Firing Billy

It has been strangely quiet in my office today so I spent a lot of time thinking about how I had to fire a cleaner who has been with us for eight years. He was caught stealing from tenants and we got him on video so I figured he wouldn’t put up a fight. I always thought he was a good guy so I was not looking forward to firing him. So, about a half hour ago I took him into the back office and broke the news. He took it like a man and I said we weren’t going to press charges. Still visibly upset (and not leaving) I suggested other employment options for him and offered any other help he needed. He then shook his head and told me that he would have some trouble finding another job since while under our employ he “killed a man”. He didn’t go into detail and I didn’t think it was my place to ask since we just fired him. He seemed so nonchalant about it like it was an inconvenience like an old DUI he can’t get off his record.

I didn’t see that one coming at all.