Firing Fellow Contractor

[cojak]

I want to make sure I am clear

If he stays then I am pretty much guaranteed a job for a long time because before I go he will have to and I am heaps better

On the other hand if a really good developer joined then I might be bottom of the pile.

I am the lead developer by choice - It is not my job remit - I was asked to do it and accepted.

Irrelevant.

As Menelaus says - if you tell the manager that he's fine and 10 other people tell him he rubbish, you're going to be viewed as having poor judgement.

And I don't like having to carry incompetents.

And a really good developer still wouldn't have what you've got - experience and knowledge to the project.

[Pogle]

Have been in a similar situation - Clientco asked my opinion of fellow contractor. It was his first contract and he was utter utter shyte. I was honest and his contract was not renewed.
The fact that client was asking what I thought of this chap was an indication they were not too impressed.
I don't like contractors who are not up to the job, it paints us all in a bad light.

[d000hg]

If you want to be nice, why not talk to the individual honestly about it? Just because they're a contractor doesn't mean you shouldn't see if there are ways to help them improve their productivity... at least you can see if they know they are failing or are oblivious and could be prodded into action.

You can then tell management 'He's not performing brilliantly but I am discussing with him ways to fix it before recommending more extreme steps'.

[d000hg]

BTW, how bad is 'terrible'? Like he doesn't know how to program, or is just slow?

[vetran]

Management skills are different to technical skills

Hopefully they are asking you because they value your opinion. I'm assuming you wanted the team leader role?

Either its up front and honest or a test either way you need to give honest feedback.

If you carry him then he will drag you down.

If he is bad and shows no promise can him. If you think he can be salvaged then set a deadline with them & him and work to improve him. Tell them I have just started as his boss I think I can turn him around. At the end of the period re-evaluate and get him to make the decision to go if possible. Remember he is a contractor it goes with the territory.

Success or failure you will be seen as a good manager.

One assumes you will interview his replacement? So you can find one that fits and doesn't have aspirations to become the boss.

[BrilloPad]

You have to be honest : or will backfire on you.

[Clippy]

I thought we had established ages ago that joey was a sockpuppet - a very poor one at that.

[d000hg]

I thought we had established ages ago that joey was a sockpuppet - a very poor one at that.

I was trying to remember... was he the one who got 'raped' by his agent?

[Clippy]

I was trying to remember... was he the one who got 'raped' by his agent?

Yup.

In one post he was on something like £400 - £500 pd in another he seemed to suggest he was on the dole and wanted to know if he could claim JSA.

[Board Game Geek]

MODS : Please close and/or lock this thread.

We have established that it is by a Sockie Troll, and as such, it is not a valid post, and is wasting people's time in responding to it. It's bogus.