Leadership Tips: Rehires

Question: You're in the process of paying your monthly bills, and you detect a shadow in your doorway. It's Russ Turner, a colleague from your old field supervisor days. A big smile belies his obvious sheepishness, and he's asking for work. Three years ago, your ops chief termed Russ for chronic lying; and at the time it was a source of general relief among the crews. You're pretty sure there were some allegations of sexual harassment, as well.

Russ pretty much bares his soul to you, and there are tears in his eyes. He says he had some personal problems last time you saw him, but he spent two years in a rehab program for drug addicts. He's found religion, he says, and his whole life has changed. He'll handle supplies or clean ambulances, anything at all; and he's clearly begging. You remember him as a gifted paramedic, who taught many other fine caregivers; and you think, how sad it is to see him like this.

Answer: Don't you do it, and don't tell anybody else you didn't do it. Years of experience say that when it comes to the fundamentals of their lives, people don't change. They are who they are, that's all. Plenty of people claim to have changed. None of us are perfect, and we all grow if we're healthy. But integrity is essential.

You're nobody's judge, but this guy is asking you to trust him, after a scant three-year period, to be something he proved he was not. Tears or no tears, that's a whole lot. Harsh as this may sound, I don't think you can do it.

Maybe after another three years, with good references, you'll be able to see yourself standing in front of your crews and explaining why you changed your mind.

Thom Dick has been involved in EMS for 41 years, 23 of them as a full-time EMT and paramedic in San Diego County. He is the quality care coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a community-owned, hospital-based 9-1-1 provider in Brighton, CO. Thom is also a member of the EMS World editorial advisory board. E-mail boxcar_414@yahoo.com.