John Terry departure highlights what employers should consider when firing top talent

Chelsea FC announced yesterday that John Terry will leave the club at the end of the season after 17 years. However, research suggests that employers should be careful when firing key company players.

A team of researchers from the Belgian university KU Leuven found that firing popular and well connected employees has several risks.

Writing in the Harvard Business Review, they say: “These days, the majority of a company’s employees are networked together on social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. They no doubt also have important vendors, customers, and future customers among their contacts.

“That is why understanding, modelling, and measuring your employee network should be a key ingredient in your company’s strategic HR decision.”