Have you ever been fired?

[orangeinjersey]

I have never been fired. Have always been told I was smart, engaging, and personable engineer. After 8 years with the same group of folks (company was aquired once during that time) I decided this past May it was time for a change. I have 10 years of expereince. I put some feelers out around memorial day, I was feeling confident and knew i could "pick" my next job. I declined two offers before actually agreeing to the terms of a third offer in mid august. A month in, so far so good.

That being said, lets say I get canned in a year or so, that would be a pretty big hit to my ego. My confidence would be hurt and I would def be upset. I can understand why GMac was upset. He was "an up and comer, the rising star". He was shown the door after 20 months of very subpar results. You can quantify his results, they haven't been good. I can see why he is upset. I would be as well.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, i was fired once. my first job, 15 years old at a high end senior living community. I was a waiter, and was working on MLK day after a LONG weekend with double shifts. That evening I was the room service guy, slow night, so I went into the private dining room to take a nap. The GM of the property caught me, woke me up and told me to punch out. I did. They suspended me for a week before telling me i was fired and not to come back.

 

[RF2044]

I have never been fired. Have always been told I was smart, engaging, and personable engineer. After 8 years with the same group of folks (company was aquired once during that time) I decided this past May it was time for a change. I have 10 years of expereince. I put some feelers out around memorial day, I was feeling confident and knew i could "pick" my next job. I declined two offers before actually agreeing to the terms of a third offer in mid august. A month in, so far so good.

That being said, lets say I get canned in a year or so, that would be a pretty big hit to my ego. My confidence would be hurt and I would def be upset. I can understand why GMac was upset. He was "an up and comer, the rising star". He was shown the door after 20 months of very subpar results. You can quantify his results, they haven't been good. I can see why he is upset. I would be as well.

I can understand, too. But there is a difference between wrongful termination of a high performer and somebody who is underperforming.

I'm at a loss to understand how McDonald could be 'shocked' about this. Now, he might be angry / hurt / upset, but did he really think that the offense was functioning at a high performing rate?

 

[orangeinjersey]

I can understand, too. But there is a difference between wrongful termination of a high performer and somebody who is underperforming.

I'm at a loss to understand how McDonald could be 'shocked' about this. Now, he might be angry / hurt / upset, but did he really think that the offense was functioning at a high performing rate?

In the video interview he did mention we were ranked higher in total offense from last year. I understand that doesnt include red zone TD's but he was trying to use that metric as an example of "hey we are IMPROVING".

While I agree going from 90'th to 70th is an improvement, it still sucks.

 

[SouthernCuse]

I've been fired lots. On the phone would be a weakway to do it. My god, No OC, No QB, team falling apart, 3 game losing streak and FSU coming to town.

 

[LAOrange]

Firing should never come as a surprise. You give an employee a specific set of objectives. Warn them when they are not being reached. Warn them again if necessary and then let them know concisely and clearly, if you do this again... you're toast. I may have been disappointed but I was certain they were given appropriate warning. BTW 90% turn around in a consistent progressive disciplinary system.

 

[Faegan]

How much uglier can it get? In a situation like this, I know who I believe. Maybe McDonald has decided he wants to get fired and is pressing forward to make it happen?

I think that would be a bad decision (clearly). High-profile coaches generally know how to cover their a$$es, so why would they take a risk on a guy that has been willing to throw his boss under the bus in as public a way as possible?

 

[bnoro]

Yes. But was under massive pressure for a month before it happened and it was one of the worst things I've ever experienced when I knew there wasn't too much I could do about it. The stress was unbearable.

 

[SU2NASA]

Well, I once killed a guy with a trident.

 

[SWC75]

As I am not a clay pot from art class, the answer is no.

But have you ever demoted a pot form an art class?

 

[storange]

In get fired all the time...no biggie

 

[Crusty]

Or demoted? I haven't, (although it was threatened at one point). I've never had to do it to somebody else. In Moneyball, Brad Pitt, (as Billy Beane), says you should do it quickly and firmly, without sentiment. George MacDonald is upset that it was done over the telephone. Does that matter?

Is there a best way to fire somebody?

Yes, it does matter, especially under the circumstances. Both were apparently in town and Shafer didn't have the respect for his employee and friend to man up and do it in person. Do it as soon as possible after you make the decision, but do it with respect for the individual.

I have gone through 5 mergers, some my firm was the survivor and I had to fire entire departments. I did them quickly and each one face-to-face. It doesn't take that long per person. Certainly, takes its toll on you but at the end of the day you have to look yourself in the mirror the next morning and not hate what you see.

In another, my firm was not the survivor and I didn't make the cut. While I knew the account conflicts were not in my favor you never know for sure and having survived all other mergers there was some chance. While disappointing, I was told to my face by my boss who became a life long friend - because I respected him. I actually went to work for him at another firm years later.

I am very disappointed with HCSS in this case. Not very hard nosed - he needs to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Very disappointed with him in how he handled it. Perhaps, he will do better next time.

 

[Millhouse]

i was let go once in a massive downsizing. you gotta be cool and not burn bridges. ended up working there again for more money than i would've made if i'd stayed, I bet. when they're showing everyone the door, it doesn't feel quite so bad, i'm sure i'd feel different if i were firedfired

 

[CUSU]

Yes, it does matter, especially under the circumstances. Both were apparently in town and Shafer didn't have the respect for his employee and friend to man up and do it in person. Do it as soon as possible after you make the decision, but do it with respect for the individual.

I have gone through 5 mergers, some my firm was the survivor and I had to fire entire departments. I did them quickly and each one face-to-face. It doesn't take that long per person. Certainly, takes its toll on you but at the end of the day you have to look yourself in the mirror the next morning and not hate what you see.

In another, my firm was not the survivor and I didn't make the cut. While I knew the account conflicts were not in my favor you never know for sure and having survived all other mergers there was some chance. While disappointing, I was told to my face by my boss who became a life long friend - because I respected him. I actually went to work for him at another firm years later.

I am very disappointed with HCSS in this case. Not very hard nosed - he needs to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Very disappointed with him in how he handled it. Perhaps, he will do better next time.

I don't think he did it over the phone. If he did he's lying.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

i was let go once in a massive downsizing. you gotta be cool and not burn bridges. ended up working there again for more money than i would've made if i'd stayed, I bet. when they're showing everyone the door, it doesn't feel quite so bad, i'm sure i'd feel different if i were firedfired

Ya gotta really screw up to get fired twice

 

[Crusty]

I don't think he did it over the phone. If he did he's lying.

McDonald said he called him at the office at 8 PM.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

McDonald said he called him at the office at 8 PM.

Shafer said he didn't. Who is lying?

Ill take shafer in a war of honesty

 

[Crusty]

Ya gotta really screw up to get fired twice

In what industry?
I know marketing guys that have been fired four and five times and are worth millions. Certain industries undergo consolidation or tech change and are sold or merged all the time. New guys come in and want their own people.
Happens on Wall Street all the time as well.

 

[SUbear]

Or demoted? I haven't, (although it was threatened at one point). I've never had to do it to somebody else. In Moneyball, Brad Pitt, (as Billy Beane), says you should do it quickly and firmly, without sentiment. George MacDonald is upset that it was done over the telephone. Does that matter?

Is there a best way to fire somebody?

Not good but maybe better and worse. Most job separations are couched as lay offs, psychologically easier to take, though end result is the same.
Yes, and though I was not happy, I put on my big boy pants and moved on. I tell you what I did not do was attack my old employer, no one owes you employment, especially if they are questioning your on the job performance.

 

[Crusty]

Not good but maybe better and worse. Most job separations are couched as lay offs, psychologically easier to take, though end result is the same.
Yes, and though I was not happy, I put on my big boy pants and moved on. I tell you what I did not do was attack my old employer, no one owes you employment, especially if they are questioning your on the job performance.

Sure, but were you publicly fired in the media? Makes a difference.

 

[SUbear]

Yes, it does matter, especially under the circumstances. Both were apparently in town and Shafer didn't have the respect for his employee and friend to man up and do it in person. Do it as soon as possible after you make the decision, but do it with respect for the individual.

I have gone through 5 mergers, some my firm was the survivor and I had to fire entire departments. I did them quickly and each one face-to-face. It doesn't take that long per person. Certainly, takes its toll on you but at the end of the day you have to look yourself in the mirror the next morning and not hate what you see.

In another, my firm was not the survivor and I didn't make the cut. While I knew the account conflicts were not in my favor you never know for sure and having survived all other mergers there was some chance. While disappointing, I was told to my face by my boss who became a life long friend - because I respected him. I actually went to work for him at another firm years later.

I am very disappointed with HCSS in this case. Not very hard nosed - he needs to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Very disappointed with him in how he handled it. Perhaps, he will do better next time.

You do not know this is factual or that he actually fired/demoted him. I think Shafer regarded it as a change of coaching assignments.

 

[tep624]

I got laid off once. My first job out of college. I hated that job. It was one of those entry level situations where the company thought they needed another body, but they really didn't because people were lazy and inefficient. So I slowly worked myself out of a job because I really only had 15-20 hours of real work a week. Straight out of Office Space.

I still remember when they asked me if I wanted to go back and clean my desk out or have them box it up for me, I was like "Yeah you can box it up" and walked out the door. Probably one of the 5-10 most happiest moments in my life lol.

 

[Toga]

I was like 22 and was hired by a catalog store for security during Christmas season. It was the most boring day of my life. At the end of my one and only shift they informed I wouldn't be needed anymore. Not sure if I kissed them when they told me.

 

[Crusty]

You do not know this is factual or that he actually fired/demoted him. I think Shafer regarded it as a change of coaching assignments.

Really? Then Shafer is a fool.

 

[SUbear]

Sure, but were you publicly fired in the media? Makes a difference.

McD was the person who talked to the media first. This was suppose to be internal coaching assignment changes until he decided to take to the press. Follow the twitter and press reports that all go back to McD.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

Sure, but were you publicly fired in the media? Makes a difference.

Crusty - he wasn't fired. He is still employed at the same place, at the same rate. Re-assigned/demoted maybe but not fired.