# I'm going to have to fire my friend. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 9, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245 "2013-04-09T17:51:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245/21 "2013-04-09T23:00:01Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > Sympathies – not an easy thing to do. Had minor involvement in similar when business partner had to fire an employee. > > Was this why you were angry about Antarctica? In retrospect, probably. I’m certain I made the right decision in firing him – for the company, for the team he manages, for me–but I can’t help feeling guilty. I know his kids and I know I’ve made their lives harder. I’ve been in a shitty mood all day. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245/22 "2013-04-09T23:09:49Z")
The downsides of managment are rough on the psyche. Congratulations to you for actually getting it done quickly and as cleanly as he would let you. If you’re anything like me, the guilt will fade in time, especially if/when you find out that he’s gotten another job, or conversely, that he’s unable to keep a job due to attitude. Either way, you’ll feel less like you personally attacked him, and more like an impartial hand of employment fate. Sorry for the sucky day! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245/23 "2013-04-10T06:43:15Z")
Best firing line I ever heard of: “I don’t know how we’d get along with you but starting tomorrow we’re going to try.” ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245/24 "2013-04-10T17:13:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > In retrospect, probably. I’m certain I made the right decision in firing him – for the company, for the team he manages, for me–but I can’t help feeling guilty. I know his kids and I know I’ve made their lives harder. I’ve been in a shitty mood all day. No, you didn’t. Not in any way, form or fashion. He did. Had he done his job, he would still have it. The only things a manager can do are: -make sure the termination does not come as a surprise. The behaviours should have been discussed and documented until it was clear they would not change. -if the employee is just in the wrong job, move them to where they could be successful. If you judge a fish by it’s tree climbing ability… If you have done those things, you have done all you could. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245/25 "2013-04-10T18:50:53Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > If you judge a fish by it’s tree climbing ability… [I’d give these fish at least an 8.5.](http://quantumbiologist.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/mudskippers.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245/26 "2013-04-11T22:46:25Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > You could always go the _Sneakers_ route. 😃 > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Which is? To friend (with resignation): “I cannot kill my friend.” To henchman: “Kill my friend.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-have-to-fire-my-friend/655245.md?page=1)