Firing people

[iceygirl]

so, ive been working at this new job nearly 2 months now. I was offered the position as branch manager a week after i started. I have a problem employee, and i am seeing that i will most likely be stuck with her for 3 more months. I never realized how hard it is to let someone go from a job, especially if they fall into some of the touchy catergories where the company has to worry about age discrimination, etc. (n)

[ms.peachy]

Is this that older woman you were worried about to begin with?

[Loppfessor]

This thread should be called NOT Firing People....

[iceygirl]

Is this that older woman you were worried about to begin with?

yep.

[ms.peachy]

thought as much.

why do you say you're stuck with her 3 more months?

[iceygirl]

why do you say you're stuck with her 3 more months?

because yesterday my boss came to our branch and the three of us had a private meeting (me, my boss and the problem employee). pretty much how it ended up is that after this month of not making her goal (there is no way she can now really -- as a sidenote, end of last week i was at 111% of my month) she will be on official warning. after that she gets 3 months to clean up her act. in the 3 months time if she gets a cum of 86% to goal, she will be off of warning and be ok. I dont see this happening, as since i have been here, i dont see her as the type of person who can succeed at this type of job. besides the goal thing, she has broken lp issues repeatedly, she seems out of it most of the time (i think she takes some medications), she is lazy (if i make her a list of things to do, she doesnt do it), and she is very flippant with me and i dont appreciate it.

[ms.peachy]

because yesterday my boss came to our branch and the three of us had a private meeting (me, my boss and the problem employee). pretty much how it ended up is that after this month of not making her goal (there is no way she can now really -- as a sidenote, end of last week i was at 111% of my month) she will be on official warning. after that she gets 3 months to clean up her act. in the 3 months time if she gets a cum of 86% to goal, she will be off of warning and be ok. I dont see this happening, as since i have been here, i dont see her as the type of person who can succeed at this type of job. besides the goal thing, she has broken lp issues repeatedly, she seems out of it most of the time (i think she takes some medications), she is lazy (if i make her a list of things to do, she doesnt do it), and she is very flippant with me and i dont appreciate it.
Well you can only do what you can do. I mean, from what you said earlier, it's pretty clear that this woman has had job performance problems for some time. As long as you and your boss are both satisfied that you have treated her fairly, within the law and within company guidelines, tried to address her issues/concerns, and given her the opportunities to succeed, you can't beat yourself up about it.

She probably won't feel she has had problems all along and may well try to shift blame to you as the 'interloper', but you just kind of have to accept that. So she doesn't like you, and won't be your friend. It's too bad, but that's the way it is. Just try to be kind but firm with her and treat her with dignity, and know that she makes her own life far more difficult than she makes yours.

[Documad]

I've never had to fire anyone. I've had to document the reasons quite often and I'm sure the people knew my fingerprints were all over it though.

I have turned down a promotion a few times now because I don't want to manage people. I am the world's best cheerleader and so I'm great at mentoring great people to help them get terrific. But I'm absolutely clueless what to do with people who are genuinely stupid or who just don't try.

I've always been self-motivated and so threats and outside goals would never work on me. I get frustrated trying to motivate other people because I try different approaches, but I don't know what I'm doing, it doesn't work, and then eventually I have to threaten them and it makes me feel bad. The last two people I had to deal with should have never been in the job in the first place. What my bosses notice is that I'm really good at assessing people's performance. But the problem is that I have no idea how to get them to improve their performance unless they are just like me.


A friend of mine was promoted a year ago. She had to fire quite a few people who had been underperforming. She said that a few of them were a bit relieved because they knew they weren't right for their jobs. I can't imagine that happening anywhere I've worked.

[iceygirl]

Well you can only do what you can do. I mean, from what you said earlier, it's pretty clear that this woman has had job performance problems for some time. As long as you and your boss are both satisfied that you have treated her fairly, within the law and within company guidelines, tried to address her issues/concerns, and given her the opportunities to succeed, you can't beat yourself up about it.

She probably won't feel she has had problems all along and may well try to shift blame to you as the 'interloper', but you just kind of have to accept that. So she doesn't like you, and won't be your friend. It's too bad, but that's the way it is. Just try to be kind but firm with her and treat her with dignity, and know that she makes her own life far more difficult than she makes yours.

she completely realizes that she has problems and knows that she hasnt made goal since january. they have had a manager problem in this branch for a long time now and i see this chance for me to turn things around here as a great opportunity. i dont go to work to make buddies, but i am kind enough to her, but she also knows that i am aware of her shortcomings at work.

[ScarySquirrel]

What exactly do you do? Or, I guess what I really want to know is what does she do? Is this some factory or something?

[JBernas]

if i make her a list of things to do, she doesnt do it

I'm in HR and this is insubordination. You can fire her for that and she won't be able to play the age card.

[iceygirl]

What exactly do you do? Or, I guess what I really want to know is what does she do? Is this some factory or something?

i am the branch manager of a fine jewelry store in our town. she is my full time employee.

i dont have the power to fire her, that is the decision of my higher ups, all i can do is document everything she does.

[CrankItUp!]

Wait until you get to be her age.You just might fall into this same situation one day yourself - when you get to be an elderly person in need of a job.

[iceygirl]

Wait until you get to be her age.You just might fall into this same situation one day yourself - when you get to be an elderly person in need of a job.

wait? i would have no problem with her if she made her goals (or showed me she was trying) and acted in a professional manner while she is at work. she is lazy, not assertive and downright rude to customers. she doesnt follow dress code, she leaves her safe keys laying on the counters, etc. etc. etc. and in response to what your reply, i guess if i was in need of a job, no matter what age i was, i would try and curb my spending. its not my fault that she needs to work because she shops too much on frivilous things.

anyway, its my day off and i am not going to dwell on this anymore today. things will happen however they are meant to anyway. im not worried about it. :)

[CrankItUp!]

Well , more power to you then Icey Girl ! :)

[marsdaddy]

I wouldn't post here about it.

I might ask her, directly, if she likes her job and wants to keep it. Then ask why she doesn't complete the lists you hand her.

[iceygirl]

I wouldn't post here about it.

I might ask her, directly, if she likes her job and wants to keep it. Then ask why she doesn't complete the lists you hand her.

as for posting here about it, yes im done with my small rant on this topic, i will refrain from anymore boring threads such as this and leave you to your 'omglol i just took a giant shit' threads. :)

and yeah, of course ive talked with her about all these things.

[iceygirl]

i did it 2 days ago.

[ms.peachy]

i did it 2 days ago.
Whoa, creepy spooky psychic moment - I swear, I was just thinking about this about two hours ago. For some reason, apropos of nothing, I found myself wondering "I wonder whatever happened with iceygirl and that older woman she was having problems with. I should ask her about that next time I see her on the the board." And then now, this.

whooooOOOOOOooooo, spooooky

[iceygirl]

*eerie noises*

we must have some sort of thing goin on cuz i have been thinking about it loads and i when i dropped in just now i was debating to post an update or not, saw you were here, and decided to :P

[ms.peachy]

Isn't that wierd! As a scientician, I know I'm neant to write that off as coincidence and not attribute it to unquantifiable paranormal superstition. But daaaaaammnnn, how uncanny.

[iceygirl]

so read my mind right now peachy

[ms.peachy]

so read my mind right now peachy
You need to go to the toilet.

[iceygirl]

i always knew there was something about you