Money Moral Dilemma: Should Naomi fire Annie?

Cloupe

I think as it says shes only been working there a few weeks she should be let go and like someone else said work on a freelance basis, that way she's still helping her friend but also puts her friend in a position where she has to help herself.

It does say she is a talented writer so maybe under other circumstances she would have been right for the job. It sounds as though what she needs is a friend more than an employer but thats the dilemma when you are the boss of your friends!

pineapple

I think she should stick to her firm's policy for any new employee in those circumstances. To be seen to be giving preferential treatment could be disastrous for morale, make difficulties for Naomi and ultimately affect the viability of the firm.
Nor will it help Annie much if she is subject to the constant stress of not performing.
Also Naomi is just staff. It is not her firm and the firm is not her personal charitable enterprise.
There are maybe other ways in which she could help her friend.

Debt_Free_Chick

Not enough information.

What's the reason(s) for the missed deadlines?

Taffybiker

Annie was taken on as a competent writer; if she can't fulfill her job role then there is no real choice. The decision has to be made from a business point of view, and if the business decision is to let her go then that's how it must be.
A genuine sickness on the other hand can make such a decision very awkward, especially since the employer was aware of the illness at the time of recruitment. The company would need to show that it has done everything possible to help Annie before letting her go.

airheadgreg

Treat her like any other employee as onlineo said. Sure it's stupid to hire a friend for pity reasons, but if Annie was a talented writer, there would be no reason to not hire her just because she's a friend.
One thing Naomi shouldn't do is to fob it off to someone else to sort out..

harryhound

Tough love.

Fool me once shame on you.
Fool me twice shame on me.

If there is no sign of "getting a grip", then remember there are thousands of talented young people with blighted careers for the want of a job like this.

Harry.

PS One of the problems with Africa is a culture where you can turn to your family members and DEMAND that they support you.
What happens? The relative puts them on the payroll for which he is responsible.
Result........................

gentlewomanprefersbonds

Interesting as I've worked in magazine publishing for years - such is the nightmare of deadlines it's easy to muck it up. I don't think that Annie should be fired immediately (my old boss would disagree terribly) assuming that this fictional company has a staff handbook then any action must adhere to this.

I'd make Annie aware through a first informal warning and ask if there are any resources that she needs or any other problems. Magazine publishing is a collective venture so it maybe that she has problems with contributors or suppliers that maybe an editor or publisher can assist with for example, or maybe it's personal issue. Then the discipline process goes through a second and final warning if the problem persists.

If I was anyone else in this fictional company, I would be asking the owner if it's legal for his publisher to recruit a friend? As far as I am aware, the job must be advertised externally and the best person for the job employed, and it seems Annie was not that person so I'd be hauling Naomi in for chat as well!

jamespir

i think she should sit down with annie and see if she can find out the problems why deadlines are late etc

pennypinchUK

Yes, she should let her go. As an employer you must hire the best available (or the best you can afford). Never hire out of pity - that's a sure fire way of creating more problems. Perhaps offer her piece-work, with strict deadlines.

There's no room for friendship in hiring decisions. Otherwise it'll quickly start to reflect on your ability to do your job and make decisions.

Marie44

Naomi should fire Annie, it would not be fair on Annie or the other employee's not to, the other workers will become resentful towards Annie and it seems that Annie needs some time in a less demanding role to gather her thoughts and recuperate; Naomi can still be there for her as a friend and offer support