Its a Grey Area

it is not that common, not that easy and definitely a grey area when it comes to making a decision to let go of a subordinate. i was informed by my subordinate that....

well, he is under my supervision but has had decades of working experience compared to me and we are more than just working colleagues. id use the word friends (WITHOUT ANY BENEFITS or sexual encounters!).

he told me that he has been offered a job elsewhere for a managerial position and that the position is 80% assured to be his. my immediate reaction was:

1. what are they offering you?
2. how about the salary
3. prospects for career advancement?
4. fixed bonusses / increment?
5. wheres the location?

while generally what is really expected out of me from a management point of view really is:

are u really sure about this new job? u have worked here so long and u are familiar of the system. u have built a strong reputation over these years. we will not hold u back if u decide to move but i think u need to consider that u have to start all over again at the new job. the company to what i have heard is still not stable compared to ours which have been around for more than 30 years. do u think its wise to take that chance for just an additional 100ringgit? i hope u can make the right decision for yourself since all your children are still schooling and u need the financial stability. its up to u. if u decide to leave, we wish u all the best.

as his boss, i am 'REQUIRED' to have structured my statement in a way that is encouraging at the same time convince him not to leave. on the top of my mind i can think of issues like training a new staff, remuneration packages, work ethics and theres always the issue that his replacement could be a complete jackass.

i think somewhere down the conversation i even tried to convince him to take this new job.

STUPID STUPID STUPID!

this is where the grey part comes in. since i already know his concerns regarding annual bonus and increment where his salary has already reached the maximum cutoff point, i just couldn't pull myself together to play the management politics at him.

if he is getting better offers, as a friend and more importantly a human being am i not supposed to let him go wishing that he can achieve his full potential?




call me stupid, but id rather live with my stupidity rather than the guilty conscience when he is scraping his wallet for small change at the end of the month to support his wife and 4 children.