Random Rants & Rumblings

I corrupt 2 small children. 1 woman tolerates me.
roasted.feedus at the g

I’m the boss. Part III

When I was a young man I worked for my father on a cattle ranch. He had the
responsibility of managing the cattle yard. His responsibilities included
managing the people that worked there.

One day he was put in the position of terminating someones employment. The
employee deserved to be terminated for numerous issues. I noticed that my
father was in a darker mood than normal. This seemed odd to me as I thought
he might have been relieved and even in good spirits having been relieved
of the burden of this troublesome employee. I asked him why he seemed so
down.

“Clint,” he said, “it is never a good thing to take a mans livelihood
whatever the reason. His decisions were his own and I was left with no
choice but to do what I did. At the same time I have finally put him in the
position where he will need to go home and tell his wife and children that
he doesn’t have a job. For that reason, I don’t think I can ever be happy
or relieved when I take someones job.”

This concept took a long time to settle in for me. I was young and brash
and was often of the opinion that if you can’t or won’t do the work then
get the hell out of the way.

At the tender age of 18 I was first put into the position where I had to
take someones job. I had no other choice and I was surprised to find that I
did not feel joy at being rid of this burdensome individual. I was sad. I
now was the one who had to usher in this employees conversation with his
family.

I’ve had many more of these experiences in the last 15 years (2 in the last
48 hours). None of them have ever brought me relief. Ever. I think I will
be very worried when they do.

  1. jamiek said: I’ve never been able to sleep the night before I have to fire someone. I sometimes think it’s nearly as bad to be a conscientious manager who has to fire someone as it is to be fired.
  2. felicitous-tranquility said: A good manager always starts by being human.
  3. mellielou said: The first (and so far the only) time I had to do it, I wanted to go throw up as soon as I had finished. But since his wife had dropped him off, I had to go sit with him until she picked him up instead.
  4. froggeek said: I’ve had to fire exactly 1 person, and it’s not something I ever want to do again.
  5. claviusrobinsky posted this