Firing employees

[JoeBannon]

I have a few people that work for me full time, but there is one that I hired two months ago that I had to fire yesterday. I really didn't enjoy it, but her working for me was pointless and I don't want to waste her time... and mine. Now I see why companies have an HR dept so they can do the firing.

[David Whatley]

Firing someone is never easy. I have had to do it in the past, and dont like it, but it is all part of life. Want to out source your HR to me? Seems everyone I know has me hire and fire for them :)

[Lucid Photo]

Sorry to hear about your troubles with your employees. I have had to fire several people in the past while I worked as a mananger at a transportation company and I have had to fire a couple since I have owned my own business and none of them were easy. Of all the parts of my job that is my least favorite. But I think if you enjoyed it and it was easy there would definately be something wrong with you.

I think the hardest for me were the big burly truck drivers that looked like they could kill you that would break down crying when they were let go. That always made me feel bad because they would be talking about supporting their wife and kids and everything.

We had to call the cops a couple of times and in my opinion the worst ones we fired were females. A lot of them flipped out and started cussing us out. Oh well, sorry to hijack the thread.

Good luck in your business and I hope that your future employees work out better.

[CobyPhoto]

Never a fun task...just wait till one you let go decides to file for unemployement on you and you have to deal with all those headaches as well.

CJ

[HotHolly]

We have hired several people. And a few of them didn't work out either. It sounds like this employee was with you for a while. That's partly why we take in interns instead of employees. Its a 4 month learning period, and if they don't learn, then I dont have to hire them. That tends to be more win win, but it takes a bit of time. So far, no regrets going that road. Sorry you had a rough day. I bet she did too.

[snidow]

I've had to fire people and once a manager told me that I should think of it has they have fired themselves, because they had given me cause to fire them. So, I always gave them the required warnings and write up and still they would continue with whatever the issue was and ended up without a job. The ones I can not stand are the rifs (reduction in workforce) these suck because these people don't see it coming, there are no warnings you just suddenly don't have a job anymore.

PS: I'm in a position now where I don't have to do this anymore and I have much less stress in my life!

[CaptainTom]

Geez Joe
From the tone of some of your responses here on TPF I wouldn't peg you as a "softy". You seem pretty hardnosed to me, but I don't know you.
Try to be kind, and just go on with it.

As far as someone's comment about unemployment.
Unemployment is not something that is "given" to you. You have paid for it through your wage deductions. It isn't welfare.

[JoeBannon]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Geez Joe, From the tone of some of your responses here on TPF I wouldn't peg you as a "softy". You seem pretty hardnosed to me, but I don't know you.
Try to be kind, and just go on with it.

I try to be fair to people the best I can and it's hard to be that way when you have to consider so many other things at the same time.

Sorry for being hard nosed, I wont be posting here as much anymore.

[Lghtning4u]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

Firing someone is never easy. I have had to do it in the past, and dont like it, but it is all part of life. Want to out source your HR to me? Seems everyone I know has me hire and fire for them :)

Hey David, maybe you can fire that monkey Ben has, lmao!

[David Whatley]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

As far as someone's comment about unemployment.
Unemployment is not something that is "given" to you. You have paid for it through your wage deductions. It isn't welfare.

Have to argue a little her Tom.
Yes you do pay a small amount of your own Unemployment, but the Biz Owner also pays and the rate is based on how often employees have drawn benifits from the company. Heres the rub. Let's say you have 10 employees. and your UErate is 1.5%. That is 1.5 percent of TOTAL GROSS payroll. Now if you get rid of a bad apple and they file and draw benifits, your rate will jump to about 4.5% of GROSS payroll.
Assume a total 10 employee payroll of 40K a month. 40K X 1.5% = $600.00 a month. Now fire that one bad apple, and they draw, then your rate goes to 40K X 4.5% = 1,800 a month.
Now your rate remains at that rate for 3 years. You will have an option in DEcember of that year, fro about 3 weeks to repay ALL the monies the bad apple drew back to the Tex Work Force Commish and keep your rate the same low rate.

Sucks Huh.

[CaptainTom]

I personally don't know anyone who has a bunch of employees who doesn't figure the 4.5 % into the cost of doing business. If you have a group of great employees and no one is fired, you reap a "benefit" of the lower rate.
Granted that small companies get screwed on many different levels. It pays to go it big, or go it alone.

Just a different perspective.

[JoeBannon]

When you hire someone, you have to add in all their costs and consider that in determining their salary. There are a few I have as contractors, which I like because it's easier for me.

[picasso]

If it were me I would hire only contractors but, I am sure there are rules about that. Seems the least expensive way to go. You pay them directly and they are responsible for taxes, insurance etc... etc....

Paul

[JoeBannon]

Originally Posted by picasso

If it were me I would hire only contractors but, I am sure there are rules about that. Seems the least expensive way to go. You pay them directly and they are responsible for taxes, insurance etc... etc....

I'd be interested to know what those rules are.

[CaptainTom]

This MIGHT be helpful... I say MIGHT because it is a government document and they can be difficult to comprehend sometimes.

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte...s_ic_test.html