But I feel terrible about firing her. She's so earnest and trying so hard, and she's in a complicated personal situation at the moment which I would be making worse by ending her contract. Any advice welcome! (I'm delighted with how well the other one is working out, so the situation could definitely be a lot worse.)
Well, I have two suggestions. After she has done something well, sit her down and explain what your issues are and how you would like them to be resolved. That way, it feels less like criticism and more like a discussion.
Or (or perhaps also), tell her that she is not working out, but you appreciate her hard work. Suggest that perhaps you are not explaining things well*, and then ask her to take a few hours to come to the house while your other PA is there to watch how the two of you work together to give her a clear example of how things need to be.
* I know damned well that you are explaining fine, but sometimes you gotta give a little to get a little.
Worked double shift, got home at 7:30 this morning. Thinking supportive thoughts to all those here who are having a tough time.
Seska, I don't understand how a PCA who is working for you can have the audacity to tell you that your philosophy is wrong. As I am in a not entirely different field, I am astounded. When my bosses tell me what philosophy they hold for our work, I figure it is my duty to incorporate that into my own attitude and approach to the work I do. To the extent that I do not subscribe to those same philosophies, I suck it up and do the best I can to work with it anyway. It is her job to fit her attitudes and philosophies to your expectations. And although the situation is rather personal, it is wrong for her to let her personal problems become a burden for you. I'm sorry you are in this position.
Thanks for the good advice, all. I'm going to give it a few more days, just to see if we can work on things, but if it doesn't I'll let her go, rather than letting it stress me out beyond that. As The Girl reminded me on the phone today, this is exactly why I have a probationary period in my contracts.
Y'all, thanks for the ~ma last night when I wasn't hanging around to get it. Many tears in my eyes because y'all have my back.
(Still no cunning plan to take over the world and/or get paid to surf and fence and garden.)
As The Girl reminded me on the phone today, this is exactly why I have a probationary period in my contracts.
Wise clause for those contracts. I'm glad you've got The Girl on your side, too.
The Girl is wise indeed.
36 hours later, and it's starting to hit me: my God, I do have a very cool job! (now, if only these ex-professors were more efficient... I need some data to work with! Data I cannot have until they'll reply my emails!). No complains, though, but they will have to get used to me and my tendency to work with fixed deadlines.
Ah, the irony!
Yay, Shir! Good luck getting those e-mail responses.
Yay, Shir of the cool job!
The Girl is wise.
She wears fluorescent green sweatshirts, eats cold pizza, chooses to live in an environment that would be better suited to a barn animal, and is a dog person. Not sure 'wise' is quite right. (But she is lovely.)
now, if only these ex-professors were more efficient...
t laughs helplessly at the combination of the words "professors" and "efficient"
She wears fluorescent green sweatshirts, eats cold pizza, chooses to live in an environment that would be better suited to a barn animal, and is a dog person.
Except for the fluorescent green, she sounds wise to me.
