| It takes a great deal of self-discipline and integrity to | | | | hire, keep, and fire. Keeping this man would have been |
| fire a relative or close friend of your own, or your | | | | the wrong message and undermined my efforts to |
| boss. I fired the son of a station manager and the | | | | create the most productive employees possible. |
| stepdaughter of my own boss. This didn't make us | | | | Firing should never become personal. If someone fails |
| better friends, but it was necessary. The other | | | | to fulfill his or her required duties, he or she deserves |
| workers respected my commitment to hiring and | | | | termination. They did it, not you. Done properly, the firing |
| keeping the best workers, and not just those I felt | | | | shouldn't come as a surprise to any employee. If |
| obligated to. | | | | you've done your job well, he or she knows what your |
| Firing someone is one of the most difficult tasks a | | | | expectations are and what they need to do to stay |
| manager has to do. The first time I fired someone I felt | | | | employed. They should get proper training as needed |
| as if I was taking everything from him, even though it | | | | and periodic reviews. If they are receiving reviews that |
| was his attendance and work habits that were the | | | | let them know they are failing portions of their job, then |
| true reasons. Although he was just a temporary | | | | continue to do so it shouldn't be a surprise to them to |
| worker, there were so few jobs available in the area | | | | be let go. The truth is they are not the right fit, and |
| that I felt wrong. It was my responsibility to fire him | | | | you're doing both of you a favor by getting rid of them. |
| because he was not filling the requirements of his | | | | Note: don't say anything positive about the employee |
| position. If you are going to have a productive, healthy | | | | when you're firing him or her, as it will increase your |
| work environment, you have to be careful whom you | | | | chance of a lawsuit and losing the suit. |