Seating arrangements are important in termination meetings. If an employee is armed and standing between you and the door, you’ll have no way out. Whenever possible, seat the employee away from the door at the far end of the room. This should allow you a means of quick escape should that become necessary.

Finally, if you reasonably suspect that the employee may react violently, it will be a good investment on your part to invite armed security to your meeting. For example, a mortgage banking firm planned to terminate an employee on a Tuesday. When that employee appeared at work that day, he was wearing a full-length black leather coat and dark sunglasses, and he carried a gym bag that appeared heavy. The employer reasoned that this was cause for concern, since it was a hot summer day, and this employee never came to work dressed like that before.

The company called a security firm and arranged to have an armed officer attend the termination meeting. The officer kept a revolver in his briefcase on the desk. He was introduced to the employee as a member of the human resources department visiting from the home office. The meeting went without incident. The cost to the company for the armed security officer’s presence was $140 ($35 an hour at a four-hour minimum charge). That’s a very reasonable fee for such important work.

Taken From : The Hiring and Firing Quention and Answer Book