A Real-Life Grinch

A competitor of mine did an awful thing this week: They fired a salesperson just days before Christmas.

It’s a stupid move on many, many levels. For starters, she was their only salesperson. Love them or hate them, you have to have sales staff. And by all accounts, this person worked her butt off.

But even more so, it was mean. If you want part ways with someone, and the holidays are approaching, there’s a right way and a wrong way. Do it in early — by Thanksgiving — or do it after New Years. But don’t do it the week of the Christmas, ensuring you not only spoil it for that person and their family, but also robbing them of an opportunity to quickly land on their feet (not too many job interviews take place over the next two weeks).

Now, I wouldn’t ordinarily make mention of a competitor: their business is their business. But since a competitor recently and publicly accused me of underhandedness — inaccurately and poorly, I might add — perhaps I’ve lost a little of the Christmas spirit myself.

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About Mike

Mike Buetow is president of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (pcea.net). He previously was editor-in-chief of Circuits Assembly magazine, the leading publication for electronics manufacturing, and PCD&F, the leading publication for printed circuit design and fabrication. He spent 21 years as vice president and editorial director of UP Media Group, for which he oversaw all editorial and production aspects. He has more than 30 years' experience in the electronics industry, including six years at IPC, an electronics trade association, at which he was a technical projects manager and communications director. He has also held editorial positions at SMT Magazine, community newspapers and in book publishing. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois. Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikebuetow