My boss invited me to lunch. What are the odds I am getting fired?

[Anonymous]

Keep us posted and good luck! I'm thinking no, it's just a catchup.

[Anonymous]

I have fired people and would never do it over lunch. How awkward would that be - if you fire at the beginning it makes for an unpleasant lunch, if you fire at the end how awkward is the preceding conversation? Could be counseling, or asking you to take on a different role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at a satellite (DC) office. Our CEO (we are a small company) is visiting and has sche. I wasduled a lunch with me. How common is it to get fired over lunch?

I haven't gotten any complaints re: my work and have gotten no warning signs; however, I haven't had much work to do for quite some time. The sales are slow and we are in the red. I have specialized skills that nobody else in the company has, but I am no more sure they are worth it to the company.

Don't get paranoid but always be on guard. I gave a presentation that was well received and an hour later the CEO comes in my office with a fresh bottled water for each of us, sits down , and fires mee leaves a couple of minutes later and the HR person comes in. I never even said goodbye or shook hands with the CEO on the way out. I was only there a couple of months and didn't put it on my resume so could care less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have fired people and would never do it over lunch. How awkward would that be - if you fire at the beginning it makes for an unpleasant lunch, if you fire at the end how awkward is the preceding conversation? Could be counseling, or asking you to take on a different role.

Yeah, this. You're trapped at lunch, til the check comes. Much better to do it in an environment where you can wrap things up and get the hell out if the STBX employee takes it badly. Or even if she takes it well.

I assume the boss is catching up, or looking for a conversation about how your skills can be put to better use.

[Anonymous]

In a previous role I had to fire a number of people. There was never any food involved. How awkward!

I bet that he either
1, wants to catch up and get YOUR version of things without worrying about being overheard by others
2, wants to ask you to take on a different role/absorb someone else's duties/etc and is worried about how you will take it

When in town previously did he ever take you for a 1:1 lunch?

[Anonymous]

You an fire someone without a witness. This is some new mythology.

If he does fire you at lunch, it's a waste of money. He should just meet you in conference room or your office, and best to have someone from HR with him (but not the law, just good practice), and fire you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just the 2 of you. You won't get fired without a witness.

Yes, it is just the two of us.

This. If your company has any sense, they won't fire anyone without a witness.

Why?

Because then its a he-said/she-said situation. Later, when the employee says "they told me that I was fired because _____ (pregnant, black, gay, etc)" it's good to have a second person who can say "not true."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You an fire someone without a witness. This is some new mythology.

If he does fire you at lunch, it's a waste of money. He should just meet you in conference room or your office, and best to have someone from HR with him (but not the law, just good practice), and fire you.

Of course you CAN do it without a witness. It's just a dumb idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just the 2 of you. You won't get fired without a witness.

Yes, it is just the two of us.

This. If your company has any sense, they won't fire anyone without a witness.

Why?

Because then its a he-said/she-said situation. Later, when the employee says "they told me that I was fired because _____ (pregnant, black, gay, etc)" it's good to have a second person who can say "not true."

In my company we had to build up a file before we could fire someone - usually there was a documented performance improvement plan, multiple check ins, etc. So by the time it came to fire there was little risk. I normally had an HR person with me, but not always.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks a lot for the thoughtful responses.

I don't think that I would want to fire someone over lunch, for the reasons stated - however, others might be more comfortable. It looks like those things do happen, unfortunately.

The lunch is on Thursday and I will definitively follow up and let you know how it went. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Maybe he wants to bang you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe he wants to bang you?

In that case the invite would be for drinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just the 2 of you. You won't get fired without a witness.

Yes, it is just the two of us.

This. If your company has any sense, they won't fire anyone without a witness.

Why?

Because then its a he-said/she-said situation. Later, when the employee says "they told me that I was fired because _____ (pregnant, black, gay, etc)" it's good to have a second person who can say "not true."

Hmmm, if that witness still works for the company, their opinion wouldn't hold much weight for me.

[Anonymous]

Doubtful it is firing, but it could be changing duties or responsibilities.

I would, between nw and Thursday though go through all your stuff and make copies of anything you wanted. If, and I really again don't see this happening, he was to fire you over lunch I guess it could be to get you out of the office. So grab anything you need now.

Have a friend with a firing story. Sensed he was about to be fired, started copying files (his files, not stealing, his mistake for keeping stuff on his work machine). Had just started emailing stuff to a personal account when they came in to fire him. He kept one eye on his working machine to make sure everything he wanted got sent out, and dragged out conversation til it was all sent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just the 2 of you. You won't get fired without a witness.

Yes, it is just the two of us.

This. If your company has any sense, they won't fire anyone without a witness.

Why?

Because then its a he-said/she-said situation. Later, when the employee says "they told me that I was fired because _____ (pregnant, black, gay, etc)" it's good to have a second person who can say "not true."

Hmmm, if that witness still works for the company, their opinion wouldn't hold much weight for me.

It doesn't matter what you think.