Has anyone been an executioner?

[Imanage]

The day has come to do layoffs in our company. The body count may be over 200 by the end of the day. I have the unfortunate task of locking people out of their systems. You've got to wonder what the corporate heads were thinking when they picked some of the key people to lay off. It's hard to see friends go...

[vass0922]

ya I hear ya, I've been at the lock with the key a few times
Never for rounds of layoffs (I've always worked at smaller companies) but seeing somebody go for any reason, its tough to disable their accounts. Just don't ever want to see your own name on the chopping block

Good luck to those who do get the axe

[Mead]

Ive had to do that at a few places ive worked. Never really fun unless its someone that deserves it. One place I used to work I had to take a cart and go get all their computer equipment the day after they got their pink slips, so that it could be redistributed to someone else that needed it. My cart had a squeaky wheel and they started calling me the grim reaper because they could hear my cart from down the hall.

[Epidemic]

I have only had to can one person. It came after a painfully long period.

She just could not pull her weight. I tried for six months to bring her up to speed with remedial training and personal tutoring. But she resisted tooth and nail. Finally the 6 month window rolled around. She brought in HR through the use of an executive relation in a parent company. HR made me start the 6 month process over again. The whole time I spent trying to get her to learn I also reminded her that time was getting short and she had better make up an alternate plan if she was not going to try.

Finally finally finally I was able to fire her. Even after the pains I went through I still felt bad. She had 10 years and rather than seeking a new position she just sat there and let the date arrive. I felt horrible even though the path was made clear to her several ways to sunday and a year had elapsed.

I can't imagine firing a hard working person who is doing their job at or above required levels.