So often our stories that we live every day at our co-ops are touching, complicated and confusing.

Like when we have an employee who is not doing their job very well.

They’ve been re-trained, coached and received performance correction plans and warnings.

And they’re still not doing their job up to standards and meeting expectations.

They need this job.

They are kind, well liked, have two kids and they want to be a contributor.

But it’s just not going to work out…they can’t seem to get there.

It’s time to part ways.

So, how do we make our way through this?

We sit with them, look them in the eyes and let them know their employment is ending.

These are tough moments and often in an effort to not feel their sadness, their upset and anger, or our own super queasy insides, we clamp down, distance our emotions and muscle through.

We can even spiral into a confusion and fall into disliking our whole job and disliking who we think we’ve become. 

Here’s what I want to say.

In these moments we need to find compassion for them and for us.

Yes, they had to lose their job but that doesn’t mean we’re on opposite sides.

Yes, they are broken-hearted, yet that doesn’t mean that we aren’t also.

Yes, this is a very hard moment for them to accept and we need acceptance for ourselves also.

We can learn to accept these situations and their outcomes with an open courageous heart – feelings and all.

Know that this employee is possibly struggling and we may be struggling as well.

Know it’s OK.  Move forward.

We’ve taken on responsibilities to work in the best interests of the co-op and in that we can feel solid and grounded.

Even in the heart ache and struggle – you’re doing a good job.