Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Have you ever fired someone - how did it go?

Had my first episode today after 14 years with my company. It did not go like I thought it would. Had to call the police to get the guy to leave the property. I'm all for people working and supporting their family. Nevertheless, when I have given someone multiple chances to fix their performance problems over the years, and they just continue to take advantage of your patience . . . well I think I did the correct thing for the company.

I've had to do it and thankfully, it went better than your experience did.

Don't sweat it. It comes with the job
I've fired hundreds of people

I've only had one get ugly. Usually when I have to fire someone they know it's coming; and have known for a while. I'm very clear as the documentation of non-performance escalates. I'll often start by saying "your actions are what brought us to this point" to make sure they know THEY are the responsible party, not me.

Sometimes it goes pretty easy, sometimes it doesn't. I've never had to call the cops though. Generally when someone has to get fired they are screwing up enough to know it is coming.

I usually carry though, especially on days I know someone is going to get let go.

I never fired anybody. They fired themselves. I just helped them realize they didn't work for me anymore.

Never had any trouble with them like you did though. Sorry for your troubles.

Usually I was glad to see someone go out the door for the last time if it came down to firing them. What I really hated were lay off times when I had to go from around a 120 to below 60. Then I had no choice and the workers were not the kind you wanted to see go.

I did twice.

One went well for me, not well for the thief. I called him out for stealing and told him I had evidence. He cried and got fired.

During the second one a few years later the numb nuts lunged at me across the conference room table while cursing me out. I did a suave conference room table push away and he missed.

We all knew this was going to get ugly so my boss and building security were waiting outside the conference room. He was escorted from the building.

Just be sure everything is documented.

Yes they all went as well as expected. Nothing crazy yet. Always have another person in the room when you fire someone.

Many times, not fun but they knew they f'up. I have had lay offs while still hiring. Some just beg for it.
Allan

Fired bunches of them but almost always with good documentation. We had a three strikes policy...three 'interviews' and you were gone. At the end of the second one my favorite line was " You have two strikes against you, and a fast ball coming..."

Always unfun. Document - document - document.

A few times, not the most fun. Worst one was a guy started crying, really embarassed himself.

The ones I've been involved in went down much like this. You really have to document the things that have caused the termination. Very important. We only ever had one that got ugly. Ugly to the point we had to get a restraining order. Once again, the former worker did him self in-he ended up in jail for getting in a fight. After that we never heard from him again.

I hope you were satisfied with the officers that responded and the way they did their job.

100% true story.

When I was 24 and out of extended University a very well known business man took me under his wing to further his business with me as his apprentice. He sent me down to Birmingham, Alabama to terminate everyone in the building. About 20 or so sales people.

Well word got out that I was coming and boy were they ever ready for me. I walked onto the sales showroom floor and there came an elderly gentleman, in his underwear, riding a bicycle and YES smoking a joint. Needless to say, I was stunned. Further into the building revealed a game of strip poker going on in the break room and a fully stocked bar with about 7 sellers and their friends celebrating happy hour. ALL in their underwear. Men and women. About that time some customers walked in and the guy on the bike dropped his drawers and shouted WELCOME!! The man's wife fainted.

I just shook my head, walked out and drove back to Atlanta. I was the one who resigned that exact same day. Never fired anyone in my life to include that day!!

My introduction into the real world ala Alabama!! Well they sure showed me!

In hindsight I should have simply joined the party!!!

I've fired plenty of hod carriers through my job, but once, I got to fire someone who didn't even work for me. Several years ago when I was in college, I came home for summer break from Laramie, and was celebrating in my favorite hometown bar.

So I was sitting there with a couple of guys I knew discussing the new to me cute cowgirl bartender. My friends were explaining to me what a stuck up b#*%@ she was while she stood over with two other cowgirl friends ignoring us for the most part. Pretty soon two cute biker girls came in and sat at the bar--the bartender ignored them, for a long time. There were only the seven customers in the three groups I've mentioned in there at the time. I did see her lip curl when she looked over at them, but she just turned her back on them and stuck with her friends. So, I spoke up, I said, "I would like to buy these two ladies who have been so patiently waiting a drink". She brought their drinks to them slammed 'em on the bar without a word and came to me with a snotty attitude and snapped "six bucks" or whatever that run back then.

She didn't know me, or that I was in there because one of my best friends, Lee, owned the place, or that I had worked there off and on for years. I told her to call Lee and tell him that Brad just fired her, and to give me the phone (no cells yet) when she was done. He didn't even know the why I told her that yet, but when she handed me the phone, she handed me the keys as well, and walked out the door. I put the phone to my ear and Lee told me he had wanted her gone for a while, but couldn't find a replacement till he heard that I was home and had already fired her for him.

"Replacement", I said,"I already got a job for the summer". "Yea but that's in the day, I want you here at night, besides you fired my help, you owe me". "Well I guess, but I want a two dollar raise and for you to start looking for my replacement," I told him. "You get one dollar, and you're here till fall classes start," he says. I'm really startin' to wish I hadn't fired that chick, but then I noticed the two biker girls were empty and needed my attention, so there I was for another summer

I have fired many. Those with the company went reasonably well as we had a strict process to follow to assure so. Once I went to international projects nearly all that I canned were contractors. I would just advise my PA to call the agency and give them the persons' end date. Poof he/she was gone.

I've always volunteered to do the firing. Shoot, back when in my college days when I worked security to pay tuition, I even had to do the escorting out of the building.

Done it many times and never had a issue. People who are fired put themselves in that position. Laying good people off sucks and is never easy.