I had to can somebody today, leads to drinking, AMA

"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
03/08/2016 at 18:47 • Filed to: None

Self medicating rambling follows, you’ve been warned.

Today is both bad and good, for the same reason.

I had to terminate someone today. It feels terrible to do, but we’ve probably been too lenient for too long. It’s awful for him, but important for the company. He’s been dead weight for essentially the entirety of his employment. We can’t afford a six figure guy not contributing.

So, the company’s leaner, meaner, and keeping 14 other people employed who bust their asses on the regular. But I know from experience what his day feels like. So I’m drinking and.... I don’t know, I got nothing else. Ask Me Anything

EDIT out of classic Switchback, on to the Dooley’s.

FINAL UPDATE

Out of beer. Signing off, thanks for the destraction

DISCUSSION (43)

PorkchoPlissken > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 18:51

Tuesdays are for drinking, ask any bartender. You’re doing it right my friend.

For Sweden > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 18:52

Modding IRL

RallyWrench > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 18:55

How do you approach a conversation like that? Asking as a manager who has never had to fire somebody... yet.

Tekamul > For Sweden
03/08/2016 at 18:56

Ha, I hadn’t thought of that. I guess Milton from Office Space was just in the greys

Chariotoflove > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 18:57

I feel ya. Not only do I hate firing someone, I dread having the conversation where I have to tell them to shape up. As much as we tell ourselves criticism can be positive, there is no way to entirely banish the feeling in the receiving person that it is coming because they are not doing something as well as they need to.

Anyway, questions:

What is “tekamul”

How is that Switchback Ale, and where can I get it?

Turbo or supercharger?

Ginger or Mary Ann?

One more:

Indycar or F1?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Chariotoflove
03/08/2016 at 18:59

Reverse female superior or doggy?

#mycontribution

Tekamul > RallyWrench
03/08/2016 at 19:00

Well, the ‘last straw’ is a suddenly very embarrassing situation with a client. So that’s the jumping off point. Then it’s just talk about contributions made as perceived by him and ownership, then, tearing off the bandaid.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:01

$100k salary? What industry?

Sweet Trav > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:01

Try Weyerbacher Merry Monks. Delicous.

Sorry you had to Axe someone. I’m guessing he wasn’t shocked? I’ve only ever let people go that saw the writing on the wall. Mostly because I give feedback about how close they are to Ax if they start fucking up.

McMike > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:03

You’ll get over this, as there are sure to be more

Believe it not, they get easier. By the time I fired my 10th employee, it was just the cost of doin’ business. It’s not like I didn’t try to motivate/dicipline/train them.

I don’t remember my first one, but I remember it was stressful as hell. I’ll drink one with you.

Tekamul > Chariotoflove
03/08/2016 at 19:05

Well,

Tekamul’s a first name ( not mine). Also a Turkish word, skin to evolution, but not quite.

Switchback is a local beer in VT. I don’t know if it’s available outside the state, they’re pretty small.

Supercharger. Linear response and power whine all day.

Mary Ann. She’s got secrets....

F1, but only for the tech

Tekamul > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
03/08/2016 at 19:06

Female superior? You mean cowgirl?

Tekamul > McMike
03/08/2016 at 19:06

I never want to be there. This is the first out and out firing, rather than a layoff.

Sweet Trav > RallyWrench
03/08/2016 at 19:06

Nah, any firings I have done, it has never been a surprise for the poor person i am firing. They know they fucked up, and i gave them multiple chances to get it right. I’ve given them a path to follow and they have strayed from it, mostly through lack of effort, sometimes through lack of skills, which is harder to deal with.

RallyWrench > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:07

Sounds fun. Part of my issue is the one not contributing and creating embarrassing situations with clients is the owner. I’m the one having to apply Band-Aids to problems I didn’t create.

Chariotoflove > RallyWrench
03/08/2016 at 19:07

Let me try to help with that.

1. Have the conversation in a private place where the person can feel they have their dignity and not feel trapped, but also be careful not to be in a situation where it’s so private that you could be accused of misconduct (e.g: in your office, but with the door ajar). This is more important when dealing with someone of the opposite gender to avoid accusations of harassment.

2. Document by email or in writing (preferably) exactly what the meeting is for and what led to it. Also having spoken to others in the company (your boss or other managers or HR, for examples) is useful, if appropriate for the situation.

3. Be very businesslike and straightforward. Do not be apologetic or embarrassed. That just makes the job more uncomfortable for both of you and invites whining and argument.

4. Don’t be wheedled into “one more chance”. It erodes the person’s dignity, doesn’t solve your problem, and rarely changes things.

Tekamul > Sweet Trav
03/08/2016 at 19:08

I don’t know if he was surprised, he had a lot of excuses ready. It’s been a problem for a while. But he’s the only one in his position.

Tekamul > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
03/08/2016 at 19:09

Semiconductors.

Steve in Manhattan > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:10

Is this a decision you made, or did you just carry it out?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:10

Yeah, but reversed.

Tekamul > Chariotoflove
03/08/2016 at 19:10

3 and 4 are huge on that list. It feels so easy to capitulate, but it’s just kicking the can down the street

Chariotoflove > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:11

Good except for the last one (from a guy who grew up a few miles from the Indpls. Motor Speedway).

Tekamul > Steve in Manhattan
03/08/2016 at 19:13

Group decision amongst the 3 owners of which I am 1.

Did that come out right?

Sweet Trav > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:15

Unless someone does something egregious, I typically allow them to resign, as opposed to firing them. Sometimes people don’t work out, but unless they do something extreme, I really don’t like to walk to them out, but rather leave on their own terms. I call it the mercy kill.

McMike > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:15

I’ll say the same thing to you my boss said to me right after he made me fire that first person. I was upset and telling him how horrible it was, etc..

He smiled and said, “Welcome to management.” :)

Tekamul > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
03/08/2016 at 19:15

Check plusses in all categories

Steve in Manhattan > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:20

Yes it came out right.

I’d say think of it this way - you can’t subsidize someone who doesn’t carry his weight. Your company supports other workers and their families. You owe it to them to keep it as strong as possible.

RallyWrench > Chariotoflove
03/08/2016 at 19:20

Thanks for the rundown. I only run a small shop, but have long felt the team would be better off without one current member. I don’t own the joint so it’s not my call, but the day may come.

Tekamul > Steve in Manhattan
03/08/2016 at 19:22

THAT’S exactly it. We run it pretty close on the books, and pump it all back into the business. We can’t carry dead weight.

Steve in Manhattan > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:29

Exactly - when you’re solo you can take more risk. Not here though.

Chariotoflove > RallyWrench
03/08/2016 at 19:29

You bet. I hope it doesn’t fall to you.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:35

I seize people's businesses, vehicles, and houses. I feel ya, sometimes work gets to you.

coelacanthist > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:41

Oh god, Woodford, that be the shit.

Tekamul > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
03/08/2016 at 19:42

Jesus Christ. My liver would scream out in terror.......

Birddog > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 19:51

It sucks that you feel bad about it. Any time an employee is described as Dead Weight they need to go.

I love taking out the trash. Most of our current employees know something bad is going down if they see me at their site (I like to show up an hour before them to see the state of the property and make a plan). Sometimes I go to organize and re-train (basically a second chance) other times it’s to take inventory and release someone. Our good people are always rewarded too.

Absolutely nothing to feel bad about.

Cheers!

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 20:18

No disrespect to you for having a hard time with it, but I think I would enjoy firing people for a living. Meaning be a ‘corporate downsizer’ like George Clooney in Up in the Air . I’m weird.

Tekamul > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
03/08/2016 at 20:23

Yeah, I could understand that. But I’ve been on the receiving end of layoffs/corporate collapses, and it SUUUUUCKS. I’m dwelling on that.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 21:00

We booted out 2 partners in the last 2 years, one of which was a founder. After going through him pulling a salary for 2 years without doing shit it does not bother me any more. If you’re not producing, you’re gone. We had to do layoffs a few years ago which tore me up, but firing people for not doing their jobs does not bother me one bit anymore

Frank Grimes > Tekamul
03/08/2016 at 21:05

can i have a job?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > PorkchoPlissken
03/08/2016 at 21:38

Tuesdays are our weekly department meetings... Until recently they were indeed the heaviest drinking day of the week...

Tekamul > Frank Grimes
03/08/2016 at 21:46

That’s a loaded question. Any relevant experience? Got an EE degree?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Tekamul
03/09/2016 at 08:39

My brother worked in that industry for years with KLA Tencor and ASML. Ever have any dealings with them?

Tekamul > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
03/09/2016 at 08:58

I know Tencor, but I’ve never dealt with them directly.