Coaches Corner
Paws & Reflect On Why He Quit His Job …
We’ve all had our share of radio crazy, but I’ve never heard of anyone using their pet as an excuse to quit a job. Here’s how my conversation went with a fellow radio veteran.
A New Hire, A Short Stay…
OM: Ever had anyone that worked for you that quit in less than 3 months?
Coach: Yes, I once hired a PD waiting for his next programming gig as a morning show producer. I thought I knew him well, but it turned out I didn’t. He split after 1 month, and I’d even brought him in at a six-figure salary, and all he had to do was babysit the morning show.
His reason for leaving? “Based on my skills, I’m not being allowed to contribute more.” And I’m not paraphrasing. And before you ask, no, he did not have another job lined up.
Found The Perfect Fit…
OM: Well, I can top that. You know there aren’t that many local morning shows anymore. But we have one. By the way, Sam, please don’t give out my name or the name of my station because I know you’re going to write about this. I know you. Anyway, I found what I thought was the right person to add to my 2-person show.
I did a lot of interviews and a lot of background checks. I hired this guy away from a small market. He seemed pretty excited about getting back to a medium-sized market. His story for winding up in such a small market was that his father died, and he went back to take care of his mom.
The First Red Flag…
Coach: He sounds like a good person.
OM: It’s what we thought too. Everything was set. He was supposed to drive in that Friday and start on Monday. I kept checking my cell phone all day. I’d planned to take him out for dinner after he checked into his hotel. He never made it in, but he did call Friday night and said some last-minute things came up with his mom and asked if he could change his start date.
So, I called the Market Manager and let her know the situation. We’d been promoting his start date in recorded promos and liners for a couple of weeks. But like I said, we’d met the guy, and he had charmed all of us, so I went with a plan B. Sam, you know me, I didn’t have a plan B until I was in the middle of the call with my Market Manager.
A Change of Plans…
Coach: And?
OM: So, we put everything on hold and started promoting a new date as if it had always been the plan.
Coach: Sorry, but can you give this new hire a name, so I don’t have to refer to him as he?
OM: Okay, no problem. I’ll refer to him as Mr. B. Anyway, he finally moved here and fit in well with the existing two morning show people.
Middle Of The Night…
Coach: Spit it out, what are you leading up to?
OM: Okay, long story short, 3 weeks in, out of the blue, Mr. B asked if he could drive back home because his mom was having more issues with her house. Our company was family-oriented, and even though he hadn’t been with us long, we let him do it. He left on a Wednesday.
Then that Friday night, I got a call from my Market Manager. It was 2 in the morning when this guy sent her a resignation email. I wasn’t even copied. I’m not sure why the Market Manager was up so late, but she was and read what he had sent her.
Coach: That’s insane.
OM: And before you ask, he did not have a new job lined up. Believe me, I checked.
Coach: Hmmm.
His Final Explanation
OM: We were paying Mr. B $90,000 plus bonuses. And his mom had called me a few days before all this happened to thank me for hiring her son.
Coach: Did he do as he promised and get back with you guys?
OM: Yes, he did. On Monday, Mr. B finally sent me an email—no phone call, just an email. I’ll share it with you.
“Hi ####, I wanted to reach out and give you a detailed explanation of why I left so suddenly. There were a variety of reasons. But first off, I wanted to thank you for allowing me the days off to come home and see about my mom and my dog. Unfortunately, seeing my dog in such poor condition weighed heavily on my decision to leave, but that wasn’t the only reason.”
“It became obvious that paying both my rent and my mom’s mortgage was going to be more of a challenge than I had anticipated. After moving from the Extended Stay that you guys paid for during my first two weeks there, my finances and credit history had me in a bad way. I was turned down for several apartments, and I got frustrated.
“I never told you guys, but for the past 10 days, I’ve been living at the Budget Inn near the station. The place was close to work, so it was convenient. But given my credit and money issues, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to afford a nice place somewhere that was safe.
I didn’t think I could handle being at the Budget Inn for who knows how long. And they had a no-pets-allowed policy which meant I had to leave my dog at my mom’s.”
“I apologize to you and the company for leaving like this. I should have been more forthcoming.
You certainly don’t have to worry about me badmouthing you or the company. I know the timing of how things played out looks awful, but in the end, I have to look out for the people in my life first. I’m very sorry and wish you and your company much success.”
The Aftermath…
Coach: That’s wild, especially all the mentions about his dog.
OM: And he was so good on the air. It just goes to show you, you never know.
Coach: Look, don’t second guess yourself.
OM: I’ve had a few strange hirings in the past, but this thing with his dog.
Coach: Say no more, I’m done. Oops, I’ve got to take another call, later.
And if you need some friendly advice, drop me an email; samweaver@samweavermedia.com or text me, (972) 672-4812.