I had to fire one of my student employees on Friday.
A few weeks ago, she was a no-show for her shift. I called her and got her voice-mail – she finally sent me an email 4 hours after her shift was to have started. Transportation problems.
On that day, another of my students had already requested the day off and there was no one left to cover the switchboard – except for me, of course. So, I was on the phones for a couple hours while still trying to do my regular job – and ended up staying an hour later than I normally would have.
I told my student in an email – so she’d have it in writing – that a no-show/no-call was not acceptable and that if it happened again, her employment would be terminated. The next time she was in she apologized and acknowledged that she got the note.
But then on Friday, she was a no show again. No phone call, no email, no advance notice – nothing. I left her a voicemail and got no response. I helped cover the phones again and then after her shift would have ended – with still no contact from her – I made the decision and sent her a polite and carefully worded email terminating her employment.
I know I made the right decision, but I still feel bad about it. I’m way too lenient on my student employees – partly because it’s a huge amount of work to replace one – but a second no-show after the warning left me with little choice.
I updated my colleagues and the other students and on Monday I’ll work on the paperwork.
Sigh.
I don’t ask for a lot of my employees and it it an easy job, but they at least have to show up.