Is there a good way to deliver bad news? Psychologists examine layoff interviews
Tuesday, June 7, 2016 - 10:21
in Psychology & Sociology
‘Jones, you’re fired!’ or ‘Mr Jones, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news: Unfortunately, we’re going to have to let you go. Please, take a seat and I’ll explain the situation to you.’ As in so many areas of life, it’s not so much what you say, but the way that you say it that counts – even if you have to tell someone that they are being laid off. If a manager adopts an aggressive tone, the employee is far more likely to react to the bad news in a confrontational manner than in cases in which the manager takes time to explain the situation and the underlying causes.