Because it keeps them dry when it rains. I bet you knew that all along.
You see, I bought my wife a duck with a raincoat to put in her collection of ducks in the bay window. (Of course, you, too, have such a collection, I'm sure.) It is adorable, silly, and we don't have another one like it.
I have been in thousands of glass shops, and every single one seems to have a duck in a raincoat.
Look around your shop. You will see pieces of this, cutoffs of that, samples galore and half finished jobs that will never be restarted because the customer's deposit check bounced. Look in your showroom for displays of products that you no longer sell. Search through your own display window to pull out the faded literature and signs. Look at your trucks, and throw away every rock-hard half used tube of silicone. If you throw away 500 pounds of broken glass and short metal pieces from the back of your truck, you will pick up two miles per gallon. Take that to the bank.
If we declare January to be "The National Glass Industry Fill Your Dumpster Month", your shops will be cleaner, your safety record will improve because you deep-sixed the clutter, and your crews will be more productive.
Update your show room with products you sell now, not what you sold three years ago. The items in your showroom or near your cash register should be the ones that you make the most profit on. Put your weakest profit items in the farthest part of the store.
As for the Ducks with Raincoats in your store, put 'em out in the rain, wish them good luck, and go back to work.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Very Old Old Fruitcake
It was brown speckled with pieces of red and green fruit. It had been in our family for thirty five years, and must have been a lot older than that. I was sure. It was given to Elaine's Mom in 1974, and when she closed her apartment and moved into the assisted living center, we inherited her stuff, most especially the fruit cake.
Each year Elaine's Mom would put the fruit cake on the dining room table, but no one ever asked for a piece. We are all chicken--except for Jessie who is a vegetarian. But each year at the end of dinner, the fruit cake would go back into the red and green tin, and wait to see daylight again in 365 days.
We keep it in the attic in our house, along with the rest of Mom's stuff. We never named it, for you don't want a personal relationship with something that you may eat one day.
Year after year, not one of us had the courage to ask for a piece.
This year we gained a family member, Mollie, who is just about the world's greatest dog. She is a half yellow lab and half golden retriever. She seems to have the best qualities of both dogs. She listens like she understands english, she doesn't beg for people food, and she has never gone to the bathroom in the house. She hugs everyone who comes into the house, after thirty seconds of barking, and loves to have the top of her scratched. We limit the scratching to three hours per day, but she always asks for more.
We had our annual family holiday dinner last night. We set the table, cooked the turkey and had everything ready. Sitting in the living room, by the fireplace, we heard a strange noise from the dining room. It was a cross between a whimper and a laugh coming from Mollie. She had jumped up on a chair, and stretched out to the table. In her mouth was the very old fruitcake. As much as a dog can smile, Mollie was smiling. She had taken one large bite out of the fruit cake and it was miracle...she was still alive.
We talked about this for an hour. What to do with our tradition? What to do with Mollie when she went into convulsions? What to do next year?
We cut off the part that Mollie had started, and cut the remaining part into 14 pieces and gave everyone a taste of the fruit cake. It turned out to be pretty good, in fact it was downright great.
Mollie, old girl, thanks for showing us that we shouldn't be afraid of regifted fruit cake, that we should try new things, and that dogs can smile.
What does this have to do with the glass industry? Not a darn thing. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and a healthy, prosperous and happy New Year to my readers.
Each year Elaine's Mom would put the fruit cake on the dining room table, but no one ever asked for a piece. We are all chicken--except for Jessie who is a vegetarian. But each year at the end of dinner, the fruit cake would go back into the red and green tin, and wait to see daylight again in 365 days.
We keep it in the attic in our house, along with the rest of Mom's stuff. We never named it, for you don't want a personal relationship with something that you may eat one day.
Year after year, not one of us had the courage to ask for a piece.
This year we gained a family member, Mollie, who is just about the world's greatest dog. She is a half yellow lab and half golden retriever. She seems to have the best qualities of both dogs. She listens like she understands english, she doesn't beg for people food, and she has never gone to the bathroom in the house. She hugs everyone who comes into the house, after thirty seconds of barking, and loves to have the top of her scratched. We limit the scratching to three hours per day, but she always asks for more.
We had our annual family holiday dinner last night. We set the table, cooked the turkey and had everything ready. Sitting in the living room, by the fireplace, we heard a strange noise from the dining room. It was a cross between a whimper and a laugh coming from Mollie. She had jumped up on a chair, and stretched out to the table. In her mouth was the very old fruitcake. As much as a dog can smile, Mollie was smiling. She had taken one large bite out of the fruit cake and it was miracle...she was still alive.
We talked about this for an hour. What to do with our tradition? What to do with Mollie when she went into convulsions? What to do next year?
We cut off the part that Mollie had started, and cut the remaining part into 14 pieces and gave everyone a taste of the fruit cake. It turned out to be pretty good, in fact it was downright great.
Mollie, old girl, thanks for showing us that we shouldn't be afraid of regifted fruit cake, that we should try new things, and that dogs can smile.
What does this have to do with the glass industry? Not a darn thing. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and a healthy, prosperous and happy New Year to my readers.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Top Ten Glass Shop Holiday Mistakes
The Holidays in December are festive and joyous, religious and solemn, and give many business owners, even glass company owners, great opportunities to really screw up. Here are the Top Ten Mistakes for you to avoid this Holiday season.
10. Know your holidays. Everyone does not celebrate Christmas. Kwanzaa goes from 12/26 to 1/1; Chanukah from 12/11 to 12/18. Many followers of Eastern religions and Muslims don't celebrate Christmas. Look at your customer base and plan accordingly. This doesn't mean do nothing..."Happy Holidays", or "Season's Greetings" work for all folks.
9. Don't stay open after noon on Thursday, 12/24 or Thursday, 12/31. Your employees minds are elsewhere, safety is an issue, and unless you sell holiday presents, you are not going to do any business.
8. Stop the tradition of giving booze to your customers and employees. If you can't think of something specific for a gift, give a generic gift card. You can always make a donation to a favored charity in honor of specific customers. Most charities will send an acknowledgement to your customer.
7. Don't confuse personality and performance when giving out holiday bonuses. The smiling kid is probably not more valuable than the grumpy foreman in the shop.
6. When giving a check under $25.00, you don't have to take out taxes. Giving a check for $21.37, after taxes, looks odd.
5. Never lay-off or fire an employee in the last two weeks of December. It makes you into "Scrooge". Even if the employee deserves it. If, for instance, he started a fight, suspend him without pay until January 1st, and then terminate him.
4. Don't buy yourself a new car or take a vacation, and then say there are no holiday checks because of the economy. Even when there are tax advantages to buying that truck or the new edger, wait until mid-January or beyond to take delivery.
3. At your holiday party, avoid touching or hugging employees in an unprofessional way. Do not allow mistletoe as that will make some people uncomfortable, and make some people into fools.
2. Don't give an employee a promised or scheduled raise and then call it a holiday gift.
1. Do not allow any alcohol to be consumed in your shop under any circumstances. There are too many chances for an injury to occur. If you want to have a drink with your employees, go to a restaurant or bar nearby.
10. Know your holidays. Everyone does not celebrate Christmas. Kwanzaa goes from 12/26 to 1/1; Chanukah from 12/11 to 12/18. Many followers of Eastern religions and Muslims don't celebrate Christmas. Look at your customer base and plan accordingly. This doesn't mean do nothing..."Happy Holidays", or "Season's Greetings" work for all folks.
9. Don't stay open after noon on Thursday, 12/24 or Thursday, 12/31. Your employees minds are elsewhere, safety is an issue, and unless you sell holiday presents, you are not going to do any business.
8. Stop the tradition of giving booze to your customers and employees. If you can't think of something specific for a gift, give a generic gift card. You can always make a donation to a favored charity in honor of specific customers. Most charities will send an acknowledgement to your customer.
7. Don't confuse personality and performance when giving out holiday bonuses. The smiling kid is probably not more valuable than the grumpy foreman in the shop.
6. When giving a check under $25.00, you don't have to take out taxes. Giving a check for $21.37, after taxes, looks odd.
5. Never lay-off or fire an employee in the last two weeks of December. It makes you into "Scrooge". Even if the employee deserves it. If, for instance, he started a fight, suspend him without pay until January 1st, and then terminate him.
4. Don't buy yourself a new car or take a vacation, and then say there are no holiday checks because of the economy. Even when there are tax advantages to buying that truck or the new edger, wait until mid-January or beyond to take delivery.
3. At your holiday party, avoid touching or hugging employees in an unprofessional way. Do not allow mistletoe as that will make some people uncomfortable, and make some people into fools.
2. Don't give an employee a promised or scheduled raise and then call it a holiday gift.
1. Do not allow any alcohol to be consumed in your shop under any circumstances. There are too many chances for an injury to occur. If you want to have a drink with your employees, go to a restaurant or bar nearby.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Now I Can Tell The True Story
I had been sworn to secrecy years ago. When she first crashed the gate at the Glass Show on Long Island. But now, with it all over the news, and Congress investigating, the full story can be told.
The year---2007.
The place---The Wind Watch Hotel, on Long Island, NY
The event---The Glass Expo
The facts---I was the volunteer greeter at the front of the exhibition hall. Welcome everyone in, answer questions, and check their badges for counterfeits. It seems that some people from the plastics industry were trying to gain access to our glass show, with their evil plan to replace glass with plastic everywhere.
"Hi Jim, Hi Bob," I was saying, when she appeared from around the corner. Tall, slinky thin, long straight blond hair, a long black dress with a slit that never stopped going north, and a little too much make-up for the Glass Expo. I guessed right away she was not a windshield installer.
We had been briefed by Deb Levy to watch out for this nefarious group. They tried to disrupt the Chicago Expo a couple of months earlier. But, I was all alone at the door. What if I was wrong, and insulted a real customer? What if I let her in, and she started talking about unbreakable glazing material? Once those seeds are planted, you could see the industry withering up. What should I do?
She approached me at the door. Her perfume announced her presence from eight paces. Some would have thought it was a little too much...I just breathed in and let my lungs have a party. Her smile said it all..."Here I am buddy, take a look, have a dream, and then get out of my way." I pulled my stare from her blue eyes to the name badge pinned on her rather large....
Belt, her large belt held her name tag. It said 'Lola', with no last name. The company was listed as "Lola's Consulting". I knew that you never trust a consultant. My antenna was twitching. Her husky voice called out to me, "Hi there, is the right place to enter the glass industry show? I would like to look around." I couldn't stop staring, her smile seemed painted on, her dress' slit still heading north. I didn't look at the badge close enough, and could only stammer, "Sure, go ahead."
Lola walked around the show, handing out her card, getting her picture taken with various owners of glass companies, spreading her story that one day soon, glass will be obsolete. Yet, no one heard her words.
The next day, on Lola's face book page, there was a picture of her along with the smiling owner of the largest contract glazier in the region. The glazier's wife, Marie, received an e-mailed copy from her sister. Marie took out her shotgun and asked her husband who the dame was who had her arm around him. He just couldn't speak. He didn't even remember meeting her at the show, all evidence to the contrary.
Lola had succeeded in causing grief to the glass industry. That was her job, and she did it well.
You know how they say that"......flows down hill". Well, I was the downhill. I let her in the show, on what now appeared to be a false name tag. I didn't do my job, and was told that I could not volunteer again. How could I tell my wife and kids that bad news. Maybe I could just forget about it. I tried, to no avail.
Now, I wonder what Lola said to Vice-President Biden and even to President Obama.
The results---Door-keepers of future Glass Expos, be warned: Lola is still out there.
The year---2007.
The place---The Wind Watch Hotel, on Long Island, NY
The event---The Glass Expo
The facts---I was the volunteer greeter at the front of the exhibition hall. Welcome everyone in, answer questions, and check their badges for counterfeits. It seems that some people from the plastics industry were trying to gain access to our glass show, with their evil plan to replace glass with plastic everywhere.
"Hi Jim, Hi Bob," I was saying, when she appeared from around the corner. Tall, slinky thin, long straight blond hair, a long black dress with a slit that never stopped going north, and a little too much make-up for the Glass Expo. I guessed right away she was not a windshield installer.
We had been briefed by Deb Levy to watch out for this nefarious group. They tried to disrupt the Chicago Expo a couple of months earlier. But, I was all alone at the door. What if I was wrong, and insulted a real customer? What if I let her in, and she started talking about unbreakable glazing material? Once those seeds are planted, you could see the industry withering up. What should I do?
She approached me at the door. Her perfume announced her presence from eight paces. Some would have thought it was a little too much...I just breathed in and let my lungs have a party. Her smile said it all..."Here I am buddy, take a look, have a dream, and then get out of my way." I pulled my stare from her blue eyes to the name badge pinned on her rather large....
Belt, her large belt held her name tag. It said 'Lola', with no last name. The company was listed as "Lola's Consulting". I knew that you never trust a consultant. My antenna was twitching. Her husky voice called out to me, "Hi there, is the right place to enter the glass industry show? I would like to look around." I couldn't stop staring, her smile seemed painted on, her dress' slit still heading north. I didn't look at the badge close enough, and could only stammer, "Sure, go ahead."
Lola walked around the show, handing out her card, getting her picture taken with various owners of glass companies, spreading her story that one day soon, glass will be obsolete. Yet, no one heard her words.
The next day, on Lola's face book page, there was a picture of her along with the smiling owner of the largest contract glazier in the region. The glazier's wife, Marie, received an e-mailed copy from her sister. Marie took out her shotgun and asked her husband who the dame was who had her arm around him. He just couldn't speak. He didn't even remember meeting her at the show, all evidence to the contrary.
Lola had succeeded in causing grief to the glass industry. That was her job, and she did it well.
You know how they say that"......flows down hill". Well, I was the downhill. I let her in the show, on what now appeared to be a false name tag. I didn't do my job, and was told that I could not volunteer again. How could I tell my wife and kids that bad news. Maybe I could just forget about it. I tried, to no avail.
Now, I wonder what Lola said to Vice-President Biden and even to President Obama.
The results---Door-keepers of future Glass Expos, be warned: Lola is still out there.
Monday, November 30, 2009
What, Really, Does The Arch Bankruptcy Mean To A Glass Shop?
You've read the news, Arch Aluminum filed for bankruptcy. What does this mean to you? Odds are, not much. If anything, it will help the average glass company who is a customer of Arch.
Huh?
Yes, if you had your ear to the ground, this had been rumored for a while. Arch's management has spent a boatload of time worrying about this, setting it up, and preparing for the future. Now that the future is here, and well defined, they can get back to the glass business and Arch's employees can be assured their jobs are continuing. Your service should improve as everyone can let their breath out and go back to business as usual. Arch was a glass fabrication company, not one of these financial super markets. The bankruptcy won't interfere with their core business. Sure, the bankruptcy is going to hurt their vendors and the owning family, but the glass and metal customers will come out ahead.
If you were an Arch customer, continue to be one. They are not going anywhere. There is a temptation to shop around, and it is always a good idea to compare vendors, but don't switch just because of the bankruptcy. What brought Arch down was the debt that drove their growth, not their operations or their production. The skills of 1900 employees are not going anywhere.
Pilkington and PPG are going to take a hit. So are Guardian and Bonnell. They will all survive this. The glass industry as a whole will not be hurt by this. The biggest losers will be the banks. They knew the risks of loaning money, and got paid for their risks. I don't feel sorry for them. That is their business, no differently than folks in our industry bidding on a job, and finding extra costs associated with the job. If you don't do a proper takeoff, and really study the job, this will happen.
Some people already have said to me that the Silverstein family is making out like a banshee. I promise you this is not the case. I know that an event like this feels like a member of the family is severely sick, and then a magic medicine helps bring back the life. The only one who will be making a ton of money on this will be the attorneys. Nobody at Arch wanted this to happen, and everyone there is working to make the company healthy again. Ten years ago, filing for bankruptcy carried a stigma, totally negative. Unfortunately, today, it is thought to be 'good business' to rid yourself of debt.
I have owned four Chevy's in the past 14 years, and I will certainly buy another one when my current car gives up the ghost. The fact that GM went through bankruptcy actually makes me feel better about buying a car, because I am sure they are now healthy enough to stand behind it. You should feel the same way about Arch.
I read an interesting note on the US Glass News page today. One of the oldest and best known companies in the glass industry also filed for bankruptcy this week...The Fletcher Terry Company, the company that controlled the market by making the best glass cutters in America. What happened here? Can we blame the recession and its impact on the construction industry? Can we blame imports? We don't know. Events like this happen in all industries.
The Silversteins are smart people, and their staff is truly capable. They will make Arch Aluminum viable for their customers. Count on it.
PS. As many of you know, I am a consultant in the glass industry. I have never had any financial relation with Arch Aluminum or any of its companies. The above opinion is strictly my own.
Huh?
Yes, if you had your ear to the ground, this had been rumored for a while. Arch's management has spent a boatload of time worrying about this, setting it up, and preparing for the future. Now that the future is here, and well defined, they can get back to the glass business and Arch's employees can be assured their jobs are continuing. Your service should improve as everyone can let their breath out and go back to business as usual. Arch was a glass fabrication company, not one of these financial super markets. The bankruptcy won't interfere with their core business. Sure, the bankruptcy is going to hurt their vendors and the owning family, but the glass and metal customers will come out ahead.
If you were an Arch customer, continue to be one. They are not going anywhere. There is a temptation to shop around, and it is always a good idea to compare vendors, but don't switch just because of the bankruptcy. What brought Arch down was the debt that drove their growth, not their operations or their production. The skills of 1900 employees are not going anywhere.
Pilkington and PPG are going to take a hit. So are Guardian and Bonnell. They will all survive this. The glass industry as a whole will not be hurt by this. The biggest losers will be the banks. They knew the risks of loaning money, and got paid for their risks. I don't feel sorry for them. That is their business, no differently than folks in our industry bidding on a job, and finding extra costs associated with the job. If you don't do a proper takeoff, and really study the job, this will happen.
Some people already have said to me that the Silverstein family is making out like a banshee. I promise you this is not the case. I know that an event like this feels like a member of the family is severely sick, and then a magic medicine helps bring back the life. The only one who will be making a ton of money on this will be the attorneys. Nobody at Arch wanted this to happen, and everyone there is working to make the company healthy again. Ten years ago, filing for bankruptcy carried a stigma, totally negative. Unfortunately, today, it is thought to be 'good business' to rid yourself of debt.
I have owned four Chevy's in the past 14 years, and I will certainly buy another one when my current car gives up the ghost. The fact that GM went through bankruptcy actually makes me feel better about buying a car, because I am sure they are now healthy enough to stand behind it. You should feel the same way about Arch.
I read an interesting note on the US Glass News page today. One of the oldest and best known companies in the glass industry also filed for bankruptcy this week...The Fletcher Terry Company, the company that controlled the market by making the best glass cutters in America. What happened here? Can we blame the recession and its impact on the construction industry? Can we blame imports? We don't know. Events like this happen in all industries.
The Silversteins are smart people, and their staff is truly capable. They will make Arch Aluminum viable for their customers. Count on it.
PS. As many of you know, I am a consultant in the glass industry. I have never had any financial relation with Arch Aluminum or any of its companies. The above opinion is strictly my own.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Here is a little story that is appropriate(?) for this time of year.
John and Priscilla Hastings had a little glass shop in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They repaired broken picture frames, replaced IG, polished a few mirrors and repaired some screens. Their main goal in life was to plant a seed in their son, John Junior, to become a manager of their shop. One day, Priscilla sent Junior out to a job at 1620 Cranberry Lane, just off Pilgrim Highway. On the way out of Plymouth, Rock93, a local radio station had a contest: The ninth caller would win a long weekend on Cape Cod.
Junior didn't win.
He arrived at Sam and Mary Squanto's house at lunch time. As he was measuring the mirror to be replaced, Mary offered him a turkey sandwich. Junior, who stopped at Wendy's on the way, said he was stuffed, but was thankful for the offer. Mary then asked him if he would like a piece of pumpkin pie for desert. Junior was still full, so he asked if he could take a piece home for his family dinner. Just as Mary said, "You may", Flower, her cat jumped on the pie and left a permanent paw print in the last piece.
Junior left without his pie.
He fiddled on his radio, caught the baseball scores, where the Red Sox beat the Indians. It was the fourth Thursday in a row that the Red Sox won a game, but they were still out of the running for the fall classic. Junior was looking forward to football season anyway. Even though it's corny, Junior liked the tailgating and the feasts at the Patriot's games.
His next stop was at May and Mike Cees' house. The Cees had a hole in a screen, which Junior could fix right in his truck. It seems there was a parade of insects at May Cees' house, coming through the screen.
After he left the Cees' house, the sky started turning black. "Friday is a bad day for a thunderstorm", Junior thought. Since he didn't get his pie earlier, he stopped at the First Harvest Diner, for a piece of apple pie. He was working on a crossword puzzle, looking for a ten letter word meaning 'horn of plenty', when his cell phone rang. Priscilla wanted him to come home for a family dinner. He read the latest issue of US Glass Magazine at the table, spilling gravy all over it. Junior thought it was the best issue he ever made a mess of.
Since this is a short work week, this is a short blog. Stick a fork in it--it's done. Just in case you didn't catch it---Happy Thanksgiving.
John and Priscilla Hastings had a little glass shop in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They repaired broken picture frames, replaced IG, polished a few mirrors and repaired some screens. Their main goal in life was to plant a seed in their son, John Junior, to become a manager of their shop. One day, Priscilla sent Junior out to a job at 1620 Cranberry Lane, just off Pilgrim Highway. On the way out of Plymouth, Rock93, a local radio station had a contest: The ninth caller would win a long weekend on Cape Cod.
Junior didn't win.
He arrived at Sam and Mary Squanto's house at lunch time. As he was measuring the mirror to be replaced, Mary offered him a turkey sandwich. Junior, who stopped at Wendy's on the way, said he was stuffed, but was thankful for the offer. Mary then asked him if he would like a piece of pumpkin pie for desert. Junior was still full, so he asked if he could take a piece home for his family dinner. Just as Mary said, "You may", Flower, her cat jumped on the pie and left a permanent paw print in the last piece.
Junior left without his pie.
He fiddled on his radio, caught the baseball scores, where the Red Sox beat the Indians. It was the fourth Thursday in a row that the Red Sox won a game, but they were still out of the running for the fall classic. Junior was looking forward to football season anyway. Even though it's corny, Junior liked the tailgating and the feasts at the Patriot's games.
His next stop was at May and Mike Cees' house. The Cees had a hole in a screen, which Junior could fix right in his truck. It seems there was a parade of insects at May Cees' house, coming through the screen.
After he left the Cees' house, the sky started turning black. "Friday is a bad day for a thunderstorm", Junior thought. Since he didn't get his pie earlier, he stopped at the First Harvest Diner, for a piece of apple pie. He was working on a crossword puzzle, looking for a ten letter word meaning 'horn of plenty', when his cell phone rang. Priscilla wanted him to come home for a family dinner. He read the latest issue of US Glass Magazine at the table, spilling gravy all over it. Junior thought it was the best issue he ever made a mess of.
Since this is a short work week, this is a short blog. Stick a fork in it--it's done. Just in case you didn't catch it---Happy Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
First, Fire Frank Foreman
You have made up your mind to replace your plant foreman. You have thought about it for a year now, some days Frank Foreman is good, and some days he acts like a lump on a log. You talked it over with your partner and yes, you are going to do it. Done deal. You'll do it after the first of year and start with a clean slate.
'Ding Ding Ding Ding'. There is the 'you just made a mistake bell' ringing, and it is ringing loudly!
When you decide to replace someone, do it ASAP. Do not wait, do not pass go, and do not wait for some artificial calendar date.
Here's why...
You will transmit your feelings about Frank to him, and he will become an even worse employee. You will hope that maybe he will quit, saving you the confrontation of the firing, and maybe the unemployment insurance cost. Frank will begin to realize his days are numbered, and get even more stubborn about resigning, and will become more of a pain-in-the-tail.
Other employees will begin to feel this tension, and they will question why Frank is still in charge since he is behaving like a horse's behind. Your leadership will then be questioned.
Frank, will unexpectedly throw out his back, real soon, after he realizes what your are doing. His worker's comp payout will last a long time, and cost you much more than unemployment.
What follows is a true story. I had decided to release a customer service person at one of our plants. He was a gentleman about 50 years old. I was worried about age discrimination problems and I spent time figuring out the best way to fire him. To make a long story short, the day I was going to meet with him, he called in sick. Three days later he asked for a meeting with me. It seems he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed a couple of months off for treatment. I couldn't fire him now. He remained on our books for five months because I waited. Sure this is a one in a million, but really, I terminated about twenty CSR's in my time, so this is a one-in-twenty.
Now if you do the termination as soon as you make up your mind here is what happens...
You will feel better. You will not have this hanging over your head for a long period of time. Your employees will give you a ticker-tape parade. By the time you realize Frank has to leave, your employees have known this for a while. They really are wondering what took you so long to see the writing on the wall. Sure you will be shorthanded for the time you look for Frank's replacement. If Frank was that bad, you won't feel his leaving, because he didn't do anything. Your employees will work harder knowing that they have to pitch in with Frank gone, and they will be glad to do it.
If you keep Frank on while you are looking for a replacement, the fact you are searching will get out. It always does. It always will. You will get caught in an embarrassing moment, guaranteed.
If you want to pay someone through a certain date, then do it in the form of severance. Every manager wants to be kind to their employees; if you plan on giving Frank extra money, do that; but your best kindness will be getting Frank out of the business so the other employees can get their jobs done!
'Ding Ding Ding Ding'. There is the 'you just made a mistake bell' ringing, and it is ringing loudly!
When you decide to replace someone, do it ASAP. Do not wait, do not pass go, and do not wait for some artificial calendar date.
Here's why...
You will transmit your feelings about Frank to him, and he will become an even worse employee. You will hope that maybe he will quit, saving you the confrontation of the firing, and maybe the unemployment insurance cost. Frank will begin to realize his days are numbered, and get even more stubborn about resigning, and will become more of a pain-in-the-tail.
Other employees will begin to feel this tension, and they will question why Frank is still in charge since he is behaving like a horse's behind. Your leadership will then be questioned.
Frank, will unexpectedly throw out his back, real soon, after he realizes what your are doing. His worker's comp payout will last a long time, and cost you much more than unemployment.
What follows is a true story. I had decided to release a customer service person at one of our plants. He was a gentleman about 50 years old. I was worried about age discrimination problems and I spent time figuring out the best way to fire him. To make a long story short, the day I was going to meet with him, he called in sick. Three days later he asked for a meeting with me. It seems he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed a couple of months off for treatment. I couldn't fire him now. He remained on our books for five months because I waited. Sure this is a one in a million, but really, I terminated about twenty CSR's in my time, so this is a one-in-twenty.
Now if you do the termination as soon as you make up your mind here is what happens...
You will feel better. You will not have this hanging over your head for a long period of time. Your employees will give you a ticker-tape parade. By the time you realize Frank has to leave, your employees have known this for a while. They really are wondering what took you so long to see the writing on the wall. Sure you will be shorthanded for the time you look for Frank's replacement. If Frank was that bad, you won't feel his leaving, because he didn't do anything. Your employees will work harder knowing that they have to pitch in with Frank gone, and they will be glad to do it.
If you keep Frank on while you are looking for a replacement, the fact you are searching will get out. It always does. It always will. You will get caught in an embarrassing moment, guaranteed.
If you want to pay someone through a certain date, then do it in the form of severance. Every manager wants to be kind to their employees; if you plan on giving Frank extra money, do that; but your best kindness will be getting Frank out of the business so the other employees can get their jobs done!
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