Ellen Sampson, age 62, was a loyal, trusted employee of a bank holding company. They told her to go home and not to go back to the office. Therefore, proceed with caution. The key to an uneventful termination is planning. Whether laying off one person or a hundred, don't leave anything to chance.
Large layoffs tend to be more unwieldy, therefore more dangerous.
They require extra planning. Employment is a two-way street, and when an employee fails, the company is usually partly responsible. Either they recruited the wrong person, or they didn't train or manage them well. Appraisals don't always have to be written, but they must be honest and direct. Firings at high levels tend to be especially brutal, so make sure even high-level managers are measured.