Terminated or dismissed from Job by a letter or E-mail

fultzymom · Aug 8, 2007

The only person I heard of being let go like this was when she was contingent and did not show up for a couple of shifts that she had picked up for us. So they sent her a letter saying they did not need her et was terminating her. But anyone else has always been brought in for a face-to-face conversation. That seems heartless et cruel, especially if you had nothing to do with the reason behind the termination. :down:

Music in My Heart · Aug 8, 2007

It's pretty weak to be laid off without even the courtesy of a face-to-face meeting along with an explanation of severance benefits, references, call-back policy, etc.

Kudos to you for your decision to handle it calmly. It's not likely that there's anything you can do to change the current situation but you're wise not to burn your bridges.

I've been laid off three times and it's sucked each and every time. I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this.

steelcityrn, RN · Aug 8, 2007

Yes, I have heard of this happening before. Know a professor that was let go in a letter sent to him. He was still working for them extra for summer and found out not only was he terminated at the end of the semester, he lost his insurance also back then. Horrible!

justme1972 · Aug 8, 2007

I actually got fired by the help desk once.

I showed up for work and my login didn't work and I called tech support....they told me I was no longer an active employee.

Apparantely, my boss put in the request the day BEFORE he was supposed to....when he reported to work he actually lied to me and told me it was a mistake, only to tell me one hour later (when another manager arrived) that I was being terminated on grounds that was nothing more than gossip that wasn't true....that is why I am HUGE on people not gossiping.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 8, 2007

Yes, it happened to me back in the early 1980's when DRG's first hit. The hospital panicked and laid off a ton of people.

I had just made 6 months so got paid my vacation and sick time and severance. I had a new job within the week.

A couple of weeks later the hospital that laid me off called me to come back. I was polite but made it very clear that under no circumstances would I work for them again.

busy-bee · Aug 9, 2007

One of the nurses on my unit was fired over the phone. I think that is so unprofessional. Then they backed it up with a formal letter. What really gets me is that it stated she was not allowed in the facilitly. I could see this if she intentionally hurt a resident or fired for poor/aggresive behavior. I found out all that are fired receives this same letter. Tacky...Tacky!

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Aug 9, 2007

one fo my co workers was taken out to lunch by the nurse manager .. then walked out by security.. soo if your nurse manager wants to take you out to lunch ... watch out... eeek

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2007

From a business and legal point being terminated thru e-mail is a very effective manner. There is a an electronic tag to the email that is admittible in court should the need ever arise. There is also a return notice to sender when opened tag that you may not even know was attached that can prove you got your e-mail notice. There is no confusion on what may or may not have been said like there could be in a face to face meeting. It is in black and white the facts are spelled out that way. In a face to face meeting there is also the possiblity of violence if one of the parties is unhappy. that is a very real concern in this day and age. Security has always escorted peple out from every hospital i worked at when they were terminated. Just common safety sense. I have seen this done from a CNA up to the CEO of a facility.

Heloisea3 · Aug 9, 2007

I think this is unprofessional and cowardly on the part of the employer. People who terminate their employees in this fashion display a lack of communication and management skills. They can candy-coat it however they want to, but the point of the matter is that it is disrespectful and thoughtless. I think this says a great deal about how the manager/employer views their employees and peers. It is a complete disregard for others. Radio Shack fired quite a few of their employees like this a few years ago. ugh! How pathetic! I felt so bad for them. I have not shopped at Radio Shack since then. :madface:

WhiteStockings · Aug 10, 2007

Thanks to everyone who has reponded to this thread. Just to give you a quick update I have been trying to get in contact with my supervisor since I received my letter of discharge from my job two days ago but guess what my supervisor is on VACATION :angryfire (I hope she is reading this thread)! What upset me the most isn't so much the message, but the way the message was delivered.

Well just a little background about myself. I have been an LPN for the past 20 years and have been employed in Home Health with the same employer for the past 9 years. To make a long story short they are letting all of the LPN's go, and the way I found out was by a letter that I received in my mailbox (at home) yes, no phone call or face-to-face meeting or anything. I just had a face-to-face meeting with my supervisor on Friday, and she didnt say anything to me at all about any changes they would be making (I received the letter in the mail this past Wednesday).

I did finish out this week and technically I still have three weeks to go and I would like to go out gracefully if I can, but I'm not so sure if I can last that long . I just hate having to start all over again I mean with looking for a job and getting insurance :down: .

~Whitestockings~