Quezi

Difficult economic times bring waves of employees getting fired. Frequently, the message is blunted by the use of official flowery prose and politically correct corporate euphemisms. On the other hand, employees losing their jobs tend to use short and punchy colloquial expressions when talking about what happened to them.

Some terms tend to be used when referring to an individual worker while others are applied to groups and classes of employees who no longer have a job.

A new addition to the getting fired lexicon was recently invented for Michael Phelps after he was photographed inhaling from a bong or marijuana pipe. USA Swimming, the National Governing Body for the sport, suspended him from competition for three months. Kellogg also dumped Phelps as a spokesman and removed his photo from the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box. Hence the new term for getting fired for a stupid action – “off the box.” There is a silver lining to the Phelps story. Kellogg donated thousands of boxes of the cereal with his picture to the San Francisco Food Bank.

Short, but not so sweet, for “You’re Fired!”

Terminated
Given the boot
Let go
Dumped
Sacked
Canned
Cashiered
Axed
Shown the door
Chainsawed
Bounced out
Eighty-sixed
Given the old heave-ho

Softer, gentler way of saying “You’re Fired!”

Laid off
Discharged
Dismissed
Made redundant
Furloughed
Separated
Given the pink slip
Outplaced
RIFed
Bought out
Released
Unassigned
Cut ties
Uninstalled
Separated

Euphemistic phrases for “you no longer work here.”

Services no longer required
Early retired
Eased out
Forced resignation
Stepped down
Assignment ended
Position has been eliminated
Given the package
Released from the talent pool
Declined to extend
Pursue other opportunities
Assignment expired
Helped her with exit
Going in different directions
Made available to industry
One-person layoff
Managed out
Career transition
Career change opportunity
Contract not renewed
End of trial period
Involuntary separation
Freed up for the future
Relieved of duties
Responsibilities have been reassigned
Taking it for the team
Promoted to customer (retail workers)
We really feel like we’re holding you back here

Expressions organizations use for groups of employees getting fired

Company “sizing” causes:
downsized,
rightsized,
capsized,
brightsized,
dumbsized,
smartsized
Layoffs and massive layoffs
Re-engineered
Reorganized
Outsourced
Headcount reduction / adjustment
Heads Rolling
Decruitment
Regime change
Make internal efficiencies
Contracted out
Off shoring / best shoring
Streamlining operations
Operational simplification
Personnel realignment
Personnel surplus reduction
Reduced headcount
Rationalize the workforce
Reduction in force
Skill mix adjustment
Streamlining operations
Cutting the fat
Workforce adjustment
Re-prioritizing labor expenses
Slashing, cutting or chopping jobs or positions
Trimming the workforce
Taking a hard look at expenses
Making a change in the org chart
Workforce efficiency initiative
Way for the company “to become more fit.”
Natural attrition

“You’re fired!” even if you can’t figure out what we just said

It’s like musical chairs … and you don’t have a chair.
Some of you will not be going forward with us.
You’re entering an accelerated career development mode …
Welcome to Dumpsville. Population: You. (The Simpsons)
Let’s push the delete button on this relationship.
We’re being forced to negatively amortize surplus personnel.
We’re reconciling per capital productivity with current market conditions.
You have reached the number of an uninstalled vice president.
Targeted Restructuring to better align the company with it’s Core Competencies

Reaching Orwellian heights

“Here’s how our organization has changed: we began the simplification process with a global team of 105 people. Today, we have 90 positions, a 14 percent reduction.” eBay

“Nokia Siemens Networks has completed the preliminary planning process to identify the proposed remaining headcount reductions necessary to reach its previously announced synergy-related headcount adjustment goal.” Nokia Siemens Networks

“We felt it would be better for these individuals if they were free to pursue their wholeness unimpeded by their continued employment here.” Evan commenting on Paul Krugman blog