If you know someone is going to be fired - do you tell?

[Lucky724]

I work in a facility that someone is going to be terminated. He is a nice person but does a lot of "running around doing nothing" - this is not because he has not been given guidance or support - most of it seems to be he is disorganized and chronically late - his truck died, his neighbor blocked him in, his water line broke and on and on. So, earlier a coworker was looking at our job listings on our hospital site - she has wanted to transfer to another unit for some time and checks periodically to see if there are openings...she called me over and showed me HIS job is listed (yes, 100% it's his) as the posting date was 6 days ago - the day he left for vacation. He is on vacation for this week and next. "Rumor" was he was going to be let go but now, we know it - they would NOT offer him a transfer elsewhere in the hospital nor to work on the unit with us. He is that "bad" as far as being able to be counted on. He has a large child support payment - he has talked about this many, many times...she thinks we should tell him about the posting - I think it's not for us to get involved in...he is aware the unit manager has been unhappy w/his performance for some time, he has received multiple chances/educational times. It's not like the management hasn't tried to help him - some of it I think he just likes the "woe is me" life - but...given how hard it is to get a job and w/the holidays coming - should he be told? He will NOT see this posting because he still can't log on to our system after a year!

[Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Just MYOB. Simple as that.

[EMT-newbie]

If someone has to be this sneaky, that says what they are doing is probably wrong.

Oh my god, yes! Thank you for that observation!

This long term pattern of behavior and apparent denial of responsibility is sometimes associated with clinical depression which is why I used the specific "intervention" word. You are very right about them needing a wake-up call, it's just that a casual friend or lay person can help with so I think we're all in agreement.

[MomRN0913]

It's in management and HR's job description, not yours.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

But you do know those sweet but oh so stupid folks that you can't help but feel sorry for. Nothing you can do to help but give 'em a heads up to start looking. But, having said that, those sweet people are so darn stooopid that they are likely to walk up to a manager and say, "Netglow told me that I'm getting fired. I thought everybody liked me?"

[Jmiami]

I'd stay out of it.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

If you were management and a position had to be cut, and you KNEW that someone had told a past 'let go' employee know what was up before hand, who do you think is next on the chopping block?

Back away from someone else's business. It won't end well - at best, you lose a friend; at worst, you become "Management Enemy #1"...

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

From what you wrote, I wouldn't say that you "know" anything. Therefore I wouldn't say anything.

Actually, I wouldn't say anything at all, unless it was to try and coach him on how to be a better employee.

[caliotter3]

When my facility downsized, two licensed nurses were the first to go, one of them being me. I was on one of my days off when I received a call from a coworker who told me. She was the other nurse. I don't know how she got my phone number because I always kept that to myself. I was floored. When I came in off my days off and saw the note on my timecard to see the DON, I had already spent two days running around like a madwoman looking for a non-available job. I appreciated being told. She could have kept the info to herself and had two days on me in the job search, but she was nice enough to tell me. Of course, if this happened again, I would not hesitate to inform a coworker. It is the right thing to do as I see it.

[caliotter3]

But to make things clear, I would not spread a rumor. I would have to know the situation to be a fact.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

mind your own business. there may be things going on that you're unaware of. even if there weren't, you cannot fix "woe is me," and believe me you don't want to become his new best buddy. it can drain the life right out of you.

[AZ_LPN_8_26_13]

I myself would tend to stay out of it. You probably don't know the whole situation. Who knows - maybe his "vacation" is his chance to look for and interview for other jobs. Maybe he will come back and give notice. You really don't know. If he really is going down you don't want to misguidedly throw him a supposed lifelife only to be drug down yourself.

[kayak133]

Putting it to you this way: don't get involved if you can. Usually a person can pick up the vibe and know they are going to get fired.