I saw Up in the Air yesterday, a great film with a number of great HR moments that make an excellent film to use in an HR class or study.
Firing employees is difficult, and George Clooney’s character is brought in to handle firing for companies who lack the leadership skills to fire people and deal with difficult situations. While firing and layoffs are difficult, they must be handled with tact and by the people doing them where possible.
Another theme brought up was that of the proper way to deliver bad news to people. We see an aspiring employee share a great new technology in which layoffs and firings can be done remotely. The impact of this is far-reaching, as the company makes a decision to conduct all layoffs remotely by webcam. After a laid off employee commits suicide, the company revisits this stance and decides to go back to a more personal touch.
Definitely a must-see!
