Jerusalem : Compass of the Diaspora Jew
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Ethics and etiquette in firing.
Q. A few months ago I hired a woman who is a very nice, very good person, but just hasn't mastered the work. She costs me more than she is worth. Now that business has slowed, can I take this opportunity to "trim the workforce" and lay her off?
A. It is generally ethical to fire someone for any reason related to their ongoing job performance. It's not necessary to wait for a slowdown; on the contrary, then it may be more difficult for her to find another position. What is important is that performance evaluations are fair and that workers whose performance is unsatisfactory are given a reasonable opportunity to improve it. The obligation to give workers fair warning of their deficiencies is mentioned in the Talmud.
While the decision to fire is a business decision, it is very important on a human level how you let someone go. This is not a question of ethics but rather of etiquette. There are certain basics of thoughtful behavior in firing. Here are a few:
Workers not only have rights, they also have feelings which need to be respected.
SOURCES: Talmud Bava Metzia 109a.
Send your queries about ethics in the workplace to jewishethicist@aish.com
The Jewish Ethicist presents some general principles of Jewish law. For specific questions and direct application, please consult a qualified Rabbi.
The Jewish Ethicist is a joint project of Aish.com and the Center for Business Ethics, Jerusalem College of Technology. To find out more about business ethics and Jewish values for the workplace, visit the JCT Center for Business Ethics website at www.besr.org.
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