AIBU not to buy my employee a leaving card /present?

[EloiseTheFirst]

Small business. Me and 4 part time employees.

I hired this person to start beginning of August.

She resigned beginning of Sept. apparently going elsewhere as she needs more hours.

This is a part time role which was explained in the job ad, before interview, during interview and at job offer.

Employee says she was "job hunted" but I saw this job advertised mid Aug so I don't believe her.

I had to pay another member of staff to work extra hours to train her during a time I can barely afford to be paying double wages. Now I have to start all over again with someone else.

I am convinced she took this job as a stop gap to tide her over until she got something with more hours.

Consequently I'm not planning on giving her a leaving card / present.

Am I being bitter? Or is it fair enough?

Wherever I've worked it has been the staff who organise the card/present, not the boss.

Only if it is a significant leaver like long-serving retirement would management get involved.

It would be nice of you to give her a pretty card and wish her well in her new job.

Don't take it personally, think about it in a professional manner. Of course don't buy her any gift, but be pleasant, courteous and professional. She might end up representing your biggest client one day.

People who wanted more hours like her really annoy me. There are so many desperate to find a genuine part-time job, who know and accept the reality of the PT salary, time waster like your former employee are a nightmare. Nothing you can do about it. After all, maybe her partner lost his job, something happens.

No card or gift as she's only been with you one month.

I really hate it when employers blame employees for their own hiring mistakes. This is on you.

fine, but when the OP recruits a PT employee to specifically work PT hours, what do you think they have done wrong?

This is a part time role which was explained in the job ad, before interview, during interview and at job offer. how much clearer do you want it to be? Candidates and employees can be an absolute nightmare. No need to blame the OP because they run a small business.

It’s hard running a business, especially during the pandemic, and I understand why this is a strain on the business and on you personally.

Yes, it looks like she took it as a stop gap. You presumably asked during interview how well the hours worked for her and she presumably (Unless her circumstances changed in the time from accepting your offer to applying for the new job) gave an, a best, deceptive answer for you to be comfortable hiring. So that’s got to be annoying and to hurt. People are saying not to take it personally, but it’s hard not to when you run a small business. If you want to take the well rounded approach you could consider how desperate some people are to get work at the minute.

Regardless of how you view her actions though, what you do need to do for the sake of your business is put a professional face on. How you treat her will, one way or another, rub off on the other staff. Too dismissive and it will make you look a bit mean and less in control (probably less so to your 15 year employee than the 2 year employee). If you’re in a small community or get lots of business or staff through personal recommendations is may impact that.

I present isn’t necessary for a 2 month stint at work, but a card and good wishes, however you feel behind closed doors, help smooth over the bumpy patch.

• A present, not I present

notanothertakeaway It's not my business I don't own it. I manage a care home and no I don't have any spare money as the pay in the care sector is terrible.

Thanks for the work done and good wishes for the future seem enough to me.

Also why the need for a card? It's bad for the environment and says nothing you can't say in person.

She owes you nothing. You think she does, therefore wish to make a point? It's business.... If she has worked her notice (assume you approved the contract) then that's just how the cookie crumbled. And by the way, no ones' time is less valuable than working for a profit making business.

Get her a card.

I left employment after 5 years. I didn't get a card, a present, or a bye good luck for the future either.

Based on workplace bullying that the management wouldnt sort out (new management whilst on maternity leave too) was back for 5 months before I handed in my notice.

Just started a new job after taking time out with the kids (a year off) and my new coworkers are amazing people!

How you treat her will, one way or another, rub off on the other staff.

Don't worry too much, you do need to raise above but I expect other staff to be very pissed off about it all, they are the ones picking up the slack, they saw how time-consuming it all is. Boss trying to recruit someone to ease your workload is generally a good thing!

no ones' time is less valuable than working for a profit making business.

sorry what?

You might want to pause and think about your recruitment techniques. You could have found out if really she was after a full time job in the interview by asking after the circumstances of her job search. The OP did ask those questions and made the part time hours clear. There's nothing she "might want to pause and think" (who speaks like that?!) about.

It’s a massive pain in the arse and no I wouldn’t be buying them a gift either.

And I genuinely wouldn’t expect most employers to smile and say ‘that’s nice dear good luck’ after they have spent time interviewing, spending money on advertising and training some one up to leave after only a month. Time wasters.

No need for a card, but do say you completely understand that she has to do what's best for her and her family, and wish her the very best in her new job.

If she leaves thinking 'what a nice boss Eloise the First is', you may find her recommending other people she knows to apply to fill the role when you advertise. Our last vacancy was filled by recommendation of someone that left to be a SAHM, she recommended the job to two other people and we took one of them on (and she has been excellent).

@EloiseTheFirst

Small business. Me and 4 part time employees.

I hired this person to start beginning of August.

She resigned beginning of Sept. apparently going elsewhere as she needs more hours.

This is a part time role which was explained in the job ad, before interview, during interview and at job offer.

Employee says she was "job hunted" but I saw this job advertised mid Aug so I don't believe her.

I had to pay another member of staff to work extra hours to train her during a time I can barely afford to be paying double wages. Now I have to start all over again with someone else.

I am convinced she took this job as a stop gap to tide her over until she got something with more hours.

Consequently I'm not planning on giving her a leaving card / present.

Am I being bitter? Or is it fair enough?

Absolutely fair enough. But surely as a business owner you’re able to make this sort of top-level decision yourself

How you treat her will, one way or another, rub off on the other staff

No they will see it as a piss take too.

Definitely no card, but wish her well.

I don't think a leaving present is warranted for someone who only worked for a month. But I'd be polite to the them; just say 'good luck'.

YANBU, no card or pressie and no reference in the unlikely event she asks.

Forget her, she's a blip.

@RedRawShoulder

You don't have to buy them anything, but please do say goodbye and good luck.. Even if you don't feel it. It will give you both proper closure, as it should be.

I agree with that. Being bitter only hurts you. It's a rough thing to have happened but you'll move on.

Good luck.

No reference? That really is spiteful!

I would get her a card wishing her luck and part on good terms. I appreciate this is frustrating for you, but these things happen in business. By the sounds of it, you have been quite fortunate with your other workers staying a decent amount of time, so it's taking the good with bad.