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Comment by adenozine | Hacker News Reader

You're torturing your staff by keeping someone so toxic and erratic around them, just for the feeling of doing some good deed for the world.

This is a terrible forum to have this discussion, as well. For the sake of your employees, delete this and get rid of this guy.

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> You're torturing your staff by keeping someone so toxic and erratic around them

Let’s dial back the extremes here. Sure the person is a bit odd and has caused some issues at night. They are a “lead” on the team so they obviously are somewhat reasonably behaved.

This is why taking advice on the internet is dangerous. You rarely get the well thought out responses and perspective you need in situations like this.

You don't think this person might be a risk to others after the screaming outbursts and damage of property?

He does it after hours. Helping someone out with mental issues and keeping him stable ( he is a good employee after all), might not be the worst decision :)

If you're going to get rid of every employee with issues, you shouldn't hire anyone. Social affairs are the most difficult in being an employer, for this person in particular a stable "relation" might improve things.

He obviously has more than normal issues, but he's still a good employee who accomplished a lot in a short time.

Also notice that the op didn't mention the option to fire him. So the only other way is to "help him".

> He does it after hours

And if someone else stays after hours, are they going to be safe?

Not really. Look at how the post was introduced. There's a history of disasters and bad outcomes with the OP's approach to hiring. "It has worked well exactly once."

All of these disasters take a toll on the other people in your employ. While _YOU_ may get to feel altruistic about your hiring decisions, everyone else has to feel miserable about them.

Anything but an emphatic yes is a no hire. References responding tersely is also a CLEAR no hire.

Man, imagine helping someone out.

Helping people out is fine if you aren't doing it at the expense of others like OP is. He's terrorizing his other employees.

They became lead because they worked many hours first few weeks and had good technical skills. Not because their behavior would be reasonable from any other aspect.

making holes in the walls and shattering displays isn't really "a bit odd"

True that. I can't imagine how my face would look like the next day at the office, when I learn and internalise what happened. I'd be worried to put it mildly about working with that person.

The fact that OP wants to really help and not just fire him and find a new lead, is admirable. Hopefully, they'd figure it out!

Actually, I've reached out to HN to have them delete, but it hasn't happened yet. It did not occur to me that there was not a "delete" button.

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