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Question: When I needed money to get my restaurant started, my good friend Dave lent me $12,000 with the proviso that I hire his son, who hopes to be a chef someday. The kid’s been working in the kitchen for three months now, and he’s all thumbs. Is there anything wrong with firing Ryan, or am I stuck with him until I pay off the loan, which won’t be for another year? Our answer: A deal is a deal. So whether you’re stuck with Ryan hinges on exactly what the deal was you struck with his father. If, in return for the twelve grand, you promised to give Dave’s son a try-out in your kitchen, then you’re free to tell the Platebreak Kid to turn in his toque. But if you effectively promised to give Ryan the opportunity to learn his craft - and it sure sounds as if that’s why Dave lent you the money - then the fact that the kid’s a disaster doesn’t get you off the hook. Were Ryan stealing from you, of course you could fire him. Were he lazy and disrespectful, you’d be within bounds to insist that he shape up or leave. But being a klutz isn’t sufficient grounds for letting Ryan go - not if Dave believed the loan guaranteed an apprenticeship for his son. And what if you and Dave never discussed the exact terms of Ryan’s employment? In that case, try to err on the side of keeping the kid. After all, your friend did you a big favor. You should try to do him one in return. Questions? Email Money Magazine’s ethicists – authors of the upcoming book “Isn’t It Their Turn to Pick Up the Check?” (Free Press) – at FlemingandSchwarz@right-thing.net.Filed under Uncategorized
Posted 1:21 pm 7 Comments
 | Add a comment Try talking to your friend. Whatever happened to a little communication? Posted By Roscoe, Indianapolis, IN : February 16, 2008 7:52 pm
This sounds really nasty, but unless there was a signed document, I don’t see why you need to hold your end of the agreement. It’s called “employment at will” and if this person’s son cannot fulfill the basic requirements for the job, there is no reason you should even try to keep him. Worst case, you go to court, but even then i doubt the judge will rule against you since there is no documentation. Posted By Anonymous : February 16, 2008 4:22 pm
Fire him. Posted By Susaann, Portland OR : February 15, 2008 1:51 pm
To Yadgyu: Posted By Lisa Pittsburgh pa : January 23, 2008 7:44 pm
I think making the kid miserable until he quits is a horrible disservice to the kid and your friendship with his dad. Why not try teaching the kid? Afterall, he wants to be a chef someday and you must know something if you’re starting a restaurant. In almost all professions, there are certain workflow and movement tricks that make things easier - a kind of professional dance. Share the tricks. Also consider that you - or other staff - could be contributing to the problem. Are you moving things around between the kid’s shifts that make him feel (and act) like he doesn’t know where things are, resulting in being clumsy? Are you edgy, hateful, and overbearing, resulting in extra clumsiness? Just think about it or get someone else’s observation. You might be very surprised. You need to also remember that there’s a learning curve for everything and eventually most people make it into their groove. I’m probably one of the most clumsy people ever and yet once I’m in my groove, I am the most graceful. You had to realize that the kid didn’t have any experience and his father was expecting YOU to help him break into the industry and help him get an edge. The dad gave you the loan and that was his part. If the kid is trying, then he’s doing his part. Now it’s time to do your part. Posted By S. Gretzinger, Kansas City, MO : January 23, 2008 5:09 pm
I have a solution. Keep the kid around but make him do grunt work. He will eventually improve or quit from shear boredom. There is really no need to fire the kid because you are getting labor from him. He doesn’t have to be top chef. You could hire an experienced chef and let the kid be an apprentice. But the only thing the kid should do is mindless and tedious work that teaches him nothing. If he complains to his dad, tell the dad that the kid has to “learn the ropes”. Posted By Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX : November 12, 2007 1:27 pm
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Thank you, Roscoe. A sane voice in an ocean of sharks.