I feel......?

[Gordon]

Some of you may remember I received a job promotion a month or so back. Trying to clean the mess up has been a challenge and personally rewarding to see things operating as they should. The added hours have taken a slight toll on my post count!

Today I had to fire a guy. This is the first time in my life I had to do something like this. When I was in the service, it really was no big deal to relieve a person of his or her responsibility because they still had a job and could provide for their family.

Calling this guy into my office and giving him his pink slip was, without a doubt the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I know that it was the right thing to do, but it still didn't make it any easier. His performance was sub-standard and costing the company money.

I really don't know how I feel right now. I know there is this gnawing thought that my decision is going to make life rough on this guy and his family. I provided him with weekly (6) coachings in an attempt to bring his performance up to at least a minimum standard to no avail. Yesterday, he made a $75K mistake that the company had to eat.

I wonder, have any of you guys had to do this and how did you feel the first time?

Gordon

[Masterlu]

Being a business owner for 30+ years I have had to do the same all too many times. For those of us with a conscience it never gets any easier.

Considering all the due diligence you did, he truly chose his own destiny. His lack of performance and or incompetence puts the entire company and all other co-workers at risk of losing their job.

Of course, we can justify anything; however knowing you as I do Gordon, I can assure you that you did the right thing.

[Taylode]

Unfortunately, the answer to your question is yes. But you should take solace in the fact that is wasn't easy for you and continues to weigh on you after the fact. I think that is how it should be when we have to make tough decisions that affect peoples lively hood. That compassion ensures that we do everything we can to prevent it but still have the strength to do what needs to be done. In the long run your action may turn out to be the wake up call that individual needed to get their life in order and improve their work ethic. Having said that I'm still sorry you had to experience it.

[jdandy]

Gordon.......When you accepted your new position, it was to replace a subperforming individual who was fired. You knew you would eventually be required to encourage, evaluate, and sometimes terminate employees. This will not be your only firing. It comes with the territory.

In 20+ years of hiring, training, mentoring, and working electricians for projects all over the United States, I have had more than my fair share of terminating employment for substandard employees. I came to understand that I did not fire them, they fired themselves. I was the person who did the paper work that stopped the payroll checks, and told them their services were no longer needed. I never lost a moments sleep worring about it. If an employee is not concerned enough to perform the required tasks to keep a job, why should I spend one minute worrying that they refused to care enough, or dedicate the required energy necessary to keep their job. If you don't dedicate the required skills and energy level to keep your job, then you deserve to lose it. It will create a position for someone else that wants to work.

What I found most difficult was spending time and money training, and trying to keep an employee, only to have them continously fail to perform to even minimum standards for a particular position. Everyone wants a paycheck, although not everyone is willing to actually work to earn it. I have no patience with slackers, and free loaders. Before I retired I typically put in 12 to 14 hours a day, many times six days a week to insure the success of my projects, and to make certain clients received what they paid for when they contracted with my company. The people who worked for me generally put in 40 hours a week, and went home each night with no worries. I never expected employees to have the same drive and dedication that was/is typical of my way to complete a project, but if you do not rise to the bare minimum, then you won't be working for me.

I've had a few unusual events take place when terminating employees. One individual threatened to kill me. You want to talk about stress? That will do it.

At any rate, sounds like you rose to the occasion that was required for your position, and for that you should be proud. Sleep well. You did the right thing.

[Gordon]

Even though I have to make a 4 hour drive in the early morning, I can't sleep. I feel comfortable airing my thoughts here in spite of having to drive in the morning.

I'm just rambling right now due to my own confusion and several glasses of Merlot!

Gordon

[jdandy]

Gordon.......On a two year project back in 1994, I fired 107 people across that two year period of time just to find the 48 good electricians that saw the project through completion. That was 107 people who could have remained employed, but chose to do substandard work, not enough work, failed to come to work on time or not at all, and continuously failed to follow mandated safety policies. These people could have remained employed, but made the decision to fail. I didn't make that decision for them, they did it on their own, and suffured the consequeces of their own actions. There is no free lunch, not to mention the added costs to my project from those 107 failures to perform.

[1KW]

Don't worry you did what you were hired to do. It will be easier the next time as you will soon realize as everyone else has said that they did this to themselves. When you hire his replacement, set the ground rules from the begining and tell them the first 6 months is a probation period after which you will be entitled to paid vacation and sick time. You will know the personality and work performance of a individual in this first 6 months. If during the training you feel this person is not going to work out, start looking for someone else . In the medical profession, the surgeon is the captain of the ship and if the assistants are not performing the job well, they get to leave the room. Having a good team makes all the difference in the world.

[MC352]

Gordon,

Doing that is never easy. I can still see the look of disbelief in the eyes of the first person I ever let go years ago.

I felt bad when I had to do it then, and still feel bad today when it happens.

It is just worse today because of all the unemployment. It feels like your putting them out there, and there isn't a chance they will get another job and provide for their families for a long time.

You really gave this person all the chances to improve, but that didn't happen, so you were left with no choices. They were the bad guy in this situation, not you.

You did everything right.

[Mighty Favog]

The first guy I had to fire was pretty easy for me given his disposition. I asked him to do some clean-up work in an area he was working in and he said back to me "Screw it." and continued to stand around. I immediately walked up to him and said "Oh, by the way. Your paycheck?.....Screw it."

[wpines]

38 years has taught me this;
Every Friday, every paycheck is put on a scale and balanced against the quantity and quality of the work.
More often than not it better balance and me and thee are square, noone owes anyone anything and we start the process over again on Monday.
It's a job, not an entitlement.
You don't need a lot of employees, just the right ones.
I love sending the bad ones to competitors.