Samir Luther: "What To Do When You're Fired," brought to you by the NY Times

They told us Gen Y'ers that we'd see a lot of change in our lifetimes, but thus far I haven't been impressed with it.

The New York Times thought it would be helpful to share tips about getting fired, just in case you need it [Bank X/Starbucks/U.S. Automotive/Airline/...] employee:

"If you find yourself being fired, the most important thing to remember (besides that it’s actually O.K. to cry) is that you’ll be in shock, and you won’t be thinking straight, so don’t feel the need to ask every question then and there.

You should make sure to leave the room knowing how to contact someone who can answer your questions later on, when you have a chance to calm down. Try not to become defensive or argumentative; if there are issues to be disputed, you can do that later."

Also, tips for those doing the firing (I hope this never comes in handy):

"The same general advice applies to those charged with doing the firings, namely, keep things short and calm. [...] "It's time for us to part company," is Ms. Flagg’s preferred phrasing."