ABSTRACT
We all know the story—it’s only the characters that change. The story goes: “He (or she) worked here for twenty-five years, and they let him go through e-mail without any warning.” Feelings are hurt. The prevailing thought is, if it happened to him, it could happen to me. Yes, harsh as it sounds, it could happen to you. Chances are, it will happen to you. When it does happen, you may be livid about the notification method, but the method is now the least of your worries. Once you soothe your crushed ego, your concerns should shift quickly to more important issues, like: What is the financial package? How long will my benefits be covered? Do I get to keep my computer? How long will my e-mail be operational? What about accrued sick leave and vacation time? Most organizations have lots of experience letting people go, so they should have the answers to all of these questions ready. This is the time to pay attention to the answers.
