Radio Shack terminates by email

No matter how much Radio Shack executives and HR leaders try to rationalize it, emailing termination notices isn't the way to handle a layoff situation. The workforce reduction at the retailer's Texas headquarters impacted 400 staffers and each one got an electronic message in their inbox stating that their position had been eliminated. According to Radio Shack, the email firing notices didn't come out of the blue--employees were warned about the impending layoffs and were told that notification would come via email. But as one personnel expert advises, this isn't the right way to handle such corporate decisions and extensive communication is always better for preparing staff--both those leaving and those remaining--for layoffs.

For more on this unusual termination approach:
- read this article at TechWeb