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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Life The Loneliness of the Layer-Offer

Posted by David Schmader on Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 10:05 AM

I'm sorry I had to fire you. I liked your personality. The serious errors in bookkeeping, while consistent, seemed to increase in frequency on "your Friday," which didn't look good. The multitude of complaints regarding how mean you were were limited to those that didn't know you, or that you didn't like, which was everyone that didn't know you. You are a hilarious individual, and I could laugh all day with you, were it not all "inside jokes" which alienated our paying customers (though only those that didn't know you.) Your acquiescence towards constructive criticism was studiously addressed, until management turned the corner and then it was ridiculed and mocked! I would have done the SAME THING; were it someone else's business. The "call-in sick", on "your Friday" wasn't a big deal, until your Facebook showed you partying on the other side of the country...I laughed at that also, seriously. Dumb luck we're Facebook friends! I really am sorry I fired you, I won't be real popular around here for a while with your friends, and I will miss your personality. A lot of people thanked me though, because they were ones that you were mean to, and now they're happy. Sorry.

In this time of global-economic-downturn-necessitated layoffs, not a lot of people would be able to summon so much sympathy for someone losing a job over divisive personal habits. But props to you, Anonymous Boss.

Comments (16) RSS

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yikes. sounds like the employee was an asshole.

note to everyone: now might not be the best time to treat co-workers and customers like shit. new jobs aren't easy to find.

Posted by konstantConsumer on March 31, 2009 at 10:10 AM

This is why I am not Facebook friends with people from work. If I decide to play sick and go to an audition, I don't want people to know at work. My facebook friends will congratulate me though.

Posted by Clearlyhere on March 31, 2009 at 10:10 AM

Posting every single fucking picture you take with your cameraphone to FB is stupid. ESPECIALLY party photos. Take note, Slog Nation.

Posted by Matt from Denver on March 31, 2009 at 10:14 AM

when will the mass firing at the Stranger commence? C'mon, out with it already.

Posted by dead wood in the office on March 31, 2009 at 10:19 AM

Sounds like they fired the Slog.

Posted by elenchos on March 31, 2009 at 10:21 AM

This, of course, is the exception to the rule. More often, it's The Asshole, who is perceived by management as "running a tight ship", that gets retained, and even praised, and it's the victims of The Asshole, who have "bad marks" on their record (all due to The Asshole), that get shitcanned.

Posted by Chris down in The Couv on March 31, 2009 at 10:33 AM

You do not Facebook-friend someone who works for you, or who is your boss. Business is business, Facebook is Facebook. Keep the two separate.

Posted by Simac on March 31, 2009 at 10:36 AM

@ 4 - When Savage goes through menopause.

Posted by Chris down in The Couv on March 31, 2009 at 10:36 AM

Reminds me of this: http://valleywag.gawker.com/tech/your-pr…

Posted by kitschnsync on March 31, 2009 at 10:44 AM

@2 for the win. Although Simac was runner-up @7.

Posted by Will in Seattle on March 31, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Thanks. @10

Posted by Clearlyhere on March 31, 2009 at 11:12 AM

uh, this boss needs fired for incoherent writing.

Posted by michael strangeways on March 31, 2009 at 11:14 AM

As someone who has lay-offed hundreds of people in his lifetime, I must also confess.

It is really great to get a free pass to fire people without cause. Normally, it is imposable to fire a person for their personality, attitude or reliability. The layoff is that special time when normal rules do not apply. While it is heartbreaking to layoff grandmothers at Christmastime, It is awesome to get rid of the assholes, the smart-asses and the do-nothings anytime of year. Even those whose company you enjoy.

Posted by Kip Waddle on March 31, 2009 at 11:15 AM

Can you tell that employer that I'm looking and I don't drink, am mainly silent at work to avoid causing people to dislike me, and have never once taken a sick day (much like Dwight Schrute)?

Posted by seriously. on March 31, 2009 at 12:15 PM

I wouldn't have been sorry to fire that person. I had to fire a person once who everyone (including me) liked very much but just couldn't seem to learn how to do the job right. That sucked. Took me a year.

Also, I have my boss, his boss, subordinates, and many cowworkers, most of my family as facebook friends, and I do things all the time I wouldn't want them to know. I just don't post those things on facebook. It's call being discreet! jesh! As a rule of thumb, I don't post anything on facebook I wouldn't put in a Christmas Card, were I not too lazy to ever send Christmas Cards.

Posted by Sneaky on March 31, 2009 at 12:16 PM