Hard Choices, Hidden Blessing

Ever have someone that you were friends with, that you cared about and genuinely like that you had to fire? I’ve been struggling with that exact situation for over 2 years, yet no one had the guts to say “lets pull the plug”. This summer situations came to a head and things started coming together that made termination a forgone conclusion. Things were so dismally bad with my friend’s job performance, and he refused to make any adjustments to his performance or behavior that everyone knew it was only a matter of time.

When the time came to make the decision I did my best to protect the organization I represent and the man. In the end we offered a choice of resignation or termination, with the resignation came an extremely lucrative severance package, including relocation to his home town.

Sunday my friend, who has disowned me and has rejected all attempts to talk with him, suffered a near fatal hart attack. The doctors have said that had he been living in Wyoming, or even a few minutes farther away from the hospital (they specialize in hart disease) than he was, he wouldn’t have made it. As things stand now it doesn’t look like he will live much longer, but his kids, grandkids and extended family will get a chance to say goodbye.