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Original poster

I am about to be mean to a friend & I can't see a way round it

25 replies

snapD · 15/08/2008 20:46

I have employed a friend for several years

I think I am going to have to make her redundant - I can't think of a way round it

The other staff are more flexible, cheaper, reliable and better at their jobs

I feel like crap

No-one can make it any better I guess I just wanted to acknowledge how bad I was feeling about it

OP posts:
Hecate · 15/08/2008 20:49

So she's not flexible, not reliable, costs too much and she's incompetent? Oh dear. Well, you have to do what you have to do. It is business, not personal.

Accept that you will probably lose her as a friend, but you cannot see your livelihood flushed down the loo to spare even the best friend's feelings.

Spidermama · 15/08/2008 20:50

Are you going to tell her why you have to let her go?

Original poster
snapD · 15/08/2008 20:51

She's not flexible - she has a family
She's not reliable - as above plus some health problems
She costs too much - well she has been with me the longest
She's incompetent - well she isn't she is very good.....the others are better

OP posts:
dropinthe · 15/08/2008 20:51

Feel for you!

Original poster
snapD · 15/08/2008 20:52

I'll say money and flexibility

I guess

OP posts:
jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 15/08/2008 20:53

The only fair way to do redundancy is as a business decision. Good luck.

Original poster
snapD · 15/08/2008 20:54

I know - it is the right decision

I feel bad about it though

I can't help but put myself in her position

OP posts:
Spidermama · 15/08/2008 20:57

Very tough. I've been fired twice. I remember both times vividly. Horrible.

StarlightMcKenzie · 15/08/2008 20:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
snapD · 15/08/2008 20:58

Our children are friends
Our families socialise

OP posts:
solidgoldbrass · 15/08/2008 20:59

Make sure you are absolutely in the right legally before you do anything (ie you can't make someone redundant and then employ someone else at a lower wage to do the same job). I am not criticising you at all - sometimes an employer has to make hard decisions - but don't make it a worse mess than necessary by leaving open loopholes for her to sue you.

Monchichi · 15/08/2008 21:00

Could you cut back her hours and hope that she finds a full time job somewhere else?

YIKES>.. it's gonna be awkward.

Fanlight · 15/08/2008 21:00

That's really sad that because someone has a family, they are naturally first in the firing line

I might not even try to get a job then, once I am able...

Not OP's fault obviously

Original poster
snapD · 15/08/2008 21:02

I spent several hours on the phone to ACAS today; to be sure I was doing things right

If I delay much more - everyone could lose their jobs & I could lose my house

The option is to lay everyone off that way at least everyone is in the same boat

OP posts:
Hecate · 15/08/2008 21:04

starlight - I ran a business for 4 years. We went under. Perhaps if I had made better business decisions and not gone with my heart, I wouldn't have been declared bankrupt. Employing the wrong people costs a lot of money. In my case it cost me everything. You DO have to seperate business from personal. If you don't, you are in the shit.

Yours truly
Hecate
dunpoopin
Shit street
Shitville

Fanlight · 15/08/2008 21:04

Can see your predicament, it's not a nice thing to have to do but if you feel it is the right thing then do it.

No point beating yourself up about it. Honestly just do what will work, that's your job, to do the right thing by most people/your company/your family.

Nobody can expect you to put them above those things iyswim.

StarlightMcKenzie · 15/08/2008 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

janeite · 15/08/2008 21:42

But if she has been with you the longest, shouldn't she be last out? Or am I being naive? Has she had performance management or something, so she knows your concerns already?

janeite · 15/08/2008 21:43

Sorry - that sounded unsympathetic; it wasn't supposed to.

Original poster
snapD · 15/08/2008 22:11

She knows what sacrifices I have made (2 months at no wages plus months at reduced rates same as them plus I have been job hunting so that I don't need to take anything from the business)

'Last in first out' is not a required way of deciding on redundancy - but I have considered it - however last in does hours that my friend can't

I don't have concerns - her work is fine. She meets her targets. The others exceed theirs

I think if I was being cold I wouldn't be so upset about it

OP posts:
CarGirl · 15/08/2008 22:19

big hugs, I really feel for you, I know you just don't have a choice. Let's hope your business turns around and you can remploy her in the future.

solidgoldbrass · 15/08/2008 22:19

Is there any way that rather than making her redundant she could do some of her work from home or on flexitime? or is the case that you have to loseat least one wage?

Ripeberry · 18/08/2008 16:15

Lucky that you are on the right side of the fence! Can't you have a talk to her first about retraining?, seing what she is doing wrong?
You need to give her a chance to improve herself, don't just dump her in it!
It may be you one day.

Ripeberry · 18/08/2008 16:18

Sorry, missed the bit about the whole business going under!
If she is a good friend to you, then she would understand.
Sorry you have to make such a hard decision .

Flier · 18/08/2008 16:20

really feeling for you and your friend. Unless your friend is a super-understanding sort of person it will undoubtedly change your relationship, which is really sad, but you can't avoid it.

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