Editor's Corner

Email Firing Is A Weak Leadership Act

I found it amazing that a UK-based retailer fired a salesperson over email a few weeks back and my first reaction was to think that it was a low-down, sneaky way to get out of a difficult face-to-face interaction. Now that Radio Shack has forged ahead and fired 400 staffers via email, my reaction is even stronger. While the retailer, as noted in the first news item today, claims it gave employees fair warning that notification was coming into their inbox, it's no better than putting a 'cut list' up on the wall in the lobby.

I know for a fact that one publishing firm I worked for actually handled layoffs that way in the aftermath of the dotcom crumble. I remember seeing the CEO, who was still living out the fantasy of being a football stud, explaining to someone that a 'cut list' was the quickest and least painful approach to what he called an emotional corporate decision. It was definitely less painful for him, as he posted the list and then cut out for the golf course. Of course, it was less than painless for those who walked in that morning and saw their name on the list, or even those who didn't see their name and began to feel survivor's guilt. Managing and leading are tough roles and dealing with layoffs is likely the worst part of the job--but people deserve the dignity and respect that can only be communicated in a one-to-one interaction.

What's your take? Let me know and I'll publish your comments in next week's editor's corner.

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Please note that we will not be publishing on Monday the 4th, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. We will resume our normal publishing schedule on Tuesday the 5th. Hope you all enjoy the long holiday weekend and turn off your electronic devices--or at least one!
- Judy