If I were Alice Jones, the executive who is being considered for termination in the Netflix case study, I would make the following three objections during the negotiation session with Sharon Slade:

Objection 1: I believe that the action being taken against me is discriminatory and I am prepared to sue for wrongful termination.

Proposed response from Sharon Slade: Alice, I understand your concern and I want to assure you that this is not a decision that has been made lightly. We have carefully evaluated your performance and have determined that it is not meeting our expectations. However, we are willing to work with you to try to resolve this matter amicably.

Objection 2: I have been a loyal and dedicated employee to Netflix for many years and I have made significant contributions to the company. I believe that I deserve a chance to improve my performance before being terminated.

Proposed response from Sharon Slade: Alice, we appreciate your contributions to Netflix and we understand that you may be disappointed with this decision. However, we believe that it is in the best interests of the company to move forward in a new direction. We are willing to offer you a severance package and outplacement services to help you transition to a new job.

Objection 3: I am requesting job placement or relocation benefits in order to transition to another job.

Proposed response from Sharon Slade: Alice, we are willing to consider your request for job placement or relocation benefits. However, we will need to negotiate the terms of any such package.

In addition to these objections, I would also want to understand why Netflix is considering terminating me in the first place. I would ask for specific examples of my performance that have fallen short of expectations. I would also want to know what steps I could take to improve my performance.

Once I have a better understanding of the situation, I can begin to negotiate a resolution that is fair to both parties. My goal would be to avoid termination and to maintain a positive relationship with Netflix.

Here are some specific responses from Sharon Slade that could help steer the process to a successful conclusion and help maintain a positive relationship between the two parties:

• Response to Objection 1: “Alice, I understand your concern about discrimination. I want to assure you that Netflix is committed to providing a fair and equitable workplace for all employees. We have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind. If you have any evidence to support your claim of discrimination, please provide it to me and I will investigate it thoroughly.”
• Response to Objection 2: “Alice, we appreciate your loyalty and dedication to Netflix. We know that you have made significant contributions to the company over the years. However, we believe that it is in the best interests of the company to move forward in a new direction. We are willing to offer you a severance package and outplacement services to help you transition to a new job.”
• Response to Objection 3: “Alice, we are willing to consider your request for job placement or relocation benefits. However, we will need to negotiate the terms of any such package. We will also need to consider the needs of the business and our other employees.”

By carefully considering Alice’s objections and responding to them in a fair and reasonable manner, Sharon Slade can help to ensure a successful outcome for both parties.