Discipline/Firing Interview

I interviewed Kc Smalley who is the Chief Operations Officer at Elevate Mortgage Group
Here's the interview:

What are the top 3 most common reasons you need to discipline or fire an employee? Failure to follow a process, attendence, dishonesty How do you prepare for a discipline/firing meeting? Work with Hr to set up the meeting with paperwork needed. How common is it that you have to fire an employee? Very seldom. Only about 5 in the past 6 years. Are you usually able to resolve a problem with just a verbal warning, or is necessary to get more official to see change? Usually a verbal and sometimes written, but yes we usually get it resolved. What kind of documentation is needed when actually firing someone? Final paycheck and separation form that show why they are being terminated. Who do you include in the disciplinary meeting? HR and their direct manager Would you ever rehire someone you have fired? No How do you maintain being professional and set your emotions aside when you have to fire someone? I have no feelings. If they have to be fired they don't respect me and the company so I don't need to feel bad. Do you try to sugarcoat your words when firing someone or are you straight to the point? Straight to the point. Do you talk with other employees to gain evidence about the problem employee? Only with their direct managers Example, if an employee is being difficult to work with stated by one employee, how many other employees do you talk to to gain further evidence? None Do you prefer termination or employment at will? We do not do at will. Do you provide written documentation to show the employee evidence of their behavior? Yes What kind of benefits do you provide your employees after they are fired? Severance pay etc.? None on a termination How many times does someone get disciplined before you fire them? We give a verbal, a written, and then termination unless they committed an act if dishonesty or fraud. Then it's immediate termination. What are the most common reactions you get after firing someone? They are typically upset, sometimes angry and sometimes they don't care.

This was a very short answer interview, but what I made from the interview was that this employer values his employees following processes, strict attendance and their honesty. They work with their employees to solve a problem, giving them a verbal warning, however, it sounds like they are strict. There's only a verbal warning, a written warning and then termination. There aren't multiple verbal warnings or written warnings before an employee is fired. They don't have patience for trouble employees and this employer tries to keep emotions out of the firing process, trying to make it an objective process. He shows and explains the evidence, gives a written explanation, and then fires the employee trying to leave his emotions at bay.

I think firing an employee could be difficult depending upon the situation. Leaving emotions out of the process could also be difficult depending upon the situation. Knowing how to handle an angry employee after being fired would be unnerving. I'd have to have some tough skin. My nature is quite empathetic and I don't like giving up on others. I think being a parent has instilled this in me; I can't just get rid of one of my children because they are doing things I don't approve of, but employees are not my children and though in most circumstances I would work with my employees, there are actions and behaviors that would be grounds for firing and separation.