Comments on: God Bless You, But You’re Fired http://mpchristianity.com/christians-firing-employees.html where biblical principles produce everlasting profits Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:33:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Brad Harmon http://mpchristianity.com/christians-firing-employees.html#comment-954 Brad Harmon Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:03:08 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=4049#comment-954 I think there have only been a few that I have ever reached the point of anguish about. I have been blessed (or cursed) with an ability to separate my emotions from tasks like these in most occasions. You're correct. As Christians, we should be setting the highest of standards. We have a responsibility as employers to relay those standards during the hiring process and to only hire those candidates that possess the necessary skills to reach those standards. We also need to be committed to training and supporting our employees to be able to maintain these standards. Sadly, many entrepreneurs I have dealt with have done neither of these. It is in these situations that I have a hard time not feeling guilty when I have been tasked to let an employee go. I think there have only been a few that I have ever reached the point of anguish about. I have been blessed (or cursed) with an ability to separate my emotions from tasks like these in most occasions. You're correct. As Christians, we should be setting the highest of standards.

We have a responsibility as employers to relay those standards during the hiring process and to only hire those candidates that possess the necessary skills to reach those standards. We also need to be committed to training and supporting our employees to be able to maintain these standards.

Sadly, many entrepreneurs I have dealt with have done neither of these. It is in these situations that I have a hard time not feeling guilty when I have been tasked to let an employee go.

]]> By: Red Letter Believers http://mpchristianity.com/christians-firing-employees.html#comment-953 Red Letter Believers Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:21:02 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=4049#comment-953 I have had to fire plenty of people in my day...and it was never easy. But it was necessary.__I tried to take out emotions and just stick to the facts, and usually 'the truth set me free" and them! I have had to fire plenty of people in my day…and it was never easy. But it was necessary.__I tried to take out emotions and just stick to the facts, and usually 'the truth set me free" and them!

]]> By: Red Letter Believers http://mpchristianity.com/christians-firing-employees.html#comment-952 Red Letter Believers Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:03:53 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=4049#comment-952 I have had to fire a number of employees over the years - and every one of them were with great personal anguish. But just because I'm a Christian doesnt mean you can work for me and be a slug -- we have standards! I have had to fire a number of employees over the years – and every one of them were with great personal anguish. But just because I'm a Christian doesnt mean you can work for me and be a slug — we have standards!

]]> By: Brad Harmon http://mpchristianity.com/christians-firing-employees.html#comment-951 Brad Harmon Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:15:05 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=4049#comment-951 Alison, Unfortunately, as a manager I have been put in this situation more than my fair share of times. I don't know if it ever gets easier. The worst ones for me were where I disagreed with the owner but still had to be the person to let the employee go. I guess they felt I became pretty good at it because I was often called upon to terminate employees for other managers. I've always tried to make the situation as dignified as possible for the employee being terminated. If they reported to me then there was no surprise as we would have had several counseling sessions before then. If they reported to other managers then chances were high that my meeting with them was their first clue unless they had picked up on veiled references. I think that terminating an employee usually reflects more upon the employer than the employee; of course, there are always those exception employees. I like how Phil touched upon that in his posting. As employers we need to make sure we are doing our job well starting with hiring then training and ultimately acclamation to our company's culture. You're right about losing friends in the process. At the very least it seems to send a negative ripple throughout your company that can bounce around for weeks or months after the event. Great comments as always. :) Alison,

Unfortunately, as a manager I have been put in this situation more than my fair share of times. I don't know if it ever gets easier. The worst ones for me were where I disagreed with the owner but still had to be the person to let the employee go. I guess they felt I became pretty good at it because I was often called upon to terminate employees for other managers.

I've always tried to make the situation as dignified as possible for the employee being terminated. If they reported to me then there was no surprise as we would have had several counseling sessions before then. If they reported to other managers then chances were high that my meeting with them was their first clue unless they had picked up on veiled references.

I think that terminating an employee usually reflects more upon the employer than the employee; of course, there are always those exception employees. I like how Phil touched upon that in his posting. As employers we need to make sure we are doing our job well starting with hiring then training and ultimately acclamation to our company's culture.

You're right about losing friends in the process. At the very least it seems to send a negative ripple throughout your company that can bounce around for weeks or months after the event.

Great comments as always. :)

]]> By: alphasmith http://mpchristianity.com/christians-firing-employees.html#comment-950 alphasmith Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:32:34 +0000 http://bradleyaharmon.com/?p=4049#comment-950 My church is run by members voluntarily on the local and regional levels. No one is hired or fired (or paid), so it's never an issue at church. (Currently I'm a youth music director and my husband teaches Sunday School.) But as employers, we have been in the position to let people go and its, to be honest, horrible. Sometimes it's not because they aren't performing, but because you simply can't afford to keep them on due to changes in projects, sales, etc. But sometimes the employee is really not qualified and is a huge financial (and often emotional) drain on a company. In those cases, the employee almost never see his/her own weaknesses and it's almost impossible not to lose friends in the process. No one takes kindly to being let go -- even if necessary. My church is run by members voluntarily on the local and regional levels. No one is hired or fired (or paid), so it's never an issue at church. (Currently I'm a youth music director and my husband teaches Sunday School.)

But as employers, we have been in the position to let people go and its, to be honest, horrible. Sometimes it's not because they aren't performing, but because you simply can't afford to keep them on due to changes in projects, sales, etc. But sometimes the employee is really not qualified and is a huge financial (and often emotional) drain on a company. In those cases, the employee almost never see his/her own weaknesses and it's almost impossible not to lose friends in the process. No one takes kindly to being let go — even if necessary.

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