Should you FIRE a good employee

Should you FIRE a good employee

Years ago, as a new manager in one of the companies, I had an employee with a great track record but whose performance deteriorated to the levels of unacceptability. He was not applying himself, was making mistakes left and right and stopped caring. My new boss at the time said that this employee had a burn out, and we would be better off without him - but said I should investigate first.

Upon my investigation, it turned out that the employee had lost his father, and his girlfriend had left him for his best friend. He did not tell anyone at work. Once the root cause was known and with proper care, time off and empathy from the rest of the team he got back on the road to Betterville.

We live for the moments to die for. When I saved that employee, it was one of those moments for me.