Losing an employee is never going to be easy, but there are some steps that you can take to mitigate your risks before they step out of your business for the last time. Even if an employee is leaving on good terms, a single mistake or oversight could result in theft, vandalism, or data loss. Here are a handful of steps that you can take to keep your company secure following a termination or resignation.

Create a Thorough Termination Procedure

Losing a single employee could cost you thousands, and one of the best ways to lower your turnover costs is to have a good termination procedure in place. That procedure should involve immediately shutting down the employee’s access to all sensitive files and programs. If they were given company devices to use, then your IT team needs to have the ability to remotely restrict access as well.

Don’t Engage with the Employee Publicly

Most ex-employees want to move on as quickly as possible, but the occasional individual will try to get back at their old employer if they feel like they are being mistreated or targeted. When it comes time to officially fire the employee, it should be done in a private location with only one or two witnesses. You should also refrain from engaging with the ex-employee out in public or on social media. Taking the high road will look much better if the situation escalates into a lawsuit.

Regularly Back up Employee Data

An ex-employee might wipe their computer, tablet, or smartphone simply to remove their own private information. In order to prevent data loss, you need to have a system in place for backing up important information. Business owners who don’t have an IT department should consider cloud computing services or data management software that automatically backs up files at specific intervals. Backing up that data will also help you catch any misconduct that might have occurred.

Double-Check Your Building’s Security

In addition to securing your company’s hardware and software, you also need to protect your facilities. If the employee had keys or keycards, then you should have a company like A Carolina Locksmith resecure your facilities. For more advanced security systems, you will need to change the entry codes. Taking those steps might seem like overkill, but a disgruntled ex-employee can do major damage if you aren’t careful.

You will also need to make sure that all of your legal bases are covered during a termination or resignation. A good HR team is going to help you document and organize all pertinent information so that an ex-employee can’t come after your business.

Author's Bio: 

Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake.