| What is a Good Reason for Termination? | | | | I again asked if she was serious about still wanting |
| Let me answer that by telling you a true story | | | | to terminate this person. I said as of now there is |
| that may leave you shaking your head in disbelief! | | | | no reason for termination. |
| Just recently I was contacted by the Personnel | | | | She asked if they could go back in time and issue |
| Committee Chairperson from a local church, who | | | | warnings for those past violations that took place |
| is a trusted friend. | | | | over the last year or so. I said not unless you |
| The conversation starts by saying that she | | | | have a time machine! We both laughed! |
| already knows what I am going to tell her, but | | | | I then asked her a question. Let's say your child |
| just wanted to confirm. | | | | didn't make their bed six months ago, but was |
| She starts by telling me that the Nursery Worker | | | | making it now. You decide that you should have |
| for the Church has used profane language in the | | | | punished her for this so you approach her and tell |
| Nursery and the Christian Education Committee | | | | her she is restricted this weekend for not making |
| wants to terminate them. | | | | her bed over six months ago. Do you think that it |
| Sounds kind of reasonable, but I will need more | | | | would be fair to do this to your child? |
| information in order to agree with them. | | | | She kind of laughed and said I guess not! |
| | | | | I followed by saying that if it was important to |
| She goes on to say that in the past this Nursery | | | | the Christian Education Committee they should |
| Worker has been violating several other rules. | | | | have taken action when it occurred. By letting it |
| I said ok, what else can you tell me about the | | | | go this long you are sending a message that it is |
| situation? | | | | not that important and you can not go back in |
| She said that's it. | | | | time. |
| I said let's start with the use of the profane | | | | I said this is a classic case of getting so fed up |
| language. How do we know that she has been | | | | with someone that you almost go on a witch hunt |
| using profane language in front of the children? | | | | to get rid of them. The only problem is that you |
| She said we have a witness. | | | | drag out everything that has ever occurred since |
| I said GREAT! What does the witness say | | | | their arrival. |
| happened? | | | | This is what a typical untrained supervisor will do. |
| Well they are waffling a bit and now they are not | | | | They keep hoping that things will get better and |
| sure they heard her using profane language at all. | | | | that somehow the person will just start behaving |
| I then asked why did you call me? This is no | | | | correctly. Guess what it almost never happens |
| reason for termination! | | | | that way. It almost always gets worse. |
| She said because the Christian Education | | | | I told her there was no reason for termination in |
| Committee still wants her terminated. They said | | | | this case; however, there is something that they |
| that they were all fed up with her and she | | | | should do. |
| needed to go! | | | | They should sit down with the Nursery Worker |
| I asked what is the reason for termination that | | | | and go over all their expectations with her. They |
| they want to use? | | | | should not drag up the past. At the end of this |
| She said they thought that with all the things that | | | | meeting both the Christian Education Committee |
| have happened that would be enough. | | | | Representative and the Nursery Worker should |
| I then asked her about the rules she had broken | | | | sign the document covering the expectations. This |
| in the past that obviously were troubling | | | | should not be confused with any type of |
| everyone enough to want her terminated. Can | | | | disciplinary action though. This should be what |
| you get me a copy of the warnings that you had | | | | everyone should do when meeting with a brand |
| issued to her for those violations. | | | | new employee or at the beginning of each new |
| She said that no one ever issued any warnings to | | | | rating period. |
| her. | | | | Communicating expectations is the key to a |
| I asked if there was any record of any | | | | successful relationship between an employer and |
| conversation that took place with her about the | | | | employee. |
| violations. | | | | Hope this helps. |
| There was none she said. | | | | |