One of the most unpleasant and potentially costly tasks any manager has to carry out is a dismissal.

Whether the dismissal is for bad behaviour, or because the person concerned is not up to the job, it must be done properly. Following basic procedures and being professional will help contain any emotional undertones. More importantly, it reduces the risk of being sued for unfair dismissal (which in time alone is expensive).

Before starting, get legal advice to ensure that you take the necessary and ‘fair’ steps. A tribunal will assess your procedures as well as well as the reasons for dismissal.

If you work from home, have the meetings in a suitable place. Using a noisy hotel lounge could prove false economy compared with hiring a serviced office from your virtual office provider. If the process is examined by a tribunal it is difficult to argue your professionalism when it turns out your dismissal discussions were overhead by a waitress cleaning the table.

For the same reasons, to maintain your concentration and to be fair to the employee, ensure that the virtual office is taking your calls so you have no telephone interruptions.

Allowing the dismissed person to retain some sense of dignity, however much you may feel otherwise, can ease the process and reduces the chance of a vindictive claim against you.

This is a time when it is necessary to play matters by the rulebook, sticking to the facts and rising above personal feelings.

Remember, you never know when people are going to come back into your life.