Employers crave the power to fire workers whose performance is judged inferior-not just to get rid of those particular workers, but more importantly to motivate and discipline the rest of the workforce.
I've advised clients to fire or take other serious action against executives and other managers who, in my judgment, had engaged in harassment or other misconduct.
Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?
There was a policy at Hughes against drinking at lunch, but the men ignored it.
Some of the tactics that are used by Foxconn and other companies throughout China is, if you are late, if you violate one of the small rules, some of the punishment is that you have to copy down quotations from the chairman of Foxconn: you have to write out confessions explaining why you were late and promising never to do it again.
Any time you employ thousands of people, some people do dumb things.
At Linfox we have zero tolerance. If any alcohol or drugs are found in any drivers' blood, they are instantly dismissed.
Those from whose pocket the salary is drawn, and by whose appointment the officer was made, have always a right to discuss the merits of their officers, and their modes of exercising the duties they are paid to perform.
The allowance under the name of drink money is hereafter to be discontinued, and in place of it three dollars extra wages per month will be allowed No workman can be permitted to bring spirituous liquors into the Mint. Any workman who shall be found intoxicated within the Mint must be reported to the Director, in order that he may be discharged.
In my career I haven't been suspended much.