While violent reactions by fired employees happened before 2020, tensions growing out of the pandemic, the economy and the election make the possibility of violence more likely. In a LinkedIn post Robert Kravitz recommends ways to deal with this threat.
Being fired is not a pleasant experience (I've been through it). Even employees without a criminal history may turn violent. Sometimes their reactions may be delayed.
Kravitz's recommendations:
- Keep termination secret - don't let the employee have time to plan.
- Do not use a uniformed security guard.
- Check social media for possible threats.
- Provide severance pay, extended benefits or job placement. (if termination is not due to poor performance, the employee could be given time to search for a new job.)
- Work with a security team.
One additional suggestion - keep other employees in a safe place to minimize casualties.