Learn from my mistakes......

[chashelp]

You would think that after laying-off or firing MANY individuals over my 25 years of working for automotive dealerships it would get easier to terminate an employee, it doesnt. Its still one of the worst parts of being an effective and responsible manager.

There are only two things that relieve my pain for the individuals, one being that I have a responsibility to all the other hardworking individuals to maintain a profitable dealership so they may feed their familys and two being many times when an individual forces me to terminate them, they are simply asking me to make that hard decision for them, Should I start over and find a different job that will make me happy and change my life?.

Am I wearing rose color glasses?

Good Luck to all who must take on the responsibility of maintaining a profitable dealership.

[Al Manning]

You've gotten some pretty solid responses Irish. There's not much more to be said other than welcome to humanity.

[cantfind12]

I agree with an earlier poster. Unlike Dr. Phil my personal experience has been assesing people in real time. I have found most folks get what they need passively. It's easier to tell the wife you got fired because of the system rather than tell her your chosen profession may pay the bills but isn't your true calling. We've all been through it and can all tell stories about terminations that have been a blessing in disguise. They say God helps those who help themselves......I say this guy was merely helping himself in the fashion he deemed best for everyone. Not your fault.

[Partsman222]

Old Irish,
I have been there personally. I hired my brother in law.(go figure). I brought him in as a stock man. he was eager to learn. But his personal life was a mess. After numerous warnings it became a joke. I used the if we can find someone to do what he does for what he makes I will fire him today!

So after that got old, I was getting it from all sides. One day decided enough was enough. I gave him his notice. His last day he worked here was pretty emotional. Not every day you fire your own family. But I decision had been made. That night he hit what I thought was rock bottom. He went missing. I drove around looking for him till 5 am the next morning. Felt horrible. What if he hurt himself? I was a mess. Then dragged myself to work, found out later he was at a bar drinking his last check away. Well you can figure how I felt. In the end if the people respect you they will listen, if they don't they will do what ever they want. Usually once they get away with it they will keep doing it.

Just my 2 cents... well good luck..