Informing Employees About Layoffs
originally titled:
Layoffs
[Prepared with James Jaksa.]
I
Tony Furillo was looking forward to the afternoon to finish
his Christmas shopping. It was the day before Christmas, and he
had to work to finish up a last minute task. The 15 workers he
supervised began their Christmas break the day before. They
would not be returning until after New Year's. Just as Tony was
finishing his task, Arnold Raskin, Vice-President of
Manufacturing approached Tony.
"Tony, I know this is really bad timing, but it has to be
done," Arnold began. "I've just come from an executive meeting.
We have to lay off some people early next year. I'm afraid the
ax has come down on your unit. By the end of January everyone
will have to be laid off. We'll have to transfer you to another
division. I want you to let them know as soon as possible--this
afternoon."
Tony sat glumly at his desk for several minutes, pondering
what to do. He thought, "If it were me, I sure wouldn't want my
Christmas spoiled. Maybe I should wait until the day after
Christmas to call everyone. I don't want to be a Scrooge."
Would it be all right for Tony to delay notification until
the day after Christmas?
II
Tony decides to wait until after Christmas to inform the
workers that they will be laid off. However, unknown to Tony,
Arnold attends the same church as Ralph, one of the workers to
be laid off. Arnold and Ralph do not regularly attend church,
but both attend the Christmas Eve service. Arnold makes a
special point of talking with Ralph and expressing his regret
at the layoff. From the shocked look on Ralph's face, it is
obvious to Arnold that Tony has said nothing to Ralph.
Later that evening Tony's phone rings. "I thought I told you
to notify your workers this afternoon!" Arnold angrily begins.
"I was really embarrassed at church tonight when I told Ralph
how sorry I was."
How should Tony respond?
III
Like Tony, Shirley Vandermere had some last minute Christmas
decisions to make. Shirley, of course, was unaware that she was
about to be laid off. This was the last day to decide whether
to go ahead with the surprise European trip with her husband.
Although the trip was not until February, reservations had to
be secured before 5:00 pm today. What worried her was that the
$500 required deposit was non-refundable. She wanted to be sure
her husband would be pleased her idea, but she also wanted it
to be a surprise. Finally, at 4:30 she got in her car and made
a quick trip to the travel agency. She was sure Greg would be
pleased. So, she wrote out a $500 check.
How might she react when learning that Tony deliberately
delayed until after Christmas to inform workers about the
layoffs?