Episode 71 - Nobody Puts Documentation in a Corner

We know this moment all too well. 🙋‍♀️ A leader walks in to HR and says, “This employee has to go today.”

The obvious question follows: “Where is the performance management documentation?”

And then comes the silence. 😶

In this Like A Boss Podcast, I’m talking about why pre-termination documentation matters and why relying on the at-will employment doctrine is not a substitute for doing the work of managing performance.

Leaders, this one is for you. 💡

Documentation is not just about protecting the organization. It is about creating a fair, clear, and accountable process before making a decision that affects someone’s livelihood.

In this week’s video, I focus on four practical reasons documentation is critical:

1️⃣ Fairness to the employee: This is the most important reason. Employees should know when there is a problem and have a meaningful opportunity to improve.

2️⃣ Replacement costs: Termination is expensive. Recruiting, onboarding, training, lost productivity, and team disruption all add up.

3️⃣ Reduced risk of a claim: When employees are surprised by a termination, they are more likely to question the real reason behind it.

4️⃣ Reduced risk of liability: If a claim does come, clear documentation helps show what happened, when it happened, and how the organization responded.

At-will employment is not a magic wand. 🪄 It does not cure poor leadership, unclear expectations, or a failure to communicate.

Watch the video for practical takeaways leaders and HR teams can use right away. 👇🎥👇