You want to part ways with an employee. How do you handle it?
Little has been documented. Earlier conversations have changed little. Or you are unsure how to raise the subject. LeadRaw helps employers assess the situation and prepare a clear, respectful way forward.
Practical employer supportClear scope agreed in advanceAttention to both sides
A specific situation. A clear starting point.
You know something needs to change. But not how to start.
Little on record
You have been dissatisfied for some time, but expectations, conversations and agreements have barely been recorded. You need to know where to begin.
The relationship is strained
Results disappoint, trust has faded or conversations keep going in circles. You want to address the situation without adding unnecessary tension.
You are considering a departure
You want to explore a departure, but are unsure how to approach the employee, what is reasonable or who to involve.
We start with the facts, what has been tried and your objective. A wish to end the relationship is the starting question; we assess the realistic options before deciding the approach.
A focused first engagement
From uncertainty to a considered approach.
01
Assess the situation
We examine the circumstances, available records, earlier conversations and both parties’ perspectives. We identify what is clear and which questions need specialist advice.
02
Prepare the approach
We help you set realistic expectations, prepare the conversation and consider a reasonable proposal. We also examine your own behaviour and its effect on the situation.
03
Support the next steps
We support you around the conversations, review responses and help record and follow up on agreements. Where legal advice is needed, we coordinate with an employment-law specialist.
We agree the scope, hours, duration and fee in advance. Any additional work is discussed first.
A clear engagement. Clarity on costs from the outset.
During the free introductory call, we identify the package that fits your situation. You receive a proposal setting out the agreed work before we begin.
Case Advisory
€2,500
Excl. VAT per case
Indicative timeframe: 3 weeks from the intake.
Situation analysis
Review of records and context
Defining the approach and strategy
Preparing the manager
Conversation structure and key messages
One debrief
You take the process forward yourself.
Case Partner
€3,500
Excl. VAT per case
Indicative timeframe: 6 weeks from the intake.
Everything in Advisory
Support throughout the case
Preparation for follow-up conversations
Debriefs after conversations
Review of key communications
Brief WhatsApp or telephone check-ins
LeadRaw is by your side throughout the agreed engagement.
Additional support · €275 per hour
For support outside the agreed package. Excluding VAT and only with your prior agreement.
These timeframes indicate the support period, not a guarantee that the employee situation will be resolved within that time. We agree the scope, duration and work involved in advance. Any extension or additional support requires your prior agreement and is charged at €275 per hour, excluding VAT.
Legal advice and the drafting or review of a settlement agreement are outside these packages. Any employment-law specialist fees are agreed separately.
What does it cost when a situation continues?
An employee has not been meeting expectations for months. You want to part ways, but you do not want it to cost anything.
You have the conversation yourself, but document little and do not create a concrete action plan. Frustration grows, results remain below expectations, and eventually the employee reports sick.
Suppose your employer costs are €5,000 per month. After six months of underperformance, the employee is absent for three months. Temporary cover also costs €5,000 per month.
Cost
Calculation
Amount
Employer costs for the employee
9 months × €5,000
€45,000
Temporary cover during absence
3 months × €5,000
€15,000
⚡ Impact on your business and people Stress, team tension, lower results and the risk of losing good employees.
Additional impact varies by situation
Potentially several times the direct costs — not calculated
Total costs over nine months
Excluding your time and advice
€60,000
Your own time, support or advice, and the impact on results, colleagues and team morale may add to this. The situation may still remain unresolved.
What might a clear conversation, a concrete action plan and timely follow-up have saved you?
This is an illustrative example. Employer costs also continue when the employee is working and are not entirely additional costs. Amounts and circumstances vary; not all costs can be avoided. Sickness absence can have different causes and requires careful assessment.
Clear responsibilities
Practical guidance. Legal expertise where needed.
LeadRaw supports you in assessing the situation, preparing conversations and following through. An employment-law specialist handles the legal assessment, advice and the drafting or review of any settlement agreement.
At the outset, we agree who is involved, what each person does and which fees are included.
Honest advice for the employer
A good outcome also asks something of you.
What are you willing to change to reach a workable outcome?
Have expectations been clear? Was feedback timely? Has the employee had appropriate support? We help you distinguish facts from frustration and examine your own contribution.
If you want to part ways, realistic expectations, a reasonable proposal and dignified treatment matter. We challenge an approach that increases tension or makes agreement harder.
The aim is to limit avoidable conflict, delay and cost while allowing room for a considered response from the employee.
When another route offers more potential
Sometimes the next step is to continue together.
If improvement or a different role looks realistic, we can agree a separate follow-up engagement. The same applies if the case reveals a need for better day-to-day management practices.
Performance improvement
Practical action plans, appropriate KPIs, clear support and review dates. Help with giving feedback, holding people to agreements and recording progress.
A better-fitting role
Explore whether the employee’s strengths fit different responsibilities or an available role, and prepare the conversation and transition.
Stronger employer practices
Improve performance reviews, factual record-keeping and difficult conversations. Ongoing sparring for managers, directors and HR when needed.
Your sparring partner
Rogier de Bruin
Founder of LeadRaw International
Rogier de Bruin knows both the frontline and the boardroom. He helps employers bring clarity to difficult people situations and make considered decisions. He supports business owners and leaders across SMEs and larger corporations, with a direct, practical approach tailored to their organisation. Direct, practical and attentive to both sides.
More about Rogier
Starting in operational roles, Rogier progressed to positions as a staff member, Vice President and Senior Director within a large international organisation. He has extensive experience with transformation, restructuring and difficult conversations about performance and parting ways.
He makes that experience practical for businesses of all sizes: bringing perspective, clarifying expectations and helping owners make considered decisions. He translates the structure and decisiveness of an international environment into the everyday realities of running a business.
Rogier’s strength lies in communicating expectations, circumstances and results clearly and naturally. His professional and life experience helps him understand both the business and personal perspectives. He addresses uncomfortable issues and helps employers and employees acknowledge their own part in the situation.
Clear agreements, appropriate KPIs and fair, factual records give both sides a firm basis to work from. From there, Rogier works towards an acceptable outcome without immediately turning to a financial settlement. His practical guidance complements HR and legal expertise.
Also at LeadRaw
Personal leadership mentoring
Pressure at work or at home can make it harder to see the bigger picture. Individual mentoring offers a confidential space to regain perspective, clarify priorities and make considered decisions.
Tell us briefly what is happening and where you need help. In a complimentary introduction, we explore whether LeadRaw is the right support for your situation.
After the introductory call, you will receive a clear proposal outlining the approach, scope and costs. You then decide whether you would like to proceed.
