sacking someone can get you killed in PI

Below is a link about a British guy murdered just north of Cebu on saturday
I wonder if any of the established xpats can share any stories on this subject , quite often we read in the news about westerners being knocked off for firing someone . Larry just delete this if it is a bit too sensitive , but I would be interested in any other , like stories , if anyone has any , particularly as I am looking to invest a bit of dough in the phils in the near future

http://news.google.com.au/news/url?...on&did=1916863087397280380&sid=en_ph-n&ssid=n

 

Oztony,
Thanks for posting. Sad that it is people who do good that seem to end up victims.
May he rest in peace.

 

Never shout at a drunk Filipino in public, especially if he is armed with a gun, I know it's no excuse for what the Filipino did, but that's what a bad trait they have.


My condolence to his family.

Rest in peace Tony

 

What is most disturbing to me , is the trivial reasons behind these murderous acts , as in this case , guy turns up to work drunk , not once but twice , get's the sack , and then shoots his employer , what a disgraceful mindset that is .

Tony

 

In One OZ, Over the last 5 years I have had so many workers and very little trouble of this sort. I do not hire anyone I do not know, and most have been working for the Family(hers) for a long time, As I am a Foreigner, their cards are marked right at the start of the job in Question, 3 strikes and your Out. All done in front of Witnesses and I feel, this has helped a great deal. Any breach of the conditions, is spelt out by either my wife or one of her Brothers. Again witnessed so that all understand,

My present dilemma with my masons is now approaching strike 3 and I can tell you that the main culprits wife, was here yet again, This very morning, Pleading for his work. He is Absent. As long as they all 3 turn up tomorrow, all will be well.

I am so very shocked, to hear of the death of the Brit sacking his worker but I have to wonder if the man really did his Homework, on engaging the man concerned and keeping him on after the first issue.

As foreigners and with our upbringing, We have or should have, some deeper perception, of likely idiots on the Work force, especially when the man had already had a warning about Drunk on Duty. These things tend to my mind, happen on Larger builds where the Owner, is not in control all the time of the workers.

As I said Before, Knowing your workers, Watching for the Pitfalls in them and trying to communicate any problems they may have, Reduces the risk somewhat, of having a Gun Totting madman on site there is always going to be the bad exception but I can almost guarantee, that very few, if any of us here, have been anywhere close to this unfortunate happening.

We all share our knowledge about Building crews, Recommendations and such like are common. So what I am trying to say is, Doing your Homework about workers, treat them with respect, if any Problems do arise, talk to them (well your Wife anyway)

It works for me and we have sacked a few (and had them back)




JP

 

JP , I find that a very tolerant approach , what you have stated , I am certainly not that tolerant in Aussieland , I have a one strike and your out rule , drugs or alcohol , because of the nature of our work , all my guys are subject to drug and alcohol tests , not by me or my business personally , but at certain facilities that we perform work at , and when one mistake can cost you or somebody else their life , I personally think that warrants zero tolerance on drugs or alcohol at work , I love a cold beer , but I love being alive too , my heart really goes out to that British guy's family , just an abhorrent act by that sacked Filipino , I really hope he dies in jail for what he done , forgiveness is for accidents , not blatant murder of an innocent man , who was just taking the right steps to protect his business , which was a diving business , imagine this idiot being drunk and sending someone to the bottom of the ocean with enough oxygen to get to the bottom , but not back up !!.
But in PI I think you are right JP , better to let wife or family do the firing , they are probably less offended by that approach , and also like you said if the rules have been laid out , and a bit of tolerance already given , wise approach for there

Tony

 

John Boy , when I read that news article yesterday and seen the picture of the young British man that was murdered , I just felt really sad , so hard to deal with are the senseless acts of violence , like that , that destroy a lot of other lives as well , life throws enough at us , without people like that dishing out pride served justice of their own

Tony

 

No direct Control!

Unfortunately,this episode highlights what I said before, The Perpetrator was employed by an Agency,as some one stated, the Dead man (Tony) should have had no contact with the guard, this is why we pay an agency. (will they be held to account??) Had this been you or me, we would I feel, have done a lot more, to check Backgrounds on Drug/Drink habits, but there we go, always in Hindsight.


Of course, my thoughts go out to the family of Tony. Now is the time, for anyone that employs security guards, to be more involved with crew selection. For me, Security is the name of the game and we all know, that there are dubious security companies, all over the world, that will employ just about anyone, if they are allowed to get away with it.
Just another episode on life in the PI. Lesson learned. mmmmmmmm I very much Doubt it.

JP

 

Completely agreed John Boy , I think JP certainly has offered some words of wisdom , situational awareness , being a key ingredient in the thought process of anyone looking at operating in PI .

Tony