Saturday, April 17, 2010

Have YOU ever fired someone from a job?

Last night, Liza and I watched Up In The Air. Well, I should rephrase that. I watched twenty minutes before I dozed off on the couch. Pathetic. But from what I could put together, George Clooney's character is hired by other companies to fire people for a living. Kind of seems like a waste of money doesn't it? If you want to give someone the pink slip, just MAN UP and do it yourself! 

While I'm positive the editor who fired me did not lose a wink of sleep over it, I thought his delivery was pretty weak. He couldn't even look me in the eye as he gave me some BS excuse about my inability to "pull in the contacts they needed." (Umm, you knew from the jump that I had no prior tabloid reporting experience. Doesn't it take more than a few months to develop strong contacts? Whateves.) And even though I was both fuming and crying on the inside, I took the high road and extended my hand to end the 60-second conversation in a cordial manner. However, what I really wish I had done is this

So tell me: Have YOU ever fired someone from a job? Was it hard to do? And if you could fire anyone, who would it be? I think I'd go with Sarah Palin. I could totally do without turning on the TV and seeing her face on it. P.S. I recently realized on a previous post that I said "you betcha!" and I almost diiied. Never again.


10 comments:

  1. I got fired from my internship, but my boss didn't do it. He got someone else to do it. I think what you learn most through things like this is that a) shit happen b) you learn about what kind of person your boss is c) that life goes on and being fired is not a monumental as it first seems.

    I think I'm a tiny bit too young to be firing anyone, but I've seen my father do it when necessary. I think I'd fire David Cameron - guy is a total joke.

    By the way - I haven't read your blog in a long time. But I was looking through my saved links and it popped up. It looks really great now and you seem to be doing a good job. Free People - great label, great skirt. Best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I used to work in HR when I was in the coporate world and I definitely had to fire a few people. It wasn't a pleasant experience but I never felt like anyone I fired didn't deserve it...or maybe I just don't have a lot of sympathy??

    ReplyDelete
  3. Never been fired, or fired anyone. I just get "cut" because of budget cuts. NOthing like hearing a job review on Wednesday telling you "I love your performance, and can't find anything for you to work on. YOu are a great teacher." and then on Thursday? Get cut due to budgets. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've never had to let anyone go (thank goodness!) but when I worked in retail, I often had to write people (sometimes friends!) up for being late. Not fun times!

    ReplyDelete
  5. first time reading your blog, just wanted to say it's super cute and funny, good job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi,
    Thanks for the comment on my blog. Looks like you are stuck in a bad situation too with job and money. God, life just sucks right now. And it looks really dismal...trying to take it a minute at a time.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I fired a guy on his second day. He deserved it! Total nut case. He argued everything I said for his first two days, and then started yelling at me on his second day! I basically said "Get out of here before you get on payroll..." I think he needed to be put on a watch list or something. He did me a favor. The guy I got instead was MUCH better.

    ReplyDelete
  8. one of my good friends works in HR at our company and i have made her swear that she will be the one to let me go if it ever comes to that. or at least give me a secret heads up...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Totally true, E...things always seem like the end of the world at first, but then you live, get through it and move on!

    MHP, I can't picture you firing anyone! You seem too freakin' NICE!

    Ahh Sara, that sucks! At least you know it's not personal. That's not a very nice feeling.

    Ohh that would be hard, Rosemary! I don't know if I could do that, ahhh.

    Why thanks so much Runningwithsass! :)

    Yep, Emptynutjar, I take it day by day. Which really, is all I can do because my life is so unpredictable right now! And really, that is not such a bad thing.

    Hilarious, George. Did you HIRE this wacko?? If so, he must have buried the crazy deep deep down.

    Yeah, MA, a heads up certainly would help...I think it's the shock of being told you no longer have a job that's the hardest! You just don't know what to DO or say! And trying not to cry? The worst!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yeah, the boss should have the guts to fire you personally. It would be more proper and final that way, and at least you'd know that he or she is aware of the situation (fair or not). I think pulling on a Jerry Maguire episode would help you cope with the disappointment. But that may not be so good when it comes to employee reference.

    Mike Clark

    ReplyDelete