et tu Sharp?

In this environment of skyrocketing unemployment, the economy continues to express bipolar manifestations. A young man visited my office yesterday and I asked him how his company was doing (he works for a men's clothing store). He smiled and began to recite sales figures over the past several weeks. Record breaking sales!!! All I can figure out is other people are also having very good sales, or they have decided to spend everything they have on material goods while their money is still worth something. Either way, some segments of the community are moving along quite well.

But this isn't about that...it's about the fact I'm participating in a process that is probably going to result in a close friend losing his job. One thing that cannot be denied in today's economy is, we cannot continue to allow unproductive people to remain in positions where their continued employment may threaten the existence of the organization. Unfortunately, that is precisely where my friend finds himself.

For many of us involved in the process this is very difficult...he has been in the position for a long time. Has he always been so inefficient, undisciplined, and ineffective? It appears that he has, but things were not so apparent in stronger economies. "A rising tide carries all boats"...but when the tide goes out, you find out which boats will be stuck and which ones will be able to navigate to safer waters.

I don't want to see anyone face unemployment, but sometimes I have to make decisions (or agree with decisions) for the greater good. This is tough.