UGH.
I haven't blogged this yet because it's so stressful - my managerial colleagues and I have had to fire someone due to poor performance. He has been in this job for 3+ years without ever performing at the expected level, and by the time I came into my position a year ago the problem had already gotten way out of hand. That is, it's very difficult to explain to someone that despite the fact that someone else has kept them on for 2+ years, this has been out of charity which the company can no longer afford to extend.

This all took place on Friday, after which time the employee went around and spoke to several of his colleagues about how unfairly he had been treated, as he was not given some sort of trial period in which to improve his performance - which had been given him in the past. Of course, he has had 3 years to understand the expectations for his position, but he is not the most objective judge here of course.

He was given one more month on the job - we will see if our efforts to be generous in this regard will come back to bite us. If he is disruptive he will have to be asked to leave immediately. It's unfortunate that he has decided to make a scene about this, because there's nothing anyone else can do to give him a discreet exit if he does not cooperate.

PLEASE pray for M. (the dismissed employee) and the rest of us - his colleagues, that M. is able to leave the company with dignity, and that he does not cause confusion and stress to everyone else as he does so.

Thanks.