Ready, Aim, Fire!

In my 11 years of work I have seen many times people getting fired/laid off/seperated. It always is emotionally difficult for those who were not fired. I call it fired because that is what it definitely is. I hate hiding the true meaning of what happened. One place called a “fire” or a “quit”, a “seperation.” In actuality, most people are fired or quit. They are not seperated.

Six people were fired on Friday at my place of work. I always hate it when this happens. It’s especially difficult in a small company. I can’t imagine what it was like for the person who had to actually swing the ax. I wondered if anyone can get used to this. The simple answer is that if the firing manager hath not a soul, yes. Otherwise, no.

Once there was a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode from season 3, in which young Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher asks Commander Riker if you ever get used to losing someone under your command. These people worked at times for me. I was often their manager. Commander Riker responded, “You hope you never do.” What sagely advice. If you are a real human, you don’t get used to losing people that work for you whether it be through death, disease, termination, or when someone quits.

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