Employee Terminations A Guide For Hr Professionals Ethena

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 29, 2025, 5:09 PM

employee terminations a guide for hr professionals ethena

Employee terminations are an often icky (but let's face it: inevitable) part of the HR role. Whether due to performance issues, restructuring, or other reasons, these decisions are challenging for both the departing employee and the HR professional managing the process. When it comes to navigating these delicate conversations, it's critical to prioritize respect and privacy to uphold the dignity of the departing employee, while also safeguarding your company's reputation. In this guide, we'll explore how to pressure test the decision to terminate an employee, and provide a step-by-step checklist you can refer back to any time you need it. When exploring whether or not you should part ways with an employee, both you and the employee's manager/supervisor must work together to ensure fairness and the best interests of all parties involved. So if you're thinking about terminating an employee but haven't made the decision just yet, consider the following:

Employee termination is a challenging (and sometimes exhausting) aspect of HR that requires careful planning, communication, and empathy. While termination can be a necessary step in addressing certain issues, it's important to conduct the process with respect, fairness, and professionalism. As a SHRM Member®, you’ll pave the path of your success with invaluable resources, world-class educational opportunities and premier events. Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations. Stand out from among your HR peers with the skills obtained from a SHRM Seminar. Demonstrate targeted competence and enhance your HR credibility.

Designed and delivered by HR experts to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to drive lasting change in the workplace. Employee termination is an integral yet challenging aspect of human resource management. Whether due to redundancy, poor performance, or misconduct, handling terminations with professionalism and adherence to legal standards is critical. A well-structured termination process safeguards both the organization and the employee while maintaining workplace integrity. Here’s what you need to know about navigating the employee termination process effectively. Legal compliance is the foundation of a sound termination process.

For example, in Kenya, termination procedures are governed by the Employment Act of 2007, which outlines: Failing to adhere to these laws can lead to costly legal disputes and damage the organization’s reputation. This applies globally, as termination laws vary by jurisdiction. For multinational organizations, ensuring compliance across borders requires robust legal frameworks and expert consultations. Additionally, organizations operating in multiple countries must stay updated on local labor laws to ensure compliance and avoid jurisdictional conflicts. Regular training for HR personnel and consultation with legal experts can minimize risks.

Understanding the categories of termination helps determine the right approach: Employee termination is a multifaceted process for HR professionals, involving various scenarios such as voluntary and involuntary separations. Grasping legal considerations and emphasizing clear communication are vital for upholding employee dignity throughout the process. Implementing best practices for conducting termination meetings, managing necessary documentation, and supporting remaining employees is essential to cultivate a positive workplace culture. Additionally, analyzing the repercussions of termination on organizational dynamics can enhance overall employee relations. For those seeking to deepen their understanding, further insights are readily available.

Highlights Business owners face a delicate balance: seeking ways of attracting and retaining top talent while staying on a budget. Highlights Keeping up with the winding regulations of employee benefits compliance can be challenging for business owners. From missed deadlines Highlights A chemical spill in the lab causes a worker to experience dizziness and nausea. The area is immediately evacuated, Alison Roller is passionate about engaging and informative storytelling through writing and social media.

She has been writing since 2018 on a range of topics: politics, higher education, leadership, workplace culture, and diversity, equity, & inclusion. She holds a Master's of Communication with a focus on journalism from Syracuse University's Newhouse School. When she’s not working, you can find her hanging out with her cat, knitting, and scrolling TikTok. Making the decision to terminate an individual’s employment is never easy. Having a checklist to keep track of all the steps in the termination process can help you stay organized and ensure that nothing is missed in the process. And it can also help free up time for HR to focus on the next steps for the business and the employee.

Here’s a step-by-step employee termination checklist to ensure that the termination process goes as smoothly as possible. Before doing anything else, the first step should be ensuring that you comply with company policies as well as federal and state laws. Employee terminations are hard. Whether it’s your first termination or your thirtieth, the process is never easy. Clear communication, compassion, and adherence to legal guidelines are important when navigating this challenging process. Ethena's VP of People, Melanie Naranjo, and former Gusto CPO, Jess Yuen put together a handy checklist of what to do pre-, post-, and during a live termination discussion.

Melanie Naranjo is VP of People at Ethena. Looking for more great advice on managing performance, navigating employee burnout, and more? Head to Melanie's LinkedIn. Jess Yuen is an executive coach and former Head of People at Gusto. To learn more about how you can leverage her services, check out her website or reach out to her directly on LinkedIn. Template outlining HR's responsibilities when terminating employees, including notice periods, severance packages, and post-termination activities.

You have 2 options:1. Download the Checklist as PDF for Free and share it with your team for completion.2. Use the Checklist directly within the Mobile2b Platform to optimize your business processes. We have a collection of over 5,000 ready-to-use fully customizable Checklists, available with a single click. Pricing is based on how often you use the Checklist each month.For detailed information, please visit our pricing page. Implementing a Best Practices for HR to Follow When Terminating Employees checklist can benefit your organization in several ways:

Managing employee terminations requires careful attention to legal requirements, company policies, and professional courtesy. This comprehensive checklist helps ensure a compliant, dignified, and well-organized exit process while protecting both the organization and the departing employee. A structured checklist guides HR teams through key steps such as final documentation, retrieval of company assets, revoking system access, and conducting respectful exit interviews to gather feedback. By following a consistent termination process, organizations can reduce legal risks, maintain workplace morale, and support a smooth transition for both the departing employee and the remaining team members. The primary purpose of this employee termination checklist is to ensure a consistent and compliant process for all employee separations. It helps organizations:

Employee Terminations A Guide For Hr Professionals Ethena

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Understanding The Categories Of Termination Helps Determine The Right Approach: