Many employees have already noticed that a colleague has been fired. But how do you behave in this situation?
1. Continue to talk to your colleague
In many cases, employees do not know how to continue to deal with the person concerned after being fired. This often leads to employees withdrawing so as not to say the wrong thing. But ignorance is often the worst thing that can happen to someone fired. Prof. Dr. Bernd Marcus explains to the Handelsblatt: “Daily encounters are a basis for social relationships.” Nowadays it is often the case that employees mix work life and private life, and colleagues become friends. This process is also called work-life blending, according to qualified psychologist Swen Heidenreich. If colleagues turn away, the person concerned runs the risk of losing a large part of their social environment. The personnel psychologist Bernd Marcus also tells the Handelsblatt that it is precisely this social environment that can help former employees when they are unemployed.
2. Understand and listen
When a termination occurs, many different feelings come together for those affected. Anger, desperation and fears for the future can lead to a fired person wanting to vent their feelings and rail against the boss and the company. Here it is important to show understanding and support your colleagues. Just listening can do a lot. Nevertheless, a certain degree of neutrality must be maintained because internal company information may no longer be passed on to the person who has been terminated.
3. Don’t gossip
Regardless of whether the dismissed colleague is a close colleague and friend or an acquaintance – gossiping and spreading hearsay information in this situation is not helpful for the person concerned, it actually makes it worse. Untrue rumors and half-truths spread quickly and can no longer be taken back, and people often only know one perspective.
4. Support in the job search
It’s good to support your ex-colleague in their job search. This does not mean actively looking for job advertisements, although everyone is free to do that, but rather passing on information about available jobs to your ex-colleague. Networking is worth its weight in gold in many industries these days, and those who are part of an existing network often have insider information about openings.
5. Find a good way to say goodbye
Ultimately, the last few weeks in a company can have a big impact on the perception of the person who has been terminated. If it is ignored in the last few days, it can overshadow years of good and close cooperation. So colleagues should try to make the remaining time as pleasant as possible. This also includes completing work that has been left behind without comment, as it is understandable that colleagues are no longer very motivated. Sentences like “I think it would be nice if we did something together again. How do you see that?” have a supportive effect and convey appreciation, coach Wagner told the Handelsblatt. The qualified psychologist Swen Heidenreich also recommends a “warm shower” for the last day, in which each colleague gives the person who has been terminated a few kind words and remembers the good times of working together.
Marie-Sophie Steinbach, editorial team at finanzen.net