DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a boutique owner, and I've sold women's luxury items for almost six years now. In a tough economy, my business has managed to remain successful and increase its number of shoppers. With 2015 here, I was looking to grow my business and hire my first store employee. I figured a new employee would introduce new energy around the workplace, and it did just that.
I decided to hire a close friend of mine who was going through financial trouble; I wanted to help in any way possible. She had lost her job because of the intense economy, and she needed some assistance. She's a great worker who brings in an amazing energy, but she just can't seem to get to work on time. The first couple of times were excusable, but now it's hindering my business. I've spoken to her before about this, and it fixed the problem only temporarily. I'm in a bind here, and I'm not sure of my next move. Do you think I should fire her for her lack of timeliness? -- Be on Time, Pasadena, California
DEAR BE ON TIME: Before giving up on your friend, get creative. If you believe that she is valuable to you and your company, give her different hours. Tell her that you realize that she has had difficulty being on time for work, so you have decided to change her schedule. Give her new hours that start a bit later than the original hours. Make it clear to her that she must follow the new schedule. Make sure she understands that if she cannot adhere to the new schedule, you may be forced to let her go.
If you haven't done this already, talk to her about her previous job. Find out what really happened related to her job loss. It may be that lateness is part of her M.O. If so, let her know she has a chance now to amend her behavior. Otherwise, she is out.