Terminating an employee is stressful for all parties. No matter how well you've communicated problems to the employee, almost no one believes they will actually be let go. Employees convince themselves that they won't be terminated because you like them; you know they're a nice person, or you recognize they've been "trying hard." However, feelings don't matter when an employee is not performing.

In this era of social media and electronic communication, the entire workforce may know an employee has been terminated within minutes. Because employee matters are confidential, social media is a way for terminated employees to tell any story that makes them look good and, by law, the employer is prohibited from rebuttal. Assuming that everything possible has been done to help an employee improve performance, there are legal and ethical steps to employee termination. Your company's actions should be above reproach. 

Terminations are never easy but it is something that every owner or manager should be equipped to handle. Knowing these things will help you protect your business and your employees.