I fire people for a living - AMA

[newbie202020]

Just that really, feel free to ask away

We’ve recently dismissed someone due to sickness. They had been given every opportunity to improve for 5 years but still averaged 40% of the time off work (on full sick pay). This is public sector so tax payer’s money being spent on someone who isn’t working and made little attempt to improve their sickness. They thought we should accommodate part time hours on full time wages, and when that was refused, used sick leave to achieve the same aim.

But presumably you think that was wrong.

Similarly I sat in a dismissal meeting as an independent note taker. Poor employee had severe MH issues and was unable to work probably forever but certainly for the next few years. Had been off over a year so used up full and half sick pay and was now on nothing. As he was still employed he couldn't access the benefits he needed. He didn't want to resign but I don't know why. Returns with different hours, support, working from home and role changes had all been attempted and failed.

What else was the employer to do?

What a thoroughly revolting way of describing what you do OP. If you are at all professional then you would describe what you do as being a professional within HR/ Employee Relations in which a small proportion of your role may be to oversee redundancy / dismissals owing to conduct or capability. I find your post to be utterly crass and without an ounce of empathy or humility. One day it may be you in the position of being dismissed so try and show a little bit of humanity.

He didn't want to resign but I don't know why.

Benefits get sanctioned if you resign.

Also full notice pay is payable if you are dismissed on long term sick if you resign it's just covered with sick pay if eligible but many will have exhausted this.

Yes on thinking back it must have been a benefits thing. The employee and employer agreed to waive the notice period and dismiss him with immediate effect as it would have just prolonged the period on zero pay.

In that case he missed out in notice pay unless this was paid in lieu.

Is the George Clooney character's job in Up In the Air realistic?

I have no idea - I was just taking notes. HR and the union were involved so I assume he got everything he was entitled to. The employer is not a bad one. Poor bloke had been caught up in a very well known disaster and never really recovered from what he saw.

Arse has been handed.

As an HR Director I spend a lot of time convincing people this isn't what I do for a living. I've dismissed three people in the last 12 months for gross misconduct- they were normal people who'd made stupid decisions just like all of us have at some point.

It's almost my least favourite part of my job. The worst is planning redundancies and having to keep it secret whilst listing to people making plans you know they wouldn't make if they knew what was coming (holidays, moves etc)- I literally don't sleep at night when that is going on.