Employee Termination

You've Got Problems!

Kate Rockwood — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:26:50 -0400

September 2003

"AOL" is scratched from the AOL Time Warner's name following a board vote. The stock symbol returns to TWX from AOL a month later.

February 2004

AOL is the official sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show in which Janet Jackson suffers a "wardrobe malfunction."

March 2004

Top Jobs 2008: A Guide to Layoff Survival

Gloria Sin — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:05:29 -0500

The Axe is Falling

Amanda did not see it coming. Her most recent performance review was strong, plus she had a great rapport with her manager, so when the year-end layoff rumors began circulating around the office, she thought she had immunity. She should have known better. She, along with the thousands who were axed, never received an invite to the Christmas party and got the worst gift of all -- a severance package.

More or Less

Fast Company — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:39:08 -0500

It ain't pretty, and it ain't avoidable. The topic of layoffs has dominated mainstream media for much of 2001 as companies ranging from Daimler-Chrysler to Lucent Technologies have announced cutbacks, downturns, and buyouts with increased regularity. From CNBC's daily NASDAQ vigil to the Wall Street Journal's dotcom body count, business news has begun to resemble the obituary section of a local newspaper more and more.

Six Ways to Slow Down Smart

Christine Canabou — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:38:24 -0500

Can you remember back, say, just 12 months ago, when the "workday" extended well into the evening? When 24-7 wasn't a state of mind, but a literal description of the pace at which you and your colleagues operated? When every business plan proclaimed its commitment to "get big fast" -- and when 100% annual growth seemed as natural as 60-day product cycles?

Making the Cut: Managing the Layoff Process

Katherine Hammer — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:38:22 -0500

It seems as if some manager introduces another wrong way to lay off faithful employees every day. Shoot 'em an email. Call their names over the intercom. Order some poor subordinate to deliver the news before canning him as well.

Virtual Interview

Brian T. Horowitz — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:17:51 -0500

Into Thin Air

Jennifer Reingold — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:12:45 -0500

High-tech Achiever: Netflix

Jena McGregor — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:59:52 -0500

The starring role in Netflix's customer-experience strategy goes to its top-secret, highly customized technology, which offers its more than 3 million customers their own personal box office. We peek behind the scenes at our Oscar-worthy Customers First Award winner.

Water Cooler: Help Wanted

Fast Company Staff — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:59:47 -0500

Talent seekers rejoice

Employee Innovator: USAA

Jena McGregor — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:58:00 -0500

USAA's 13,000 customer-service agents give new meaning to the phrase "frontline employees." As the direct link between the financial-services firm and its customers--all of whom are members of the military and their families--USAA's reps are on the financial firing lines of families challenged by war or overseas deployment.

Feedback

Fast Company Staff — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:57:53 -0500

The Fall and Rise of David Pottruck

Surviving the Corporate Hook

Jennifer Reingold — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:57:31 -0500

Avoid the blame game

It's so tempting to slam your employer, particularly if you feel the firing was undeserved (and who doesn't?). But resist the urge. It's better for your recovery if you take the time to reflect on what has happened and then to respond rather than simply react, says Terry Pearce, president of consulting firm Leadership Communication. Pointing the finger makes you look bad -- and it doesn't feel as good as you think it will.

The Fall and Rise of David Pottruck

Jennifer Reingold — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:57:02 -0500

The alarm went off at 5 a.m. as usual on Monday, July 19, 2004, even though David Pottruck had stayed up until 2 a.m. preparing for that morning's board of directors' meeting. Also as usual, Pottruck, the CEO of Charles Schwab, hit the snooze button more than once, waking his wife, Emily. Annoyed and overtired, she let him have it. "If you do that to me again, we're sleeping in separate rooms," she yelled.

Sunrise, Sunset

Jennifer Reingold — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:56:32 -0500

Sun Microsystems

CEO: Scott G. McNealy
Tenure: 20 years

Five-Year Record

Total Shareholder Return*: -90.8%
Peer Index Return*: -26.2%
S&P 500 Index Return*: -18.9%
Total CEO Pay: $67 million*

Think Like a Peon

Jory Des Jardins — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:53:52 -0500

The Corporate Shrink

Dr. Kerry J. Sulkowicz — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:50:20 -0500

The hardest part of my job as a senior executive is having to let someone go. I know no one likes doing this, but it's getting to me. Lately, I've been having nightmares with beheadings in Iraq and planes crashing. Is my reaction extreme?

Not at all. I suspect you're not the only one who dreams or thinks about such things while executing (sorry) this most difficult task. Your expression "letting someone go" itself hints at the pain involved in firing someone: We use benign phrases because we're conflicted about the harsh reality.

Feedback

Fast Company — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:49:58 -0500

Built to Last?

The Brand Called Us

John A. Byrne — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:47:58 -0500

As a journalist, I have often written about the devastating effects of layoffs -- of the shock and the pain for people and families and organizations. On at least two occasions, with GE's Jack Welch and Apple Computer's John Sculley, I've helped to put into words the emotions of leaders who have made those tough choices. But I never had to make such agonizing decisions myself.

Office Handbook

Ryan Underwood — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:50:19 -0500

In the course of your work, you may be required to train an offshore worker hired to replace you at one-tenth the cost. In such a situation, please adhere to the following guidelines.

Cultural sensitivity: Help make new employees feel welcome. Outgoing personnel are encouraged to invite their successors for bowling or a collegial round of cocktails after hours. Conversely, management discourages coarse imitations of Indian accents or the wearing of oversized novelty turbans. Chants of "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" will not be tolerated.

Moment of Truth?

Keith H. Hammonds — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:49:52 -0500

It has been a tortuous year for Harry M. Jansen Kraemer Jr., CEO of Baxter International Inc. Back in November 2002 ("Harry Kraemer's Moment of Truth"), we lauded Kraemer's forthright leadership as his company confronted the deaths of 53 patients due to contaminated dialysis filters made by a Baxter subsidiary. Now Kraemer is out of a job.

Into Thin Air

Jennifer Reingold — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:49:48 -0500

The Responsibility to Retrain

Jennifer Reingold — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:49:07 -0500

A Brief (Recent) History of Offshoring

Jennifer Reingold — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:48:27 -0500

Look Into Their Eyes

Fast Company — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:47:47 -0500

Kyle Bonds

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Bonds, 44, was a contractor at IBM when he heard rumors of work moving abroad. Figuring his job could be next, he took a lower-paying but more secure post elsewhere.

"If I had stayed, you would be talking to a truck driver with a waitress wife."

The Faces of the Jobless Recovery

John A. Byrne — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:47:37 -0500

Employee Termination

You've Got Problems!

Top Jobs 2008: A Guide to Layoff Survival

The Axe is Falling

More or Less

Six Ways to Slow Down Smart

Making the Cut: Managing the Layoff Process

Virtual Interview

Into Thin Air

High-tech Achiever: Netflix

Water Cooler: Help Wanted

Talent seekers rejoice

Employee Innovator: USAA

Feedback

The Fall and Rise of David Pottruck

Surviving the Corporate Hook

Avoid the blame game

The Fall and Rise of David Pottruck

Sunrise, Sunset

Sun Microsystems

Five-Year Record

Think Like a Peon

The Corporate Shrink

The hardest part of my job as a senior executive is having to let someone go. I know no one likes doing this, but it's getting to me. Lately, I've been having nightmares with beheadings in Iraq and planes crashing. Is my reaction extreme?

Feedback

Built to Last?

The Brand Called Us

Office Handbook

Moment of Truth?

Into Thin Air

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The Responsibility to Retrain

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A Brief (Recent) History of Offshoring

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Look Into Their Eyes

Kyle Bonds

The Faces of the Jobless Recovery

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