Termination Documentation. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duncan, Mike; Hill, Jillian
• Is Part Of: Business and professional communication quarterly. Volume 77:Number 3(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 297
• Page End: 311
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: termination -- documentation -- bad news; Business education -- United States -- Periodicals; Communication in management -- United States -- Periodicals; English language -- Business English -- Periodicals; 658.450715
• DOI: 10.1177/2329490614538806
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2329-4906

Abstract

In this study, we examined 11 workplaces to determine how they handle termination documentation, an empirically unexplored area in technical communication and rhetoric. We found that the use of termination documentation is context dependent while following a basic pattern of infraction, investigation, intervention, and termination. Furthermore, the primary audience of the documentation is typically legal and regulatory bodies, not the employee. We also make observations about genre, collaboration, and authorship in these documents.