advice about letting a new employee go (during review period)

[Anonymous]

Well, some people truly aren't familiar or comfortable with basic Microsoft office applications. (read: Older folk)

We have a new admin who is smart as a whip and sharp and has a degree from a top college... from years ago. She raised her children and reentered the workforce.

She couldn't do anything on Word and has to be walked through every new software by an entry-level staffer. She is catching on, however. It has just been a time-suck for other people to educate her, as the supervisors do not want to spend money on classes.

Older folk can (and should) learn to use Microsoft Office just like everyone else. Someone without these skills should be in an entry level position, not in the mid-level position OP describes.

OP's post indicates that the employee has a master's from a top tier school and a few years of work experience. Unless that master's was obtained and/or the work experience was before 1990 or so, I would expect the employee to know these basic skills.

And especially at a non-profit where resources are tight, all employees need to be adept at doing a variety of tasks because there is just not enough money to hire assistants for these sorts of tasks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP's post indicates that the employee has a master's from a top tier school and a few years of work experience. Unless that master's was obtained and/or the work experience was before 1990 or so, I would expect the employee to know these basic skills.

This is where I disagree
that is a lame excuse

[Anonymous]

Word, yes. But excel? In many jobs, an assistant does those tasks. I've never had to use excel.

[Anonymous]

I have a master's degree and work in a professional job. I supervise several staff members. I create tables in MS Word because I still haven't gotten the hang of Excel. I attended a brief tutorial and everything went right out of my head immediately after I walked away.

I'm lucky in that my position doesn't really require me to develop spreadsheets, but that skill would be quite helpful. I keep telling myself I'll go back for another tutorial, and keep putting it off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a master's degree and work in a professional job. I supervise several staff members. I create tables in MS Word because I still haven't gotten the hang of Excel. I attended a brief tutorial and everything went right out of my head immediately after I walked away.

I'm lucky in that my position doesn't really require me to develop spreadsheets, but that skill would be quite helpful. I keep telling myself I'll go back for another tutorial, and keep putting it off.

don't
It just shows you are lazy and do not take your job seriously. Just learn it, you will not regret that

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't necessarily expect someone with a master's to know excel. But I would expect them to know word. And I'd expect them to be able to learn basic excel (on their own) rapidly. If they couldn't, I would doubt their basic intelligence.

[Anonymous]

She lacks ingenuity and drive. Forget taking classes; all she has to do is google "how to insert page numbers in word" or "how to add 2 column in excel". She could have this information in 30 seconds without bothering anyone for "help".
As to firing her, is it possible to be vague, like "it's just not a good fit"? Or perhaps suggesting that the organization has less funding than anticipated and since she is the most junior employee, she has to go?

Because it's not really about the lack of knowledge of microsoft, its about not being able to find her ass with both hands and you can't say that w/o sounding like a jerk. If you give her concrete examples, imagine the sob-fest you'll likely endure as she assures you she'll take classes on weekends and at night on microsoft and time management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't necessarily expect someone with a master's to know excel. But I would expect them to know word. And I'd expect them to be able to learn basic excel (on their own) rapidly. If they couldn't, I would doubt their basic intelligence.

Exactly, also known as problem-solving skills.

[Anonymous]

If you follow HR bitch's advice then give her 3-4 weeks to catch up -- ON HER OWN TIME -- with MS Office.

Is there any indication the wheels are turning in her head, and she is just having problems with the tools -- or is the work with the tools the end product?

Or is the problem more like "I can't find my ass with both hands?"

[Anonymous]

Sorry - someone with a Master's degree doesn't know how to insert a page # and center a header? Don't you have to write your master's thesis on a computer, with TOC and title page etc., not in longhand?

Something sounds off. Did you check her degree is legit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry - someone with a Master's degree doesn't know how to insert a page # and center a header? Don't you have to write your master's thesis on a computer, with TOC and title page etc., not in longhand?

Something sounds off. Did you check her degree is legit?

Not if you wrote it back in the 90s, like I did. In WordPerfect.

Also, for the PP who mentioned Googling--if you work (like I do) in a classified environment, you don't have access to the internet during your workday. Ever.

And I have assistants/admins for a lot of excel/spreadsheet/powerpoint work. It's not cost effective for me to do it. So no, it doesn't mean I don't take my job seriously if I can create a table in excel.

Just making a point.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I'm a well paid attorney and don't use excel.

Seems like something that an admin would be expected to know, but not necessarily a masters degree. I have two grad degrees and never was taught computer skills.