PENN-sieve

Last week, I had to convince my supervisor that I needed to fire one of my student workers. This student was placed on probation last year before I got here and then did the same thing he was placed on probabtion for - not once but twice! My supervisor wanted to give him another warning but I put my foot down. It is not fair to the rest of my staff who do their job.

Today the employment decision was upheld by the Director of the department. When I shared with one of my colleagues that I had let the RA go, she clapped and jumped for joy. Now while I do not want someone who is not dependable on my staff, I wouldn't clap and be excited because I had to let someone go. Firing an employee is a tough thing to do and never calls for celebration. It's actually very draining for me personally because I know that my decision has a large impact on the student. The student is now in a difficult circumstance - he is unemployed and no longer will be housed by the department.

Part of me is not surprised that she clapped and another part of me is shocked. I think I will go take a nap.