Elimination of Positions-Urgent!

lisakloftis

Help! Our company has recently eliminated some key executive positions. Is anyone willing to share samples of letters explaining the decisions?Our standard resignation and termination letters are not sufficient.

Thanks in advance for any help!
Lisa

marc

You are informing KEY executives of the elimination of their jobs by letter?

I personally think this is a very bad idea.

lisakloftis

The executives will be told in personal interviews-I've been told to follow it up with a formal letter as a matter of record.

marc

That sounds much better, in that case, I would keep it as simple and straight-forward as possible. Simple an acknowledgement that employment is discontinued with an effective date.

You only mentioned that positions were eliminated, so without knowing any detail, I would not address any of it in writing - something that might be used against the company later.


Any severance going on?

That should be a separate agreement with the EE releasing the company in exchange for whatever consideration would be offerred. Signatures by both the EE and the company.

lisakloftis

Thanks Marc,

No severance issues to deal with, fortunately. I appreciate the advice.

Lisa

E Wart

Lisa, email me at [email]ewarthen@newcombspring.com[/email] and I will email you back a sample.
E Wart

LivindonSouth

Another oddity is severing 'key employees' without any severance package. I recommend that the less you say in a letter, the better off you are. If your management group is requiring you to do it, I would try to get away with saying, "As we discussed in our meeting of (date), the position of (whatever) is being eliminated for the foreseeable future." Then detail all of the standard helpful information with phone numbers and contact persons.

Here's an example of why I don't recommend a bunch of detail that can be waved in your face later: "John, as we discussed, the Company has decided to eliminate the position of West Coast Sales Manager. A comparative review of sales generated in that region over the past four quarters reveals that it's not a good business decision to continue efforts there. yadayadayada."

Now, John, a black, 48 year old gentleman with 19 years experience in the industry finds himself holding your letter and out of a job. Maybe John has also had a multitude of recent medical claims. Maybe there's a letter in his file from some nuthead customer on the west coast who insisted he be sent a white salesman to deal with.

Two months later, the company, thinking John is a distant memory, decides to re-establish the position and fills it with a white, 33 year old female with two years in the business.

Just imagine what ole John's attorney can do with that letter he was written. A letter outlining details of company decisions is NEVER a good idea.