doing so could create unnecessary anxiety and negative associations among employees. Instead, she emphasized that the meeting should involve the appropriate individuals, including those who know the employee well and have relevant experience working with them, while avoiding the presence of so many people that the meeting becomes intimidating.
She further explained that employers should consistently prepare for termination meetings by following established procedures and carefully considering the employee’s perspective throughout the process. Although the preparation and overall approach should remain similar, she noted that each employee’s experience and emotional response will differ. Therefore, she emphasized that employers should adapt their communication and strategies to meet the unique needs of each individual while maintaining fairness and respect.