This is one of the worst blows every employer dreads, however, a key employer exiting a company is inevitable. The best thing to do is to learn and be prepared on how to handle such situations in case it happens.
As an employer, this is what you should do when a key employer decides to exit your company:
1. Stay calm
As much as this may be too much to take in, learn to stay calm and handle the situation with humility. Avoid overreacting to such employee’s decision. Try to understand their reason for leaving the company. Avoid being too persuasive and trying too hard to convince them otherwise, because this will most likely bear no fruits. Because before it reaches that level, such employee must have thought through that whole situation and made his/her final decision of leaving.
2. Review and follow your legal obligations as an employer
Once an employee has made the decision to leave, review your legal obligations as an employer in order to ensure you comply with all employment laws on termination of an employee.
Ensure you’ve paid the employee all accrued wages and employee benefits on termination, if there were other agreements and contracts signed they should be reviewed before the employee leaves.
3. Conduct an exit interview on the employee
Conduct an exit interview on employee either via email or online survey, face to face, or any other preferred means.
The interview will enlighten you as an employer to understand some of existing issues among your employees. This will help you can up with better ways to address such issues and prevent future loss of employees.
4. Find a replacement
Even with the loss of a key employee the business’ operations should not be affected. Sales should not be affected.
Find a competent replacement of the employee who have exited the company. This may take a long procedure, but while the selection process is still underway, you can appoint someone to hold the position temporarily until a final decision is made.