A guy at a coffee shop in Boise told me to fire my best employee

I was grabbing a coffee last month and got talking to another business owner. He asked about my team and I mentioned my lead tech, Jake, who's been with me for 8 years. This guy looked me dead in the eye and said, 'If he's been there that long, you need to let him go before he gets too comfortable.' He argued that long-term staff stop trying and cost more money. I was shocked. Jake is the reason we keep our big commercial accounts happy. That advice felt so wrong and short-sighted. Has anyone else gotten advice that just seemed to miss the whole point of building a real team?

3 comments

3 Comments

tyler_hunt721mo ago

Honestly sounds like that guy runs a pretty miserable shop. Maybe he's just bitter because he can't keep good people. I'd be more worried about someone giving advice that cold than an employee who's been loyal for eight years. Some people see a paycheck as the only cost and forget what it takes to actually build something that lasts.

the_seth1mo ago

Right? Dude probably thinks loyalty is just a line on his budget sheet lol. Bet his turnover rate looks like a revolving door.

matthew12220d ago

But have you ever worked somewhere that just coasts on seniority? I've seen places where someone's been there forever but stopped trying years ago. Sometimes a fresh start is better for everyone, even if it looks cold from the outside. Paying for time served doesn't always mean you're paying for good work.