[kendra k]

my boss asked me to fire a student worker. she's not very pleasant and sort of a cow, which is actually why he wants me to fire her. we are a small library, and we put a lot of effort into being a welcome, friendly place. unfortunately, she doesn't greet people warmly. instead she looks like she's been bothered and scowls.

i don't know how to tell her, be more personable or be fired. (legally, i can fire her at will.) i've gently mentioned to her to be more personable, but i don't think she's "getting it". the more she's around, the more my boss wants me to fire her. it's driving me insane.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

tell her you love her.

[kendra k]

she'll look at me like i'm an idiot. it's how she usually looks at me.

[MK Chris]

My mum's boyfriend had to fire someone once. He couldn't sleep the night before for thinking about it and when it actually came to it, the girl he was firing cried. Just to make you feel better.

[kendra k]

well... looking at her right now. i doubt she'll cry. give me a dirty look and be a bitch, maybe. but i doubt she'll cry.

[MK Chris]

[stereotype]Surely, as you're in America, you'll either end up in a wrongful dismissal case (even though you have stated that you can legally fire her) or she will come in the next day and blow everyone's head off with a machine gun.[/stereotype]

Good luck.

[Mafro]

Just sit her down at a desk and say "you're fired!!!" in the style of Alan Sugar/Donald Trump.

[Walter Sobchak]

I don't envy you one bit.
Everybody's attitude has a reason, unfortunately there is probably no way of getting to the bottom of why her attitude stinks, so that leaves no option but to remove her.
Has anyone sat her down and asked why she acts like she does?
Has she had warnings?
if there is no way of making her conform (and I absolutely agree, she should have a decent attitude towards customers) then she's got to go.
Been there myself , Best advice is to sit her in the office and be as pleasant as you can, even if she loses it stay calm and collected, and make it clear why she is going.
best of luck!

[kendra k]

thanks for all the help. i'm going to take her out for coffee next week (along with all of my other students, just to catch up with them), and ask her if she thinks she's doing well. i have told her we really value friendly and outgoing personalities, and that she needs to do a better job of greeting patrons (and staff, like our director), but she hasn't improved. i'll let her know if she doesn't improve to my boss' standards, she will be fired. i'll also tell her i think she can do it, and i don't want to fire somebody because they refuse to be nice.

[Betti911]

Have you had your talk with her yet? I had to repromand my secretary a couple of months ago. It was hardgoing as she had been in the company for loads longer than me. I wish my boss had done it himself.

[kendra k]

i actually talked to her yesterday. i didn't actually tell her that she might be fired, but rather i need her to have a better attitude here, as it is one of the most important parts of the job. next week i'll take her out to coffee and have "the talk".

[Adam]

Why is he delegating a responsibility to someone else? Is he scared to fire her or something?

Cowardtastic.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Print this thread out and show her.

[kendra k]

haha, i'm sure she'd think i'm a bigger idiot than before.

adam, i'm the person responsible for hiring and firing student workers in the library. it's a little weird since i started here as a student worker.

[Adam]

haha, i'm sure she'd think i'm a bigger idiot than before.

adam, i'm the person responsible for hiring and firing student workers in the library. it's a little weird since i started here as a student worker.

Write a letter to her explaining that her performance is unacceptable and that you'd like to arrange a meeting to talk about her employment.

Copy and paste this:

Dear [employee name]

I am writing to confrim that a meeting has been arranged [insert date] at [insert time] in [insert location of meeting] to review your performance. The meeting will also be attended by [insert senior manager name]

[Senior manager name] has concerns over your [insert reasons] which are considered unacceptable and may result in the termination of your employment

Please confirm your attendance to this meeting,

Yours sincerely



Name
Title

Getting rid of someone could cause further problems as you'll have to find someone else to fill the post.

Speak to your line manager and say that if she was to change her attuide & find a solution to the problem, would he consider giving her a second chance?

[Walter Sobchak]

Good advice from Adam, like the letter idea too