To do this over email?

[WellErrrr]

I run a business and have recently employed the services of a self employed marketing assistant. She has been coming into the office one day a week and the plan was for this to be long term. However - she’s not great unfortunately and has actually made quite a few mistakes in a short space of time which have ended up costing us. She is a lovely person though and very enthusiastic, but it can’t continue sadly.

I have managed to spread her tasks amongst other team members and no longer want to use her services. I discussed this with another senior staff member who said I need to do this over the phone. However, personally I’d rather have a kind email than be put on the spot out of the blue on an unexpected phone call. I’m not planning to list her shortcomings on the email, just thank her for her work and we don’t need her any more etc.

YABU - call her
YANBU - a kind email is fine

I can almost guarantee there’s an age split on the vote here, with the “phone call” brigade being over 40 (like me) and the majority of “email” voters being younger. Maybe if she’s young she’d prefer an email?!

Did she give you a contract or vice versa OP?

All my contracts state I need 30 days notice to end working together- in practice I don't actually keep working for 30 days but I bill another month's invoice.

Email to say you haven’t been successful at interview is very different to essentially being sacked/made redundant.

I would HATE for this to be a phone call if it was me on the receiving end. Definitely an email with the offer of a follow up call would be my preference.

I’d prefer a phone call.

Its not a firing though, its terminating service
OP needs to bide by the T's and C's of any contract and she can soften the blow a bit but nobody is getting fired

employment has nothing to do with notice
contracts do

self employed and my contracts allow for three months notice - payable whether the services are used or not

But isn’t the email out of the blue too? How is it any better?

I had the same with a lady we bought in for our business as administrator. She completely lied on her CV as to what she could do (we work in construction so said she could do VAT returns, CIS etc) and we had to let her go. I was the same, up all night worrying but bought her into the office and as she was on probation just had a quick chat with her and said it wasn’t working out. Felt so much better once it was done even though I felt awful doing it to her at the time. You have to do what’s right for your business unfortunately! I would either call or a quick chat face to face when she’s next in. Good luck!

You’re correct, technically it isn’t firing as she is not an employee. However in reality if you are using someone’s services and no longer need them, telling them you don’t need them is in essence the same thing (ignoring the technical details). The decent thing, and grown up thing to do, is phone that person.

This person also has her own business and it’s her livelihood. She will 100% want notice to plan but also feedback so she can improve.

How would anyone feel being let go via email with no reason as to why so they can learn etc?

I doubt it’s an age thing. More people confusing being a self-employed contractor with being an employee (hence comments about her being fired/made redundant, when it’s no such thing).

I’m over 40 and would expect/want an email if my services for contracted work were no longer needed.

She hasn't though, she's not an employee

Is it though? My time has still been wasted by interviews and they don’t have the decency to phone me. Like I said, it’s probably best to email her first, then follow it up with a call. Especially if the OP is scared she won’t be able to have the conversation.

That’s why I said “essentially” because she’s not being made redundant but it’s pretty much the same thing- being told you’re no longer required for a job and won’t be paid any more.

I have made a point of doing this sort of thing in person during my career. The first time I had to let someone go, it was awful, and I hated every moment of it. Face to face is the only way, in my humble opinion.

It’s really not the same. The OP says that she has other clients. It’s totally normal to lose clients on occasion.

I would be bemused and consider it unprofessional to get an out of the blue phone call (or worse, a face to face meeting) for this. Email, with a potential call/meeting would be fine.

Because you’re not an expected to immediately digest and respond to an email. On the phone, you’re on the spot and may not quite know how to respond. I’d feel a bit awkward receiving that phone call and would rather have a polite email confirming it.

You would consider a phone call “unprofessional”?

Whenever I have to break unwanted news, I write to give them a heads up, state the outcome and the rationale behind it so that they can begin processing in private, but in that letter I offer a meeting time and date to talk. When you cold call people with unexpected news they can struggle to properly listen because they're understandably preoccupied.

TBH I don't think I would be writing a "kind" email either.
This service provider hasn't provided their services correctly and has cost you money.
I would be stating this as the reason for immediate termination, as they may have a notice clause in their contract - which I would want to argue as voided due to their poor service provision.

YANBU
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a kindly worded email.

If anything you could cause a lot more damage by calling. You could say the wrong thing and she’ll gauge the tone and awkwardness of your voice, which would be excruciating for both of you.

You need to do this the right way, and it's totally unacceptable to let someone go by email.

I've been let go in a similar position (I fucked up, was a well deserved firing tbh) over the phone and 100% would've preferred it over email, I think both of us would've done tbh.

I've had to address problems after other people perhaps messed up the phone call. Or perhaps the recipient has struggled to process and misunderstood. A carefully considered email is a much safer option, and I would definitely offer a follow up conversation if anyone wanted it.

At the very least you should phone her, but I think it would be far more courteous to speak to her in person when she is next due to come into the office. It would be incredibly rude to dismiss her by email.