Perhaps the sweetest reward for former Tiger Woods caddie Steve Williams came with Adam Scott’s Aug. 7 victory at the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational. Williams, of course, caddied for Woods before the now-fallen star unceremoniously terminated their 12-year relationship. After his dismissal, Williams carried a golf bag for Scott, who scored his first world championship in golf in Akron.

Now, Williams is basking in the post-tournament glow, and is threatening to write a tell-all book about Woods and his innumerable personal indiscretions.

Woods’ poor handling of the Williams discharge should serve as a lesson to executives who face the prospect of severing ties with long-term employees, according to Houston employment attorney Neil Martin of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. Martin says managers need to treat loyal and long-tenured workers with the respect they deserve when ending their employment.  "Subordinates' loyalty following discharge by a highly visible executive is always a concern for any business that promotes the public posture of that executive, especially if the executive has a history of questionable lifestyle choices," says Martin. “Confidentiality contracts can also help limit the risk of embarrassing exposés,” Martin says.

The best vaccination against employee retribution, however, is to show outgoing workers the appreciation and consideration that anyone at the end of a long-term relationship deserves, Martin says.