How do you know when it’s time to let someone go?

Being the owner of a growing salon, I have learned to pray and ask God to remove them. I am not confrontational, so I like a smooth transition in any situation. It was the disturbance of the atmosphere and my clients who shared their input regarding how their experience had been interrupted. I need my clients over needing a fully staffed salon, so I release 3 stylists simultaneously. It has not been easy in losing that revenue, yet provision has been made.

In my experience attitude is everything.  We measure their KPI's.  If it starts declining we have a conversation as what might be going on.  If they do not care it can be spotted and we let them go.  I am also for working with someone if their speed is not up yet but you can see how much they want it.  Attitude trumps over everything.  Dishonesty will also get them fired.  

I’ve always took pride in myself being able to see people abilities early on, but still am surprised by a lot of people. Although have recently found a commonality between all my current “better/good” workers vs. the ones that need more work or structure and the main difference is 100% of the ones that are the better more reliable workers are the former high school/collegiate athletes (or any form of extracurricular activity).  

I think when it's early on, you have to have a very short leash on people. For me it's showing up on time. Thing is, I tell them that ahead of time. Make them sign something saying they understand that showing up ontime is important. I set the expectations up front. If you break these deal breakers, I will let you go and I won't think about it. 

Also, it has to be a cultural thing too. I think it's common (especially among carpenters) to have a respect earning period of time where they might not necessarily like them BUT keep in mind this is the honey moon period where they should be on their best behavior. If they are messing up at the beginning, it's probably not going to work. 

I think a lot of us make excuses for people and keep people around longer than you should. Remember, THIS IS YOUR MONEY. Don't throw it away. There are lots of good people out there and A players only want to work with A players. If your making excuses for someone, you are hurting your team. 

My deal breaker is when someone is dishonest.  I can work guide and train people that have a good work ethic, humble and willing to learn.

The buck stops when they are dishonest, throw their team under the bus, and don't take responsibility for their actions.  It's not the mistake that counts, it's how they handle the mistake that really lets me know what kind of person they are.

I believe its time to let someone go on strike 2. Communication is key. Yes, new employees that need to be trained can be given grace. But, in the grand scheme of things, grace and patience only go so far. Improvements weekly or biweekly are a necessary outcome to see, or its just not going to work out.

They say hire slow and fire fast, but is it situational dependent? 

Sometimes the experienced people have a big ego when working for a new company. They act like they “know it all” and are not teachable. I’m having this issue now and feel I need to just let him go but that would put more workload on myself, since I only have one person working with me.