The Do's and Dont's of Termination in Canada

Overview

This session provides Canadian managers and HR professionals with a practical, Do's and Don'ts-based guide to handling employee terminations with clarity, professionalism, and respect.

Rather than a broad overview, attendees will learn a specific set of do's - the language, structure, and habits that make a termination conversation land well - and a specific set of don'ts - the common missteps that undermine an otherwise well-intentioned exit conversation. Every point is grounded in real Canadian workplace scenarios and designed to give managers and HR professionals a clear, practical standard to follow the next time they lead a termination.

Why you should Attend

You know a termination conversation is coming, and you know it deserves to be handled right - but do you actually know what "right" looks like, in specific, practical terms? Most Canadian managers walk into these conversations with good intentions and no real checklist, which means the moment often gets shaped by instinct and nerves rather than a clear standard.

One wrong phrase, one avoidable misstep, one detail handled carelessly, and the conversation you'll be remembered for isn't the one you meant to have. Every Canadian manager who has led a termination knows the quiet dread of wondering afterward, "Did I get that right?" - and most never get a clear answer, because nobody ever laid out exactly what to do and what to avoid. This session removes that guesswork entirely. You'll leave with a specific, practical Do's and Don'ts framework for Canadian termination conversations - not vague advice, but a clear standard you can hold yourself to every single time, so the next difficult exit is handled with the composure, clarity, and professionalism it deserves, from the first sentence to the very last.

Areas Covered in the Session

• The Do's of preparing for a termination conversation in a Canadian workplace
  
• The Don'ts of preparation - common mistakes that set a difficult conversation up to go wrong before it starts
  
• The Do's of delivering the message - clarity, directness, and structure that respects the moment
  
• The Don'ts of delivery - vague language, over-apologizing, and other habits that create confusion or prolong the discomfort
  
• The Do's of managing emotional reactions in the room with composure
  
• The Don'ts of handling pushback, silence, or emotion in a termination conversation
  
• The Do's of protecting the departing employee's dignity throughout the process
  
• The Don'ts that unintentionally damage the departing employee's experience
  
• The Do's of communicating with the remaining Canadian team after an exit
  
• The Don'ts that quietly damage morale and trust among the team that stays
  
• A practical Do's and Don'ts checklist to reference before your next termination conversation
  

Who Will Benefit

• Canadian Managers and Team Leaders at All Levels, Supervisors, HR Professionals and HR Business Partners, People and Culture Professionals, Senior Leaders, Department Heads, Operations Managers, and Any Canadian Professional Responsible for Leading Employee Exit Conversations