How do I fire a friend?

Question

I have worked with an older gentleman for about 8 months and made a good friend.He is a very hard worker but he makes too many costly mistakes.I have tried to teach him but he does not want to accept that he is wrong.He always makes silly excuses for everything mistake and I have had enough.I like him but have to fire him Monday.Help me out

Answer 1

Just tell me exactly that, be diplomatic but business is business. Nothing personal. It may end your friendship, but if something like that breaks you two up, then you weren't really friends to begin with. Good luck babe!

Answer 2

This is tough. I feel for you. I think you put it very well here. Tell him essentially what you told us.

I feel I have made a good friend with you. You are a very hard worker. And (the word but dismisses everything you say before this and you really don't want to do that. When you hear but you wonder, "oh oh what is coming, because he really did not mean what he just said" so use the word and) And you are making too many costly mistakes. I have tried to teach you but you do not accept when you are wrong. I like you. And I have to let you go.

He may or may not (you never know) respond in an appropriate way. Sometimes people go on the offensive sometimes they simply take what you sad and leave. You really can not tell in advance how they will take it. So it may be appropriate to have someone else on your management team present in case he turns out to be one who goes nuts, preferably someone from your HR department.

This is not going to be the highlight of your day no matter what.

Answer 3

Because he is your friend I would handle it a bit different. I would lay it on the line. Tell him what you have a problem with. Explain to him that though you are friends and you want to remain friends that the business requires that things run smoothly and the mistakes that you and he are unable to get an understanding about are getting in the way of business. Based on your friendship you are reluctant to fire him. So you are giving him notice that the mistakes need to stop. Business needs to take the front row and you hope this doesn't effect your friendship. If it doesn't work out. You will be forced to give him two weeks notice the next time there is a problem. This way you are giving him a chance to look for other employment or straighten up. If you are forced to let him go have a letter of recommendation that is honest about his attributes ready for him. You will be required to pay unemployment until he finds work. Maybe you know another Company that needs his talents where his kind of mistakes won't be so problematic. Good luck

Answer 4

You have a very hard task in front of you. It's very hard to fire an employee that you have made friends with. However you state that you have tried to teach him several times and he basically blows it off. As a supervisor for many years, the first mistake you made was to make friends with an employee that you supervise because now you find part of your job to be a very hard task to do. I would start the conversation with something positive about the person then go on to tell him that you have several times tried to teach him the task that needs to be done, and he had continued to make silly excuses about the mistakes, I would tell him how much these mistakes have cost the company and that it can not continue. Hopefully he will become angry enough to quit at this point, because no company wants to pay unemployment, unless it is absolutely necessary.

Answer 5

Ouch - I would not want to be you. I think the best way to do it is to tell him that it is a very difficult thing that you have to do, but that you unfortunately have no choice. If there is any chance that you can talk to him and tell him that you will have to fire him if things don't change, thereby giving him a chance to improve, that would save you from having to do that. If that isn't possible, then I think you should show him by your tone and demeanor, that you truly are upset that you have to do this to a friend, but that you have to do what is best for the business because you would also be fired if you made mistakes that cost the business money. I wish you luck. Just try to do it gently and leaving his dignity intact. Do it privately if you can (don't draw attention to it by calling him into your office, when others witness you calling him in there). Good luck.

Answer 6

Well, I hope that when your friend has been making these mistakes, you have been documenting them. Meaning, you have gone through a progressive discipline process in which for every mistake there is consequences. Maybe for the second mistake, there is a verbal warning, then for the next one he would get a written, maybe another written, then a suspension, then termination. If not, it could be unethical to fire him. If he has received not discipline for his costly mistakes, then he may think that he is doing a good job. If you have followed a progressive discipline process, then just explain to him that it is policy and that you are sorry but it is out of your hands.

Answer 7

I would not say to him that he is fired. As his friend you owe him to tell him the truth. Sometimes when we are talking to seniors you have to have a firm statue within your voice. Explain to him how you did to us you respect your friendship,however the work that he is doing is not the standard for what you need. His work is costing the company instead of making it money. I do have a question though, is there another position that could be given to the gentlemen? If not just explain that you will have to let him go you hate to but there is no other choice. Hope this help.

Answer 8

If you have been told to fire him by your boss then by all means do it. Just remind him of his mistakes and what it has cost the co. If however you have a chance sit him down and tell him in no uncertain terms one more costly mistake and he WILL be fired. Good luck it wont be easy. Remember YOU have a JOB take care of it

Answer 9

Very difficult, first rule of business is "Don't have friends in business".
But, as this is the real world and we all do make friends and have to fire them sometimes, you must take a professional approach, sit him down, explain the times you have tried to assist him and that has failed and now it is time to let him go.

Answer 10

this is quite some Aries, too lots for me. perhaps your moon sign and extending sign are distinctive components like water or earth.only for the reason which you have 4 Aries indications rather does no longer advise something, what approximately the different indications on your chart? i be attentive to a Aries-Leo-Sag triple friendship they get alongside ok surprisingly. One has a Virgo Moon, one has an Aries Moon , i'm not sure correct to the Sag's moon nevertheless.

Answer 11

You must let friendship be friendship and business be business. Go to him in a kind and caring way and explain to him just what you have ask here. If he is a true friend he will understand that you also have a job to do. If he doesn't then he wasn't the friend that maybe you thought he was.