Firing Employees FAQ

Questions:

• Can I fire an employee for any reason?
• Do I have to give a fired employee a severance package?
• What do I tell prospective employers who call me for a reference for an employee whom I fired?
• Should we contest a fired employee's claim for unemployment?
• How should I tell an employee, "you're fired"?
• Should we ask a lawyer to review all termination decisions?
• What are the practical items we need to take care of when an employee leaves the company?
• Can I fire an employee for making a false complaint about our company's billing practices to a government agency?

Answer:

Should we ask a lawyer to review all termination decisions?

If you have any questions about whether to fire the employee, the employee has made noises about consulting a lawyer, or your company may have made some mistakes in its handling of the employee, you should absolutely talk to a lawyer before making a final decision. A lawyer can help you make sure you've considered all the angles and done all you can to protect your company from liability. For more information, see Nolo's article When Does an Employer Need an Employment Lawyer?