Employee Terminations:
Learn how to do them correctly
Donald Trump makes it look easy, but for the rest of us, terminating an employee is not so simple. In fact, most—if not all—managers will say that dismissing an employee is their least favorite responsibility. Unfortunately, this task is often inevitable.

Simply put, if you have to let someone go, it will be a lot easier if you do it with the proper procedures in place. Whether the reason is sub-par performance, restructuring, or downsizing, there are ways to make the situation as clean and professional as possible. Keep the following strategies in mind:

Keep a paper trail. Document problems as they occur. When issues arise, give the employee a reasonable opportunity to improve and let them know that their employment is in jeopardy if they are unable to improve. You can start with an e-mail or a memo that documents the gap between what you expect and the employee’s actual performance. If the problem is not resolved after that, you can then draft a formal letter that specifies a probationary period with a timeline for improvement.

Do your homework. Read your company's policies and procedures manual, and adhere to guidelines your healthcare organization already has established regarding dismissals. In addition, be sure to check any contracts—written or oral—that your company reached with the employee. Adhere to contractual provisions regarding termination.

Put it in writing. Prepare a written statement explaining the reasons for and conditions of the termination.

Meet face to face. Call a meeting. Make sure that it’s conducted in private. Remember, only necessary personnel should attend—this usually means the person doing the firing, the employee, and a witness. And, you should never call a termination meeting under questionable, bogus, or false pretenses. During the meeting, explain the reasoning behind the decision. Give the employee a chance to offer feedback about the company.

Don’t forget the details. Collect keys, ID cards, and any other company property in the employee's possession. Also, give the employee his/her final paycheck and provide the details of the severance package (if there is one).

Healthcare managers have more than enough to keep them busy. However, with wrongful-termination lawsuits becoming more and more commonplace, it’s worth the extra time and effort to protect yourself and your company.

“A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.”
—H.L. Mencken

Four Ways Workplace Flexibility Helps Healthcare Organizations
Managers who offer employees flexibility may be viewed as “softies” however, a recent study presents some hard evidence that this style is beneficial to the entire organization. The study, “Business Impacts of Flexibility,” was released by the Washington-based nonprofit, Corporate Voices for Working Families. In the study, 28 large American businesses reported that flexibility is not just an accommodation, but also an important management tool that helps companies improve the bottom line.

According to the study, a flexible workplace can help organizations:

1. Retain Talent. Research shows that flexibility can help companies hold on to key talent. Flexibility saves millions of dollars for companies each year in preventing turnover.
   
   
2. Improve Morale. Research shows that even small measures of flexibility in how and when work gets done creates greater job satisfaction, higher commitment, and engagement—and lower levels of stress. These outcomes often translate into quality, innovation, and customer-retention.
   
   
3. Increase financial performance. Flexibility has been shown to increase financial performance and productivity.
   
   
4. Lower rates of burnout. Employees who have access to flexibility tend to avoid burnout as opposed to those who do not have access to flexibility.

Bottom line: flexibility is a powerful management tool that not only keeps employees happy, but also helps companies reach their goals.

“You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go.”
—Jeanette Rankin

Set Your Preconceptions Aside And…
Meditate
Healthcare professionals have hectic lives. Indeed, juggling everyday work responsibilities with your personal life takes its toll. So, when you’re feeling frantic, it may be a good idea to participate in some form of meditation.

When you hear the word, “meditation” you may immediately picture an old man sitting underneath a tree coming up with all of life’s answers. However, despite what you may think, meditation is not complicated. It can actually be very practical as well as easy to learn.

Meditation often is no more than seeking out peacefulness and calmness during the stress and struggle of everyday life. And best of all, simple practices can work well.

Keep the following meditation tips in mind:

Start small. Don't force yourself to sit completely still for extended periods of time. Rather, start out with five-minute increments, and then slowly increase the time as you grow more comfortable with it.

Find a special place. Finding a quiet, peaceful place to meditate may prove to be your biggest challenge. Just do the best you can, even if this means using the garage, basement, bathroom, backyard shed, etc. The point is to choose a low-traffic area, where outside noises will be somewhat muffled.

Once you have your spot chosen, you are ready to begin. You can sit on pillows on the floor, or use a straight-backed chair, or even a cushy sofa. The most important thing is to be comfortable. You may want to bring in some calming items such as soft music, candles, and/or incense—whatever will help create a soothing atmosphere for you.

Dive right in. Begin by closing your eyes, and taking a few slow, deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose, feeling your abdomen expand, then your chest. When your lungs are full, pause for two seconds, and then begin to slowly exhale through your mouth until your lungs feel deflated. Repeat this process several times. As you breathe, relax all of your muscles and imagine tension leaving your body.

Not so tough or weird is it?! Indeed, meditation can prove extremely simple. Moreover, with some practice and persistence, you may find that you gain insight into matters that seemed to evade your understanding previously.

“The world is full of willing people. Some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.”
—Robert Frost

A Doctor, a Nurse and a Shredder
A nurse was leaving the hospital one evening when she found a doctor standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Listen," said the doctor, "this is important and my assistant has left. Can you make this thing work?"

"Certainly," said the nurse, flattered that the doctor had asked her for help. She turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.

"Excellent! Excellent!" said the doctor as his paper disappeared inside the machine. "I need two copies of that."