I did that to a friend several years ago. Slow winter so I took an electrical apprentice job for his union shop to put some food on the table. Couldn't handle the guys on his crew hiding in a room for half the day because they couldn't do the job faster than it was bid. Made an 8 hour day seem like 16 so I started showing up when I wanted to... Called him up a couple weeks later and told him exactly why I couldn't continue. Felt like an ass but there's no way I'm going to sit around playing that union game.

Yes, but we weren't that close. I hired someone I knew from my poker league. Sadly, things didn't work out as she was always screwing around online during business hours.

That reminds me... gtg! LMAO

My decoder ring stopped working.....

Rep. That is a damn good response.

No,but I lost a good friend once due to him becoming involved with a sales rep of mine.Everything was fine until said rep decided she could start slacking off and taking advantage of my business due to her thinking she had an ace in the hole.Turns out she was wrong as when I turned up the heat she bailed on me and my friend of 20 years took her side.

To this day it still amazes me what a piece of ass can do to a guys thinking.

Give it a little tap. ;)

No I can't do anything that reminds me of fapping while I'm still in the contest.

Fire his ass... but offer to buy him a hooker as severance.

On the first point I have no choice.... on the second, beer would be better than a hooker around here.

It's the downfall of all men.

Never hire a friend. :thumb:

Chances are he won't be your friend after you let him go. Is this just a case of downsizing or did he do something that can't be tolerated? If it's downsizing there's not much you can do except offer him references and a hope to return to your company once things pick back up. If he violated company policy, stole, or just didn't pan out then you have to look beyond friendship and treat him like anyone else.

Yep.....

It REALLY sucks, and makes you not want to hire any friends ever.....

My advice would be either to just keep it completely honest (I didn't read further and see WHY you are firing him) if at all possible.....

Once I had to fire someone because basically they got lazier and lazier and their work got sloppy and I felt like they were taking advantage of our friendship. I couldn't muster the courage to say that, so I basically just told him that times were very lean and I was going to have to start cutting back on using him.

So I do realize it isn't always easy to tell the truth, but something in me wishes I wouldve spoken up sooner or told him the truth...in order to help HIM. He didn't seem to 'get it' and never really improved on his work.......

If your goal is to maintain your friendship and help that person get better or improve, then honesty is always best....If you don't really care about them or just don't want to deal with it...then you can make up something generic like "we just dont have the budget" or "I found a much less expensive alternative" or "times are tough right now" etc...

Sorry you are in this position...I feel for you 8-(

Do the " you put me in a bad spot" "What would you do if you were me" scenario.

It's 75% clearing payroll space for new projects this year... 25% performance. Two people are losing their jobs. My friend is one of them. We have a lot of employees and he was chosen based on being a "weak link" in a time of temporary downsizing. I know it's ultimately his fault for not making himself more of an asset and even being on the expendable list. I understand that completely. He hasn't stepped up as much as most others.

If he weren't an old friend it would be easy. Since he is it's hard. But I accepted my position with the knowledge that it comes with these things. It's not my first time firing someone it's just my first time firing someone who is dear to me.

I know we may not be friends anymore afterword. I hope in time that won't be the case. Really my question is just about how to do this to someone who has trusted and relied on you (me). Not so much about the business of it all. I can do that without a problem.