THAT employee who seemed perfect in the interview and then … wasn’t. The one who showed up late, left early, and accomplished nothing in between. Who took “creative interpretation” of workplace rules to dazzling new heights. We asked our Brain Squad to tell us about their worst hiring disasters — the red flags they missed and how long they waited before pulling the plug.
Her Mom Said Retail Was Beneath Her
“Hired the granddaughter of a customer. She showed up late every day, used her time and my resources at work to get her masters (degree) online, created her wedding guest list on my computer when she didn’t even have a date set, lied about taking off of work to see a sick family friend when she actually went to a Cowboys game, constantly talked about how wealthy her step-dad is and how he was going to come buy all of these gifts for her mom and her step-siblings (he never did), created drama with my other employees by talking trash about everyone behind their back and pitted people against each other, and the list goes on and on. To say she was a cancer is spot on. She ended up quitting because her mom told her retail was beneath her. All I could say was … ADIOS!” — Marc M., Midland, TX
20 Broken Showcases Before We Said Enough
“I had an employee that said she was in the industry and could design. She could sketch with expertise. Then she said that should be something I pay extra for. Nope! Then she started showing up late every morning and when given an ultimatum showed up on time but then had to take 45 minutes to do her make-up. Or when she decided to take it on her own to tighten some screws on showcases and crack the top glass on over 20 (yes!) showcases. I was still nice and waited until the 27th of December (two months after Glassgate) to let her go. Bad on me for keeping her almost a year. Lesson learned the hard way.” — David B., Calgary, AB
The Fentanyl Was the Dealbreaker
“We had a new bench jeweler who we took a chance on — he had a criminal record from a while ago, but was ‘rehabilitated’ … supposedly. He was incredibly talented. Like crazy good at his craft. On day 5 of employment, he had an altercation with our other jeweler and threw stuff around the shop. Then told her he had fentanyl in his sock, just in case he needed to ‘check out.’ Needless to say, our son escorted him out of the shop and of a job!” — Beth C., Dublin, OH
Great First Day. Terrible Morning After.
“A few years ago I hired a salesperson that really shined on her first day, we were so excited that we had picked the right one. She was so happy about her first day that she went home and celebrated too much. The next morning my husband and I were at a doctor’s office with our daughter and I decided to check the cameras at the store to see how our new sales girl was doing. Well, she was asleep, hung over, with her head down on her desk. Then I watched a customer walk in, her head remained down on the desk and the client had to walk past her and to the back to find someone to help him. My husband immediately jumped in the car, drove to the store and fired her!” — Dianna Rae H., Lafayette, LA
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The Lead Singer Did Not Last the Day
“For part-time … my brother/partner had the brilliant idea to hire a gregarious and devilishly handsome lead singer of a popular local band who was a lady killer. Very popular. Figured it had to be good for business. First day on the job, on his first half-hour lunch break, I picked up on a ‘funny’ smell … followed the ‘smell’ up to the break room … he was smoking pot! On confrontation he said he was on ‘his time.’ It was an immediate ‘goodbye’!” — J. Dennis P., Johnstown, PA
His Definition of Punctual Needed Some Work
“I had one that was always late. I’d remind him that I expected him to be on time. Just before I fired him, I reminded him again that he was late. His response was ‘I was on time 3 times this week. That’s most of the time. Doesn’t that count?'” — Peter T., Show Low, AZ
The Interview Outfit Was Apparently One-Time-Only
“They look and dress their best for the interview. Had one that looked sharp and then dressed like she was about to board a cruise ship every day. ChatGPT helped with a new dress code. We may be in SC but we don’t wear flip-flops to work anymore!” — Allison L., Rock Hill, SC
What’s the Brain Squad?
If you’re the owner or top manager of a U.S. jewelry store, you’re invited to join the INSTORE Brain Squad. By taking one five-minute quiz a month, you can get a free t-shirt, be featured prominently in this magazine, and make your voice heard on key issues affecting the jewelry industry. Good deal, right? Sign up here.
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