When an Employee Leaves

September 8, 2008.

When I got back from the ABC Kids Expo, almost four years ago to the day, I realized I needed more help.  My good friend who was working with me was pregnant with baby number four and was due soon.  I had orders piling up, I had products to ship and I still had two children to take care of.  My babysitter at the time literally walked in one day and said her sister was artistic and she needed a job.

It was my first real interview with a prospective employee, though conducted in my garage/studio - it did not feel very glamorous or monumental.  I was excited I was nervous and I was desperate.  Luckily for me Alice was wonderful, well-qualified and had a great sense of humor.  I hired her on the spot!  Even if she was only 18 she was okay working with us two ol' ladies, all of 35 and all.

Working in the Studio

Alice started with inking the tiles, she was able to use a paint pen with ease, even if there was a  certain cleaning component that she did over use once, or twice - she loved that stuff.  We were afraid that we would all die of fumes and had to air the studio and the entire house out one afternoon.....in December and in the rain.  Not a problem we laughed about it often.  Though Alice missed the first Christmas rush and tears, she has been around for every other one, always helping out when times got crazy and/or emotional.

As the months and years marched on Alice got more comfortable at Jamie's Painting & Design.  We would tease her as we sat out in the garage late at night and she would always laugh.  Not sure if she laughed due to I was her boss, or she liked our jokes.  Two stories that come to mind will always bring a smile to my face :

Back in the day we were ladies of leisure we would watch Oprah while we worked.  Oh those were  the days - everyone had to be quiet as we soaked in Ms. O's brilliant repertoire.   During one segment Oprah was discussing her weight and her issues with it.  The year is 2005 and Alice was all of 19 years old, just a pumpkin if you will.  Alice turns to us older wiser gal's and says, "Oprah used to be heavy?"

Second all time favorite story, since we worked so close to her we were able to hear all about her dating, we really did live vicariously through her.  We enjoyed the stories and often reminisced of what it was like to be in college and dating.  At one time Darin was out in the garage....er studio helping ship when he casually asks Alice about one of her past amour's, she blurts out, "Oh Darin, he is sooooo last semester!"

Alice the Accountant

As the business continued to grow it was apparent that we needed some accounting help, and as luck would have it Alice was an accounting major.  She quickly picked up billing and invoicing and took most of the responsibility over from Darin.  She continued to help ink the tiles and then would also bill our channels after she made tiles, and answer the phone al the same time.

As Alice's accounting and book keeping responsibilities grew, her art ones diminished.  We continued to refine our way of producing and manufacturing tiles and were able to eliminate one of her jobs.  Not her book keeping job, but the other messy one with that cleaning stuff....To make up the hours Alice started to do shipping labels for us and boy could she make them.  I would say she could knock out a few hundred in a few hours and I would not be exaggerating.  What took me a day and a half and two diet cokes, Alice whizzed through like a typing wizard.

Alice worked though good times and she worked through bad times, Alice saw me at my best and she saw me at my worst.  She stood by as we changed and evolved and she continued to work.  Alice never came to work in a bad mood (unlike her boss) she always had a bright smile on her face and sunny disposition.  Even if she made a mistake, she was able to move on - she did not let things bother her.....wish I could be so lighthearted.

Go Ask Alice

Late last year we had some changes in our employees and scaled back due to...well we had to.  Just  like clock work Alice was able to jump in with two feet and add more jobs to her list of responsibilities.  She started processing orders, she was ordering supplies, she kitted.  And in a pinch Alice could ribbon a tile and ship it.  A Jack....of, or an Alice of All Trades.  She had so many responsibilities it was evident that she was invaluable to the company.

With the start of 2008, the economy slowed down. Any small business owner would tell you this was not a fruitful time.  We had luckily, or not luckily spent a substantial amount of money at Atlanta the previous year so we sort of prepared for the slow year.  As invaluable as everyone was, we still had to tighten our belts, we had to be realistic and we had to be frugal.  Not the best environment for a starving college student that is putting herself though school.  Though we did prepare for a possible slow year we did not prepare for everything.  Sometimes you get what you deserve, sometimes you don't. 

Moving On Up

Last week Alice gave her two week notice, she had gotten a paid internship in a major accounting  firm and possible employment after college.  She gets paid holidays, she can get benefits - she can get what I can't give her.   I could not be more happy for her and I could not be more sad.  I feel like my daughter is going off to college, a friend is moving away and a little piece of JPD is walking out the door.  The last of the Mohican's, the last of the "girls", the last of my first employees is leaving.  To say I have been emotional for he last 48 hours would be an understatement, I will miss her terribly.

Change happens, change is good and I knew this day would come.  I am not surprised and I am not bitter and she is leaving under the best of circumstances.  I could barely look at her when she told me the news, my heart sank. 

I am so proud of Alice and I am so happy she was able to work with us for so long.  I hope her memories at Jamie's Painting & Design are are fond ones and I hope she keeps in touch.  I wish her the best of luck, and I wish us the best of luck as we dredge on without her.

Comments

[Sharon]

What wonderful experiences for Alice to remember from her work at JPD. Sounds like you both learned and grew as the business grew. Alice will always have your glowing recommendation, and you will always know you taught a young woman about the world of small business.

[sarah jane]

Oh I am so sad for you!! I have been dreaming of an ALICE this entire year...so even though I have never had such a glorious helper, I am so sad for you cause I know what it is like with out that!!!! Congrats for training someone so well that she would be ready for such a great position!!?? I guess now you will be prepared for a more formal interview:)

[Lisa thedomesticdiva]

Awww Jamie! Alice sounds like one special gal! Wishing her all the success!

With friendship,
Lisa

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