I had to fire somebody this morning

by littlerockguy 28 Replies latest jw friends

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  littlerockguy

  It had been coming. I hired an employee last year out of desperation since medical transcriptionist in this area are extremely hard to find. This person had experience and had been employed at one place for a long time so I thought I would give this person a try. Needless to say after giving her chance after chance she would do things her way instead of the way she was trained which caused her production to be half of what everybody else's was and she was constantly habitually late every morning. Start up time in the morning is usually 8:00 and she requested to start at 8:30 and I let her but in spite of this she was always late and wanted to move it up to 9:00 and I said absolutely not.

  As I am typing this she is cleaning out her desk. I hate firing people even if they deserve it or have it coming to them. Not only is it bad for them, I will have more work in my department until I can get some more applicants and go through the interviewing process and I go on my vacation Monday! Until then the work is going to pile up and I will have to outsource some of it.

  Has anybody else have to fire employees and how to you deal with it?
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  megsmomma

  I have never been in that position, but, I feel for you. It has to be hard to do. However......it does seem that she must have had the feeling that it could happen since she was pushing it for so long.
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  WTWizard

  Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. As productivity was only about half of normal, it can't be merely that the person was doing things her way and still accomplishing the same or better (which sometimes happens). And consistently being late for work is itself grounds to get fired--I remember a time where being late once without a good reason is grounds for a write-up; three write-ups for being late will get you fired.

  I hope you find someone who is a decent worker to replace this obvious slacker. Simple policy violations are one thing, if the person gets the work done and the quality is satisfactory or better; if the output is crap, however, this worker has to go. And double so if large blocks of time are wasted on crap like chatting on a cell phone or using the Internet for personal use on the clock and the work is not getting done. For sure, there has to be someone that is competent and can get the work done without creating excess hassle for you.
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  REBORNAGAIN

  I'm glad you acknowledged her bahavior and did what you needed to do. I once worked for a company and the owner/boss didn't give a hoot that one of the employees was habitually late every single day. It really got to us (her fellow employees). In time, the business got sold and she got trashed.

  At my current job, someone just got fired 2 days ago. NOBODY....should EVER tell an owner, and a profesional Engineer at that, to tell him how to run his business. Oooops! To think they were once upon a time good friends too.

  LINDA

  P.S. Hire someone like me. I get up at 3:30am everyday, leave at 5:00 and I am at work by 6am and love getting up that early too. The commute is ok, I pray alot during that time.
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  Nathan Natas

  It's no fun, but it is necessary.

  And, if I may, I'd like to offer a different take on

  Not only is it bad for them...

  It is GOOD for them: it gives them an opportunity to find a job they like enough to show up on time for. It provides them with an opportunity for real-life honing of their decision-making skills.

  It is also GOOD for your other employees, who were probably wondering how long her behavior was going to be tolerated, and who were wondering what weakness permitted you to tolerate that behavior. It also provides them with real-life evidence that actions have consequences.

  In the long run, it will be GOOD for you. You will find a qualified person who appreciates the employment you offer and becomes a fully contributing member of the team.

  To adapt a current product of what I call "slogan engineering:"

  the pain you feel is weakness leaving your enterprise.
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  JeffT

  I've had to fire people. It is never fun, no matter how much they have it coming. In all cases it was obvious what needed to be done, and should have been obvious to the person who was getting fired. I still hate to do it. My natural inclination is try to make a situation work out for every one involved.

  Linda: do you by any chance know anything about accounting? I see you're in Washington. I'm the accounting manager for a small but growing business in Seattle. I'm always on the lookout for good people.
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  BFD

  I only had to fire someone once. It isn't a good feeling. I wish I had Nathan's perspective on it back then.

  Have a great vacation whatever you do, LRG.

  BFD
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  Burger Time

  Yep immediately after I give them the bad news I say, "now this isn't a "what can I do for my job back" talk. The decision has been made.". This usually helps.
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  mouthy

  I hope you enjoy your vacation !! dont think about it !!!! She sounds like she didn't appreciate a good boss ....(starting at 8.30 then wanting 9.00?>nerve!)
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  bikerchic

  I agree totally with what Nathan Natas said. Having been an employee of a company who constantly hired and kept bad employees I know how it breaks down the moral of the whole team.

  If the company I had worked for would have kept to higher standards I would probably still be there but I got tired of being the only one in my department that actually did work and showed up on time and stayed in my department and worked during my scheduled working hours!

  You did everyone including yourself a great service, hard to do but then who said life is easy? LOL