Life Question for business owners/managers/boss types - Page 3

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-06-2012, 02:46 PM

Has anyone ever had to fire a friend? That's the position I find myself in soon. Any advice?

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-06-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsNow

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

It's ultimately not my choice. It's a directive from above me to do this in my department.

**HemiEd** · 01-06-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

Has anyone ever had to fire a friend? That's the position I find myself in soon. Any advice?

Been down this road a lot.

The best advice is to never hire a friend or family. Don't ever sell anything to friends or family either.

That being said, I hired a very good close friend almost two years ago now,(hadn't done it in 30 years) to head up the sales of a new division we started.

He was broke, divorced and unemployed, due to this economy, his age, and lack of work ethic. But the guy is a pitbull, he could sell ice to eskimos.

I sacrificed the friendship almost immediately because it was the only way it was going to work. I quit socializing with him, quit bowling/golfing with him etc. I had to do this, he showed immediately that he would try and take advantage of it.

He has done a great job finally, but it has been brutal. Kept me up a lot of nights, but he is finally getting it.

He is now making some pretty good money also, but we will never be casual friends again, as long as we both work together.

Good luck with it beer me, it is a tough position.

**TimeForWasp** · 01-06-2012, 04:20 PM

Go have a beer with him. Shoot a game of pool or whatever the two of you do and when you are together ,both relaxed , then BAM

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-06-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Been down this road a lot.

The best advice is to never hire a friend or family. Don't ever sell anything to friends or family either.

That being said, I hired a very good close friend almost two years ago now,(hadn't done it in 30 years) to head up the sales of a new division we started.

He was broke, divorced and unemployed, due to this economy, his age, and lack of work ethic. But the guy is a pitbull, he could sell ice to eskimos.

I sacrificed the friendship almost immediately because it was the only way it was going to work. I quit socializing with him, quit bowling/golfing with him etc. I had to do this, he showed immediately that he would try and take advantage of it.

He has done a great job finally, but it has been brutal. Kept me up a lot of nights, but he is finally getting it.

He is now making some pretty good money also, but we will never be casual friends again, as long as we both work together.

Again... I didn't hire him. I became his boss after we were friends and worked together a while. Now I'm the one in the position to do this.

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-06-2012, 04:27 PM

At any rate there's been some good advice here that has confirmed what I thought. The honest and straight forward way is the way to go. Don't sugar coat but empathize and be willing to help him from here.

I appreciate the input. I'm not looking forward to the end of next week though but I'll handle it.

Thanks all.

vailpass · 01-06-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsNow

Go have a beer with him. Shoot a game of pool or whatever the two of you do and when you are together ,both relaxed , then BAM

blsilks · 01-06-2012, 04:28 PM

First off have you had any talks with him regarding his performance or will he be completely unaware? In a lot of cases if you talk to somebody about the problem they will correct themselves. Eventually you will reach a point of having talked to them too many times and will have to fire them but at least you tried to manage your employee before letting them go. Now if you have to fire him because he is committing fraud or something like that then it should be pretty easy to fire him.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 01-06-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blsilks

First off have you had any talks with him regarding his performance or will he be completely unaware? In a lot of cases if you talk to somebody about the problem they will correct themselves. Eventually you will reach a point of having talked to them too many times and will have to fire them but at least you tried to manage your employee before letting them go. Now if you have to fire him because he is committing fraud or something like that then it should be pretty easy to fire him.

I'll help you out since it's all the way up six posts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

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.

**HemiEd** · 01-06-2012, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

Again... I didn't hire him. I became his boss after we were friends and worked together a while. Now I'm the one in the position to do this.

That is different, sorry. I haven't been in that position.

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-06-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

That is different, sorry. I haven't been in that position.

It's cool... I didn't give any details in the beginning because I didn't intend for it to be about specifics, just looking for a general consences (sp) or feeling to either confirm or deny what I was thinking. I've gotten that now so I know I was thinking the right things. I know there's a lot of people in mangerial positions on here so I just wanted to bounce a general idea off them. Appreciate everyones input.

scho63 · 01-06-2012, 05:24 PM

You do it honestly but sometimes trying to add a little humor as he is a best friend could soften the blow. It depends on WHY he is being fired.

Not cutting it-need to explain why and try to help him find something else

He did something intentionally to hurt your business-who cares fire him

It also sucks if your wives or significant others are friends-that sometimes is the worse

**Tribal Warfare** · 01-06-2012, 05:26 PM

The thing I'd do would be honest about it straight up, then list the good stuff he did but then disclose how he ****ed up.

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-06-2012, 05:30 PM

I'm already a job reference for him and will offer to do more if he wants it. Time to be a manager first and a friend second as much as it sucks.

01-06-2012, 05:40 PM

You know what is awesome about ChiefsPlanet? Your friend is probably a member. He's going to find out he's being fired on ChiefsPlanet a la Gunther.

Dr. Johnny Fever · 01-06-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

You know what is awesome about ChiefsPlanet? Your friend is probably a member. He's going to find out he's being fired on ChiefsPlanet a la Gunther.

LOL.... no he's a Vikings fan from Northern Iowa. I wouldn't have posted this if any of my friends here were aware of the place... even if my friends here knew about CP they'd have no clue who the hell beer me is... I mean who really does?

01-06-2012, 02:46 PM
Dr. Johnny Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	Question for business owners/managers/boss types Has anyone ever had to fire a friend? That's the position I find myself in soon. Any advice?
Posts: 34,865

01-06-2012, 04:20 PM	#33
TimeForWasp Sprinkle in some Mahomes Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Butte Montana Casino cash: $7658507	Go have a beer with him. Shoot a game of pool or whatever the two of you do and when you are together ,both relaxed , then BAM
Posts: 8,271

01-06-2012, 04:27 PM	#35
Dr. Johnny Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	At any rate there's been some good advice here that has confirmed what I thought. The honest and straight forward way is the way to go. Don't sugar coat but empathize and be willing to help him from here. I appreciate the input. I'm not looking forward to the end of next week though but I'll handle it. Thanks all. __________________ courtesy of BoneKrusher "Baseball? It's just a game. As simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, a business and sometimes a religion." Ernie Harwell
Posts: 34,865

01-06-2012, 04:28 PM	#37
blsilks Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: na Casino cash: $10005010	First off have you had any talks with him regarding his performance or will he be completely unaware? In a lot of cases if you talk to somebody about the problem they will correct themselves. Eventually you will reach a point of having talked to them too many times and will have to fire them but at least you tried to manage your employee before letting them go. Now if you have to fire him because he is committing fraud or something like that then it should be pretty easy to fire him. __________________ blsilks < Cassel
Posts: 514

01-06-2012, 05:24 PM	#41
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $-720000	You do it honestly but sometimes trying to add a little humor as he is a best friend could soften the blow. It depends on WHY he is being fired. Not cutting it-need to explain why and try to help him find something else He did something intentionally to hurt your business-who cares fire him It also sucks if your wives or significant others are friends-that sometimes is the worse
Posts: 54,921

01-06-2012, 05:26 PM	#42
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2777187	The thing I'd do would be honest about it straight up, then list the good stuff he did but then disclose how he ****ed up. __________________
Posts: 43,419

01-06-2012, 05:30 PM	#43
Dr. Johnny Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	I'm already a job reference for him and will offer to do more if he wants it. Time to be a manager first and a friend second as much as it sucks. __________________ courtesy of BoneKrusher "Baseball? It's just a game. As simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, a business and sometimes a religion." Ernie Harwell
Posts: 34,865

01-06-2012, 05:40 PM	#44
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	You know what is awesome about ChiefsPlanet? Your friend is probably a member. He's going to find out he's being fired on ChiefsPlanet a la Gunther.
Posts: n/a