The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

An individual can face termination of employment, or job loss, for one of many reasons including mistreatment of persons and general laziness, among others. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... Fired may refer to: Termination of employment Pit fired pottery something fired in a kiln Fired, a song by Ben Folds from his 2001 debut solo album Rockin the Suburbs Category: ... Look up firing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior, or the inappropriate behavior itself (whether called or not). ... Mistreat redirects here. ...

The most drastic termination of employment is hostile involuntary termination, in its most severe form known as "firing" or "sacking" or "being bounced out." Usually, such type of termination occurs for offenses such as stealing, gross insubordination, sexual harassment (or any type of harassment) of another employee, or a violation of the law. A somewhat less severe form would be standard dismissal, discharge, or termination. It still could be known as a firing, but it is also referred to as being "let go." Reasons include below average job performance, lateness, calling out, the workplace being able to find better employees than the incumbant, continued minor violations of company policies, or not being suited for the particular environment that job duties must be done in. This type of discharge is also known to happen to probationary employees that were recently hired, but who cannot adjust to the environment of the workplace he or she was hired in. Being "let go" could also mean that the decision was made mutually. For the album by the Kaiser Chiefs see Employment (album) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... Insubordination is the act of a subordinate deliberately disobeying a lawful order. ... Sexual harassment is harassment or unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. ...

The least severe termination is to be laid off or made redundant, which is usually not strictly related to personal performance but economic cycles or the company's need to restructure itself, or a change in function of the employer (for example, a certain type of product is no longer offered by the company and therefore jobs related to that product are no longer needed). One other type of layoff is the aggressive layoff. Under such a situation the employee is laid off for a just cause but is never replaced and the job is eliminated. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Economy refers to the human activities related with the production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods and services. ...

In a postmodern risk economy, such as the United States, a large proportion of workers will be laid off at some time in their life, and often not for reasons related to performance or ethics. Postmodernity (also called post-modernity or the postmodern condition) is a term used by philosophers, social scientists, art critics and social critics to refer to aspects of contemporary art, culture, economics and social conditions that are the result of the unique features of late 20th century and early 21st century... In economics, the term risk economy refers to the nature of an economy as based in risk, rather than in security. ...

In many countries, in particular in social democracies as found in western Europe, firing an employee is expensive and risky in that firings require extensive documentation (in the event of a wrongful-termination lawsuit), and because fired employees may sue their former employers, disclose trade secrets to competitors, expose illegal practices. Finally, in the United States, unemployment benefits are financed by companies, and a firm's unemployment costs increase with each worker laid off or fired. Depending on the circumstances and company policy, a fired employee may or may not be entitled to a severance package or unemployment benefits. Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... In general terms, documentation is any communicable material (such as text, video, audio, etc. ... It has been suggested that civil trial be merged into this article or section. ... A trade secret is a formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information used by a business to obtain an advantage over competitors within the same industry or profession. ... Unemployment benefits are sums of money given to the unemployed by the government or a compulsory para-governmental insurance system. ... A severance package is pay and benefits an employee receives when they leave employment at a company. ... Unemployment benefits are sums of money given to the unemployed by the government or a compulsory para-governmental insurance system. ...

Types of termination

Involuntary termination

The classic definition of terminating someone's employment is being fired, or in technical terms involuntary termination. In the workplace, an employee may be fired for many reasons:

• Work performance that fails to meet a given standard, especially over a period of time.
• Chronic absence.
• Constant or gross insubordination, or other inability to properly relate (i.e., get along) with co-workers and/or customers.
• Inappropriate conduct or misconduct.
• Engaging in illegal activities on the job (such as embezzlement or illegal subordinate harassment including denial of pay and benefits).
• Criminal or traffic record
• Any other failing as deemed appropriate by a workplace manager or supervisor.

In the United States, most states have adopted the at-will employment contract that allows the employer to dismiss employees without having to provide any of the reasons listed above, although through the variety of court cases coming out of "at will" dismissals, can make such at will contracts ambiguous. Usually an at will termination is handled as a "layoff". Insubordination is the act of a subordinate deliberately disobeying a lawful order. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

In some cases, an employee's off-the-job behavior could result in his losing his/her job (e.g., a drunk driving arrest, especially if the employee's principal responsibilities require driving). At some businesses, a security officer may escort a "fired" employee from the workplace to the parking lot upon his/her dismissal.

Synonyms for being "fired" include sacked, released, discharged, and dismissed, and colloquially canned or axed. One somewhat less severe euphemism for being terminated is being let go. Often, a mutual parting of ways could be an example. This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Voluntary Termination

An employee may quit his/her job for many reasons. These reasons include

• Moving
• Finding a higher-paying or more fulfilling job
• Family issues

Some employees may also quit their job if they feel that they are going to be fired soon and would rather leave on their own terms or simply avoid the stigma of being fired. It gives them the feeling of being in control of their lives even if they're not.

Effects of termination

Rarely is a decision to fire an employee arrived at lightly, or is it as dramatic as portrayed on television (such as with the WWE, when Vince McMahon "fires" an employee as part of a storyline) or in the movies. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 25, 1945) is an American wrestling promoter, occasional professional wrestler, on-screen personality, former play-by-play announcer, and film producer. ... In professional wrestling, an angle is a fictional storyline. ...

Depending on the jurisdiction, a supervisor and/or workplace manager must keep extensive documentation of employees — including records of disciplinary action, evaluations, attendance records, and correspondence from supervisors, co-workers and customers. Often, these items can be used in determining whether to terminate an employee considered for such an action. In some cases, certain disciplinary records, evaluations and relevant information must be expunged from the employee's file after a specified time period.

Often, an involuntary termination is part of a "progressive step" process, meaning the employee will have been warned for his/her work performance and/or conduct and given an opportunity to improve before more severe measures are taken. However, immediate termination may be enacted for severe cases, such as fighting, on-the-job sexual harassment or other zero tolerance offenses. Often, workplace managers require giving an employee due process, giving the worker a chance to show why he/she should be allowed to keep his/her job; they may also be required to give a terminated employee the option to appeal his/her firing. Sexual harassment is harassment or unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. ... Zero tolerance is a strict approach to rule enforcement. ... In United States law, adopted from British law, due process (more fully due process of law) is the principle that the government must normally respect all of a persons legal rights instead of just some or most of those legal rights when the government deprives a person of life...

In addition to the risks and resulting consequences involved with involuntary terminations, there is the matter of unemployment benefits. In the United States, these benefits are financed by companies; a firm's unemployment costs increase with each worker laid off or fired. Therefore, more common are de facto firings, which are classified as "voluntary" termination. De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without...

To be fired (or any of its synonyms), as opposed to being laid off, is generally thought to be dishonorable and a sign of failure. In some cases, it may hinder the now job-seeker's chances of finding new employment, particularly if he/she has been fired several times. Job seekers will often not mention jobs they were fired from on their resumes. However, in today's society, getting fired is also highly common. Most Americans will be fired at some time in their life^{[citation needed]}, and not always because of any moral failing or lack of a work ethic but simply due to office politics. office politics is a slang term for the often counterproductive human factors present between coworkers, in an office environment in the private or public sector. ...

Summary termination

In cases of extreme gross misconduct, an employer may pursue summary dismissal or instant dismissal, where an employee is dismissed on the spot. Under UK law, employers are not required to give notice for such terminations, so long as there is just cause. Gross Misconduct is the third album from crossover thrash metal band, M.O.D.. It was released in 1989 on Megaforce Records and Noise International and follows 1988s Surfin M.O.D. It was three years until the band released another record, with Rhythm of Fear in 1992. ...

Termination with Prejudice

An employee may be terminated with prejudice, meaning an employer will not rehire the former employee to a similar job in the future. This can be for many reasons: incompetence, misconduct (such as dishonesty or "zero tolerance" violations), insubordination or "attitude" (personality clashes with peers or bosses).

Conversely, a person can be terminated without prejudice, meaning the fired employee may be rehired readily for a similar job in the future. This is usually true in the case of layoff.

Termination forms ("pink slips") routinely include a set of check boxes where a supervisor can indicate "with prejudice" or "without prejudice."

A related term is allegedly used at the CIA: termination with extreme prejudice , which is a euphemism for assassination. (It may be more common in fiction than in real life, given that such an extreme measure is rarely used). It is metaphorical, but it is accurate: a dead person is incapable of any employment, so the prejudice is truly extreme. (The acronym TWEP is sometimes used, even as a verb: "He knew too much about the operation, so he was TWEPped." The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Assassin and Targeted killing redirect here. ... Look up metaphor in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ...

Discriminatory and retaliatory termination

In some cases, the firing of an employee is a discriminatory act. Although an employer may often claim the dismissal was for "just cause," these discriminatory acts are often because of the employee's physical or mental disability, or perhaps his/her age, race, gender, HIV status or sexual orientation. Other unjust firings may result from a workplace manager or supervisor wanting to retaliate against an employee. Often, this is because the worker reported wrongdoing (often, but not always sexual harassment or other misconduct) on the part of the supervisor. Such terminations are usually illegal. Many successful lawsuits have resulted from discriminatory or retaliatory termination. Movie: Just Cause is a 1995 movie starring Blair Underwood, Ed Harris, and Sean Connery, among others. ... Sexual harassment is harassment or unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. ...

Discriminatory or retaliatory termination by a supervisor can take the form of administrative process. In this form the rules of the instituton are used as the basis for termination. For example, if a place of employment has a rule that prohibits personal phone calls, receiving or making personal calls can be the grounds for termination even though it may be a common practice within the organization.

Forced resignations

In addition to the risks and costs of firing an employee, firing a high-profile individual such as a school superintendent, an executive, or a public official often leads to rumor and factionalism; people who sympathized with the fired employee will be drawn against the person responsible for one's termination. In education, a superintendent is an individual that has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization. ... An official is, in the primary sense, someone who holds an office in an organisation, of any kind. ... A faction is a special interest group. ...

To avoid this, and to allow the dismissed employee to "save face" in a more "graceful" exit, the employer will often ask the employee to resign "voluntarily" from his or her position. If the employee chooses not to resign, the processes necessary to fire him or her will be pursued, and the employee will usually be fired. The resignation thus makes it unclear whether the resignation was forced or voluntary, and this opaqueness may benefit both parties: for instance, the "fired" employee is more easily able to seek new employment in his/her given field. There are times when the President of the United States will ask his entire Cabinet to submit their resignations. He can accept some of them and file the rest away. This is often done by a new President who has inherited his predecessor's Cabinet, as a way to reorganize with reduced hard feelings. The presidential seal was first used in 1880 by President Rutherford B. Hayes and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ...

High-profile individuals, when forced to resign from a job, will often claim that they resigned over "creative differences" or "to spend more time with their family". However, even these reasons can create rumors, especially when they are obviously false.

Changes of conditions

Firms that wish for an employee to exit of his or her own accord, but do not wish to pursue firing or forced resignation, may degrade the employee's working conditions, hoping that he or she will leave "voluntarily". The employee may be moved to a different geographical location, assigned to an undesirable shift, given too few hours if part time, demoted (or relegated to a menial task), or assigned to work in uncomfortable conditions. Other forms of manipulation may be used, such as being unfairly hostile to the employee, and punishing him or her for things that are deliberately overlooked with other employees. Shift work is an employment practice designed to make use of the 24 hours of the clock, rather than a standard working day. ... A demotion is the reduction of rank or position in an organizational hierarchy system. ... The word manipulation can refer to: Joint manipulation Social influence Sleight of hand tricks in magic or XCM. Abuse Advertising Brainwashing Charisma Fraud Indoctrination Love bombing Machiavellianism Media manipulation Mind control Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) Propaganda Social psychology Puppeteer Photo manipulation Categories: | | ...

Such tactics may amount to constructive dismissal, which is illegal in some jurisdictions. In employment law, constructive dismissal is where an employee resigns due to their employers behaviour. ...

Layoffs and furloughs

Finally, termination of employment can happen as a result of layoffs, also known as "downsizing", "reduction in force", or "redundancy", which are not firings. A laid-off employee's job is terminated and not re-filled, because the company wishes to reduce its size or operations, not for performance-related reasons. In rare cases, laid-off employees are re-hired by their respective companies, though by this time they have usually found new jobs. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

If a company is going through economic trouble or has recently had layoffs and it asks an employee to "cross-train" someone to fill in his/her duties "in case you are gone," chances are that a layoff will proceed shortly and that the employee will really be gone.

See also

• Turnover (employment) Turnover, in a human resources context refers to the characteristic of a given company or industry, relative to rate at which an employer gains and loses staff.

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