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Role Play Scenario 32
You are acting as a manager in a retail store during the summer holidays. Due to budget cuts, one of your team, Priti, is being made redundant. You must break the news to her.
In this role play, you may speak to Priti.
Excellent Student Approach
1. Introduction
2. Open Questions
3. Develop Rapport
4. Address the issues known
5. Identify any additional issues
6. Summary and plan going forward
1 - Greet Priti and ask her to speak in private with you.
2 - Lead with an open question or statement, and signpost that bad news is coming. An example would be, ‘Priti I’m afraid I have to talk to you today in relation to the departmental budget cuts.’
3 - Be empathetic. This is a tough situation for the employee, and a kind and understanding attitude will make it easier both now and over the next few weeks.
4 - She may immediately ask if she’s being fired. If so, acknowledge this is the case. If she does not, tell her that she is being let go. Explain that this decision is due to budget cuts made by the company, rather than poor performance on her part. Allow her a chance to be upset, to be angry, or to ask any questions she has. Answer to the best of your ability, but do not fabricate reasons if you do not know them. Be clear on the procedure from now on, and that you will do your best to help her with references and a severance package if applicable.
5 - If she desperately wants to know more about why this is happening, you can refer her on to a more senior staff member to explain.
6 - Outline to her the next steps, and stress that you will be as supportive as you can be. Tell her she can speak to you whenever she needs to.