[mst]

Ask yourself: who did you compete with to hire that developer? Are they still short of somebody?

The one time so far in the history of Shadowcat I've had to cut people for no reason other than lack of money, I talked to managers I knew at other companies who might have an interest in the sort of talent that I was about to force onto the market.

Two people finished working for me on a friday and started a new job on the following monday. The reduction in stress and guilt and hence increase in my capacity to focus that resulted from knowing that was the outcome for them repaid the time spent finding them new gigs within a handful of days. Maintaining a positive relationship with those people afterwards - and the attitude of people who saw how I'd handled it - was effectively just gravy.

Or: Handling this sort of situation with honour tends to help turn it into a positive sum game.

[jakejake]

I have a similar guilt when we're hiring and I wind up with several great candidates. sometimes I have 2 or 3 people and I wish I could hire them all. I feel like it's a waste if I can't at least create something out of the situation. Especially considering it's hard to find good people and I have friends who are often looking for staff. A few times I've contacted the candidates and asked if they would allow me to put them in touch with another company. I think I've managed to hook up a few people with jobs.

[90002]

Good to know that we still have some good people in the world who care about one another.

[Domenic_S]

That's really stand-up of you. Respect.

[hobs]

I like this because even the most calculating selfish person can see how building these connections is a long term win. Talk about behavior like that goes a long way in establishing your company as a good actor.

Thanks.