When I ran a corporate office I had to fire a few each year. Some cried, some got pi$$ed off and most just accepted it and left. I had a satellite office with a man who was harassing the women and threatening them. My corporate boss flew in from California and told me he was afraid of the guy because he carried a pistol. Told me I had to do the firing with him. Met the guy and he was upset and ran out to his car. Came back yelling and screaming then we walked him out. The boss asked me if I was afraid. I said no, my hand was on a Colt .357 the entire time in my briefcase. I told him there was no way I was going to die for my job. He rarely visited us after that.

What Jerry would do.
Don't fire him.
Ask for a letter of resignation on your desk by tomorrow.

your phone will be ringing in 5,4,3...

this

Is he getting fired for poor performance? Is it bad that I think it makes a difference? I would be much more upset over 7 hours seat time than getting a phone call.

I've only fired one person. The guy started crying in my office and asked me if I was going to call his wife and tell her I fired him. He made a small scene leaving the office but luckily I did it during lunch so most employees were not around. He ended up calling me a few days later and apologized. I hated having to do that.

I have fired many people when I was working , told them face to face , most already knew before meeting , proper documentation , straight forward communication and respect makes it a little smoother .

Arrange to meet him somewhere near his home office and do it face to face.

Do him like Milton

I agree. If you�re worried about a phone call, you should drive to him, meet for lunch near his house and fire him there. I�d be mad I had to put on pants and leave the house, still, but it would be worse if I had to drive seven hours for all that.

What are the Union rules for firing? Maybe you can't fire him.

You should go outta your way to accommodate your intentions. He shouldn't have to drive anywhere if he's about to be let go, or receive the news over the phone. Ball up and get 'er done the respectful way.

Do a 1 on 1 and tell him why he is being fired
Your honesty is appreciated

My buddy that worked in HR tells some pretty crazy stories about guys they let go over the years. One of the worst is when he fired a guy that worked out of his house. He lived out on a farm in the middle of nowhere. My buddy and another HR person went and were invited into the living room by the wife. The soon to be terminated employee walked in from the back room carrying a shotgun and said "I know why you are here, and I think it's time for you to leave."

They turned on their heels and marched right out. My buddy dropped a file folder on the table on his way out and they beat it. Said he called the sheriff once they got a few miles down the road to do a wellness check on the wife.

My advise would be to go meet him, but take him out to lunch or something where you are not going into his house.