It’s a Bad Day When You’re Fired by the Sugar Plum Fairy

This morning I gaily costumed up in anticipation of the office Halloween potluck. Rebecca took pictures of me as the Sugar Plum Fairy—purple satin dress and gloves, big blonde curly wig, a tiara, a wand, and purple and teal gossamer wings. I was set for a day of work with a little fun and silliness mixed in.

Almost immediately upon getting into my office, the consultant who is doing our web design wanted to talk. It has not been a good fit, and last week I let her know that she needed to pull a rabbit out of her hat if she wanted to continue with the contract. She’s not easy to manage—even as she talks about wanting to keep this position, ‘tude and complaints come rolling out. This morning she began by apologizing for some of her comments (her agency had chatted with her apparently) and said she had a positive attitude and wanted to do a good job for us. She is not a good communicator and has a voice to which it is not easy to listen. As she went on way past the state of rambling and I saw my purple gloves folded in my purple satin lap, I could only think that to all appearances, this woman was negotiating with the Sugar Plum Fairy for her job. Even as I tried to listen well and wished she would stop, and even as I considered the irony of the situation, I felt for her.

A little later one of our business analysts, also a consultant, came in to talk about getting her degree and how much time it's going to take. We really want to hire her in the next year, but can't do it without the degree (UW requirement), and it looks like at minimum it will take her two years. So again, I found myself on the business end of a serious conversation about career issues, and wondered just how effective I could be with wings, not to mention a wig that makes Dolly Parton’s look conservative.

My boss cracked up every time he looked at me—even as he was telling me that none of the directors liked the latest batch of web designs. He told me it was entirely my decision whether to keep the designer on or not since I’m her manager—which I appreciated—but it seemed clear to me that having her stay would not do any of us, including her, any favors. I called her agency to let them know before I talked to her. Her rep wanted to come over for the Come to Jesus Meeting, and when he arrived.... the Sugar Plum Fairy performed her first firing. It was NOT fun, but seemed to go as well as one could expect—especially when playing the executioner in garb reserved for Christmas ballets and drag shows. Who knew the Sugar Plum Fairy could feel sick to her stomach?

Scott, unaware of the firing, emailed jokingly asking if, as the SPF, I’d turned anyone into a toad. I replied, “That is not the job of Sugar Plum Fairies. But in this case, I would have to say yes.”