Almost daily, it is brought to my attention that an employee engages in some sort of inappropriate behavior or does not live up to the expectations of their job. My next step is to determine the consequences. After reading through Board Policies, sifting through Union Handbooks, navigating through Governmental Law, a recommendation is made. This is the easier component to Human Resources.Delivering the news to someone that their employment has been terminated is much tougher to do. Quite honestly, it sometimes keeps me up at night. For the most part, these employees are people I have not met prior. So, you would think it wouldn’t be that hard to end their employment, to drastically change their life..
When you are contemplating the best corrective action for an employee , and you are hoping upon hope that you rule they can stay employed but find it is very clear after review of their personnel file that they cannot, you feel terrible. After all, you are messing with people’s lives. Because it sometimes can be so complicated, the employee can grieve the decision again and again. You see, when you are messing with people’s “live”-li-hoods”, one person might interpret the law differently than the next.
The employees are called in for a face to face meeting. Because they typically have some sort of history in their personnel files, even the toughest come in with eyes locked on yours, trying to guess what the outcome of the meeting will be prior to anyone opening their mouth or taking documents from file folders.
What if our lives were like that when we come before God and look into His eyes to try and read what the verdict will be. What if our personnel files contained some “very bad stuff” or perhaps just some “slightly bad stuff”. Let’s see, I memorized the Ten Commandments as a young child; in fact I had a charm bracelet with each charm engraved with one commandment. Going through them quickly, … hmm… let’s see, I have not always loved my neighbor as myself and quite a few times haven’t even loved myself very much. I haven’t stolen much in my life but there was that bubble gum I took from Lumpkin’s Grocery Store when I lived so conveniently across the street. I guess that would be considered stealing in the eyes of God. Do not lie….although I can say that I am typically an honest person, I couldn’t even count how many times I have lied in my life. Why, just look at the weight my driver’s license. Seriously, does that actually count? Black or white, little or big, I guess a lie is a lie. What will the Judge say? Do not covet …. Does that mean longing for that co-worker’s new Coach purse?
One thing I do know is that my termination hearing has already been scheduled. I just haven’t received my call as to when. The other thing I know is that my “personal” file is quite big. I’ve been coached a few times and have been put on an improvement plan more than once. Now I’m getting worried, or should I be?
I can breathe deep and be at peace. It is not based on my past history, but only one thing. You see, Jesus came and put my entire personal file up on the cross with Him. Even though I believe I’m an emphatic, loving person, I wouldn’t take the hit for someone who broke the rules while performing their job. There is one thing however, and because I already made sure I did that, I can know with absolute surety how “my termination hearing” will go. Arms wide open for me which closes with a warm, welcoming embrace. It makes my numbered days on earth much easier to enjoy.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
If it is so hard for me to terminate someone I don’t even know, much less love, how hard this must be for our Creator, the One who made us. That’s probably why after all those years of people struggling to perfectly obey the Ten Commandments, He sent His Son… for me… and for you..because He loves us. He made it so easy; why wouldn’t we accept this gift?
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