Small Acts of Generosity May Go a Long Way
// Dallas, Texas, United States // Attorney Keith Clouse (Blog) // Keith Clouse
Dallas employment lawyer Keith Clouse has written before about his belief that an employer can avert many employment law problems by being respectful when discharging an employee. Being financially generous also goes a long way towards preserving goodwill.
Unfortunately, many terminations represent the culmination of weeks or months of frustration with an employee. By the time the manager calls a termination meeting, he is often so ready to be done with the employee that he lets his personal feelings cloud his judgment about what termination benefits the employee should receive.
But, an employer should strive to be fair—and even generous—when terminating an employee. If an agreement exists, the employer should honor it. If the employer has discretion to pay the employee’s salary for a few extra days or weeks, the employer should consider doing so. And, unless a powerful reason for contesting the employee’s right to receive unemployment benefits exists, the employer should acquiesce. These small acts of generosity can go a long way towards making an employee feel more at peace with the termination—and, in turn, less inclined to file suit against the employer. And, when compared to the expenses involved in defending an employment law lawsuit, these small acts of generosity are a bargain.
This article is presented by the Dallas employment lawyers at Clouse Dunn LLP. To speak to Mr. Clouse about a workplace matter, send an email to debra@clousedunn.com or call (214) 239-2705.
Contact Keith Clouse
KEITH A. CLOUSE
Clouse Dunn LLP
214.220.2722 214.220.3833 ( fax) keith@clousedunn.com
