another termination
This is an email intended to document conversations leading to the end of Diana (Dee)...'s employment at .... The main conversation took place on February 24, 2006, around 2pm.
Background: Dee had returned yesterday from taking some personal time for the death of her sister. She went to California. According to Rina (who was present during the exchange), Dee had been looking for me the day before to tell me that she would need to move to California to take care of her sister's daughter. This is the third instance of Dee telling me or other staff she would be resigning (once in December 2005 when her schedule made her commute difficult, and once on February 7, 2006 (via telephone)).
Conversation summary: Dee arrived at work. Her mood appeared to be pleasant. I asked her about her trip to California, and I asked her how she was. She said she was as good as she could be, given the circumstances. Then I asked if she had wanted to see me, and she said it was because she had been gone. I asked her about moving to California, and she said she didn't know if she would. She gave details about what circumstances would lead to it. Then I told her I had a few other things to cover with her. She asked to go to the bathroom first.
When Dee returned from the bathroom, I asked her to sit down in the chair across from me. When she was seated, I told her that I didn't think she was in the correct job. She asked why, and I cited the transportation difficulties (see background), her interpersonal difficulties (she had confrontations with JW, me, and Matt), and that she had previously agreed that her heart just wasn't in the job. She agreed. I told her that I believed she should resign. She said 'OK'.
Dee asked when I wanted the resignation. I said any time between now and a week from now (March 3rd) would be appropriate. I offered her a reference as well. She asked how this was different than a termination. I said I preferred to part amicably. I said if I were terminating her, I would ask Heidi to be present, I would ask her to clean out the contents of her box, and I would also escort her from the building. I said that if I were terminating her, I wouldn't offer her a reference for her next employer. She said she understood, stood up calmly and left the room.
I sent this email to my bosses a few minutes ago, from home. I intended to do it earlier, at work, but I didn't want anyone reading over my shoulder.
What followed was stranger. We had a contest that ended a few days ago to get people to write log notes. Dee was one of the top performers. Despite that I would fire her, I felt it was fair to give her the gift card. Just not before having the conversation, as it would provide a mixed message.
So we had the conversation, and Dee left the room. I've been excited about this tea that I bought from the Metropolitan Market that is flavored with vanilla and citrus and bergamot and good tea that comes in pretty little sachets. No one can decide what it tastes like, but everyone likes it. The best I can come up with is cigar smoke without the tobacco, but with butter and brown sugar. The flavor just sticks with you forever. I've showed it off to everyone at work.
After I had the talk with Dee, I brought out the tea and offered it to everyone. Dee waved it away with her long-nailed fingers at first, but then she wanted some. I guess the smell was irresistable. When I became hesitant to give up more teabags, I put the bags into the pot and gave some to everyone. Changed the water into tea.
The aroma permeated the room, and I gave Dee and other staff the Barnes and Noble giftcards they earned. Dee looked stunned, but in the end, her log note writing has nothing to do with her interpersonal difficulties. She earned it.
And everyone became happy. They said I should do more contests to bribe everyone into good performance.
And I took the bus home. The tea taste lingered in my mouth. Everyone else on the bus was calm, and I had no anxieties left over from canning Dee.
And I transferred to the #2 that climbs Queen Anne hill. It's mostly guys my age on the bus. We all dress in black jackets and stocking caps, and we all carry black bags. And there was one guy in khaki colored painter's overalls. He asked about a hospital in Seattle with a woman's name that started with an 'S'. There isn't one, but all of us were so eager to help. We suggested Virginia Mason, Swedish. He decided it was Swedish, and we call chimed in about how he needed to get off of the bus and go to Capital Hill. The bus just wasn't a good fit.
Dee had no troubles providing good work. In fact, her attitude was rosier than I'd seen. I pray she isn't entertaining Pirate Jenny style fantasies. Perhaps she was relieved. Perhaps she was faking it, like all smart women do from time to time.
ME came in later.
--Guess who's dropping me off at Dee's house? Oops. Josh! Guess who's dropping me off at my mom's house tonight?
--Who?
--Dee!
--What did you do today to deserve such a nice thing from her?
--I went out to eat and played video games later.
--Well, you are in good hands.
Dee is not a bad person, and I know she is eager to help. ME had some idea of what he was up to. It just isn't the right fit.
J.
Background: Dee had returned yesterday from taking some personal time for the death of her sister. She went to California. According to Rina (who was present during the exchange), Dee had been looking for me the day before to tell me that she would need to move to California to take care of her sister's daughter. This is the third instance of Dee telling me or other staff she would be resigning (once in December 2005 when her schedule made her commute difficult, and once on February 7, 2006 (via telephone)).
Conversation summary: Dee arrived at work. Her mood appeared to be pleasant. I asked her about her trip to California, and I asked her how she was. She said she was as good as she could be, given the circumstances. Then I asked if she had wanted to see me, and she said it was because she had been gone. I asked her about moving to California, and she said she didn't know if she would. She gave details about what circumstances would lead to it. Then I told her I had a few other things to cover with her. She asked to go to the bathroom first.
When Dee returned from the bathroom, I asked her to sit down in the chair across from me. When she was seated, I told her that I didn't think she was in the correct job. She asked why, and I cited the transportation difficulties (see background), her interpersonal difficulties (she had confrontations with JW, me, and Matt), and that she had previously agreed that her heart just wasn't in the job. She agreed. I told her that I believed she should resign. She said 'OK'.
Dee asked when I wanted the resignation. I said any time between now and a week from now (March 3rd) would be appropriate. I offered her a reference as well. She asked how this was different than a termination. I said I preferred to part amicably. I said if I were terminating her, I would ask Heidi to be present, I would ask her to clean out the contents of her box, and I would also escort her from the building. I said that if I were terminating her, I wouldn't offer her a reference for her next employer. She said she understood, stood up calmly and left the room.
I sent this email to my bosses a few minutes ago, from home. I intended to do it earlier, at work, but I didn't want anyone reading over my shoulder.
What followed was stranger. We had a contest that ended a few days ago to get people to write log notes. Dee was one of the top performers. Despite that I would fire her, I felt it was fair to give her the gift card. Just not before having the conversation, as it would provide a mixed message.
So we had the conversation, and Dee left the room. I've been excited about this tea that I bought from the Metropolitan Market that is flavored with vanilla and citrus and bergamot and good tea that comes in pretty little sachets. No one can decide what it tastes like, but everyone likes it. The best I can come up with is cigar smoke without the tobacco, but with butter and brown sugar. The flavor just sticks with you forever. I've showed it off to everyone at work.
After I had the talk with Dee, I brought out the tea and offered it to everyone. Dee waved it away with her long-nailed fingers at first, but then she wanted some. I guess the smell was irresistable. When I became hesitant to give up more teabags, I put the bags into the pot and gave some to everyone. Changed the water into tea.
The aroma permeated the room, and I gave Dee and other staff the Barnes and Noble giftcards they earned. Dee looked stunned, but in the end, her log note writing has nothing to do with her interpersonal difficulties. She earned it.
And everyone became happy. They said I should do more contests to bribe everyone into good performance.
And I took the bus home. The tea taste lingered in my mouth. Everyone else on the bus was calm, and I had no anxieties left over from canning Dee.
And I transferred to the #2 that climbs Queen Anne hill. It's mostly guys my age on the bus. We all dress in black jackets and stocking caps, and we all carry black bags. And there was one guy in khaki colored painter's overalls. He asked about a hospital in Seattle with a woman's name that started with an 'S'. There isn't one, but all of us were so eager to help. We suggested Virginia Mason, Swedish. He decided it was Swedish, and we call chimed in about how he needed to get off of the bus and go to Capital Hill. The bus just wasn't a good fit.
Dee had no troubles providing good work. In fact, her attitude was rosier than I'd seen. I pray she isn't entertaining Pirate Jenny style fantasies. Perhaps she was relieved. Perhaps she was faking it, like all smart women do from time to time.
ME came in later.
--Guess who's dropping me off at Dee's house? Oops. Josh! Guess who's dropping me off at my mom's house tonight?
--Who?
--Dee!
--What did you do today to deserve such a nice thing from her?
--I went out to eat and played video games later.
--Well, you are in good hands.
Dee is not a bad person, and I know she is eager to help. ME had some idea of what he was up to. It just isn't the right fit.
J.