Incompetent Employees

I cannot stand him. He drives me completely up the proverbial wall. He’s my employee and he’s totally braindead, as well as rude, obnoxious, clueless, and irresponsible. But I can’t get rid of him because I have no one else to fill the position and my boss procrastinates so when reviewing applications.
If anyone out there would like a full-time reporter’s position in a small rural county with low crime, friendly people and mind-numbingly easy work, let me know.
Basically, I’m ticked because he cannot seem to take one decent picture without cutting people’s heads off or write a simple council story without taking three days to do so. (it’s a weekly paper.) He’s an idiot and must be stopped. Help, Please!!!
I’ve tried working with him (I’m the editor), advising him of how to write such stories, and the basics in photography, but it goes in one ear and out the other. Does anyone have any hints or suggestions of how to get this guy to perform up to par? I’ve tried everything and until I find a replacement for him, I’m stuck with the doofus. Help!

sheerah, I know I’ll sound like the straight man to ask * how dumb is he * but it’s germane to my suggestion. If he is just not the freshest egg in the dozen, that is one thing, if he is without any hope, then my idea won’t work.

So, if he just isn’t the freshest egg, why not act as though you’re asking * him * the question, as in:

‘You know, boyo, I’ve heard the higher ups ( hope you have a couple!) are unhappy with the jobs * some of us * have been doing and I, for one, intend on really buckling down, if I were you, I’d make sure the next few pictures you take actually ** have the heads ** or you might end up losing yours.’

Of course, if he’s long gone, this is * way * too subtle, then you may want to sharpen it, to ‘have you got an updated resume handy, Randy?’

good luck!


‘Mr. Shields had challenged Mr. Lincoln to a duel, and that, as the challenged party, it was Mr. Lincoln’s right to choose the weapons.
Mr. Lincoln responded, “How about cow-dung at five paces?”’

You’re stuck with him? This sounds like a plee in the wilderness.
How much time do you have to go over each thing he does and show him how to improve?
Ten minutes a day? 15 minutes a day?
And can you do it in such a way that he realizes the improvement would make him better at what he does?
The meetings should not be confrontational.
You’re putting this guy through “doing the job right 101.”
Each day.
One way or the other you can become a winner.
Either he’ll get better under your wonderful hand, or he’ll quit telling everyone what a hard nosed taskmaster you are.

How much do you pay? (Not asking to determine if he’s being paid enough–I’m interested for me!)


Those who are dancing look insane to those who cannot hear the music.


One-of-a-kind, custom-designed Wally sig available on request.

This is really more of a MPSIMS thing. I’ll move the thead over there for you.