Today I had to fire someone I genuinely like

[Generic Brad]

Damn!

I really liked her as a person. She is a single mother with three small kids and I feel horrible for her and her family. I feel a personal responsibility for everyone who works for me. But when they don't hold up their end of the bargain I really don't have any leeway. Rules are rules and if I don't enforce them my head is on the chopping block.

Part of me understands that some of her fellow employees are happy they have a boss who enforces the rules, but there are others who don't know the details and are upset at what they perceive as an injustice. As a boss I am expected to turn off my feelings sometimes and do what needs to be done. And I do it because I have to. But I can't say I can successfully turn my feelings off in these instances.

I fight very hard for my employees because I feel a personal responsibility to not just them, but to their families whom I have never met. They really don't know how much I argue, risk, and fight on their behalf. Usually I win. But there are days like today when I lose the battle and am forced into the position of posing as the unfeeling harsh face of the corporation.

I'm not fishing for sympathy here. I just needed to vent and I figured this was the friendliest and least non-judgmental place to do that. GD scares me on things like this.

[Redstone]

1. Having to fire people is a copper-plated bitch, if you're a manager with any kind of

humanity in you.

I always hated having to do that, when I worked for companies rather than for myself...no matter how much it HAD to be done.

I know how you feel.

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Generic Brad...

That is a tough place to be, indeed...

But when your employee knows what is expected, and does not deliver after being warned, or counseled, or helped...

Well, then ...

You really have no choice.

I'm sorry.

Vent all you like, sweetie...:hug:

[Generic Brad]

3. Next week will be better

I get to hand out raises and bonuses then.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. That will help the morale no end!

I'm glad!

:hug:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

5. Be sure and watch "Christmas Vacation" first.

It shows what happens to bosses who don't give Christmas bonuses out. :evilgrin:

[MonkeyFunk]

6. Ugh... I'm so sorry

I've been in that situation, and it sucks mightily. But that's responsibility.

You're a good person for caring so much about it.

[livetohike]

7. Been there too

and I'm retired now, but I still think about what might have happened to those employees. One person in particular I had to fire because he failed a drug test and he was one of my better employees. He was going through a hard time anyway - wife had cancer....

[NewWaveChick1981]

8. Ugh. I had to do that a few months ago.

:( But it was for the best. She's a very sweet person, but she just didn't get it and was never going to get it. She was in the wrong job, and it showed. I worked with her and mentored her for as long as I could, but it was counterproductive. It's never easy, and I felt terrible about having to do it, but we couldn't have survived with her still doing a terrible job. I spoke to her about a month ago, and now she's in a job where she's happy and successful. :)

I know exactly how you feel. :hug: You feel bad because you're a good boss, but you did what you had to do. :pals:

[NV Whino]

9. Been there, done that

I hate firing people.

[SPKrazy]

10. understand that

have been there

and it isn't pleasant

may be there soon with an employee again if some things don't straighten out a LOT.