I remember the one time I had to fire somebody as a temporary acting manager for a company I used to work for 30 years ago. Like Jonah in this scene, I felt ill at ease as it wasn't my decision, and the kid I had to let go was a really cool dude, but I kept it short and directly to the point as I looked him in the eye while delivering the news. The kid got a saddened look on his face and slowly got up out of his chair and walked out without saying a word, and I felt really bad about it later on. Fast forward several months later, and our office (we were a small service company located in the local village) had then hired another young worker around the same age as the one I had let go - who coincidentally had been friends with the worker I had fired. He told me that his friend (the one I fired) had indicated to him that I was a really great guy who treated him very fairly and with respect during his short employment stay there, and that made me feel a whole lot better about the situation afterwards.
Hopefully the kid found something better afterwards. It sucks when you’re on the other side getting let go but it’s important to know something better is usually around the corner.
I've only ever had to fire someone once, and it was two people over the same incident: an employee who falsified his time card and the assistant manager who signed it off. The employee was on camera coming in late, the assistant manager let him in, and they discussed the time card and wrote in and signed off the false time on camera. I tried to be respectful and to the point. I hated every second of it, and I still do. But it had to be done.
@@JohnJohnson-kg4ek and you missed the point. They FALSIFIED the time card. That's different than cutting someone some slack. Not firing them for being late? That's cutting them some slack. Helping them falsify a time card is lying to the organization.
I like movies that understand the power of silence. After Peter Brand lays it out for Carlos, there's a long silence, where the viewer can take the time to wonder what's in the characters' minds. Then, "Okay." Silence in movies is an underrated power.
So right, silence takes courage. Took me awhile to be able to use it in business but it has tremendous value when done correctly, especially when you've made a point you want to resonate with your audience. Too many people want to fill silence with "noise", but your point can be lost if you just ramble immediately after making it. Let it breathe.
I think Carlos actually thought something very similar like Billy and Peter discussed earlier: "But my new house. But my children. But my life." He just did not say it.
This works. People respect the process if you’re direct, honest and to the point. I’ve had to terminate people many times and this absolutely works. I’ve had former employees say thank you for being this way and giving them the respect they deserve in such a traumatic time.
I just used this clip as an example to my eldest on how to handle an uncomfortable situation; no messing around, no fluff. Just keep things short and simple and end it. This clip is a wonderful life lesson to those who have to deal with people professionally on a daily basis. This is also an example of the importance of soft skills. I'm in IT and my ability to work with people is just as important as my technical skills.
I think he was testing Jonah, to see if he would try and talk and say more “I’m sorry, it’s not me it’s someone else’s decision”. Testing isn’t the best word but probably still processing it all.
I heard the paper and Jonah Hill were in the race for Best Supporting Actor... Politics came in (the paper had some bad history with flowers or something) and Jonah Hill got the vote and was nominated. That piece of paper hasn’t been seen in a Hollywood film since. Rumor has it that the paper is now stating in paper porn!
He KILLED it in Maniac. One of my favorite mini-series ever. Just mind blowing. Such a great portrayal of a schizophrenic. I suffer from the same issues and he really hit the nail on the head with his acting. It's on Netflix, check it out. He stars alongside emma stone, they did super bad together. Though, I never saw that movie.
Superbad was great, but he was intentionally a pretty douchey teenager in that role. This is the first where we realized "okay, so he's a solid actor as an adult."
It is worth noting that Carlos Pena was traded from the Rangers to the A's in January of that year. So, he had already been traded before and he was only with the organization for a little under 6 months, which is why his reaction was not as intense.
The team owns you, they can sell your contract at any time before the trade deadline. Professional athletes know this and accept it as part of the job.
Honestly, it's gotta be definitely lame to hear you got traded, but i feel like most ppl in that scenario wouldnt give a shit either. Theyre all practically millionaires or at least 6 figure earning athletes at the end of the day so as long as they still have a job, it aint that tough; an inconvenience at most lolol
Just think of how NFL placekickers feel. You can get cut any time, and if you do you better hope another team will take you or it's back to being a bag boy at Piggly-Wiggly
Continuously impressed by how natural the dialogue in this film comes across. Sorkin has a talent for sure, but I would never call his writing "natural." This movie was totally different. Gotta commend the actors for their reads and the director for guiding the smarmy and witty dialogue into something that sounds legit.
@@---hv2le Not writing naturally, or even being "smarmy", doesn't mean it's bad, just heavily stylized. West Wing was critically acclaimed and has legions of well-deserved fans, but the vast majority of them would be the first to agree the writing is not natural and most of the characters are pompous and smarmy a lot of the time :)
yeah, this is my very favorite scene in the movie for me, too! always loved movies! studied movies in college and did some directing! this is my favorite scene in this picture!!
"Would you Rather get a Bullet to the head or 5 to the chest and Bleed out?" Thats it. Thats the perfect way to describe it. Once you get over the shock of the sudden firing you kinda just Move on. But the long drawn out ones probably hurt like hell cuz you have time to reason and debate even tho your still going down
0:36 watched this movie so many times and never noticed the wink Billy gives Peter when he says, "it's part of the job man" basically implying to Peter that Billy knew he had the potential to be a GM.
Thanks for including the follow-up scene w Carlos. This is one of my favorite movie clips of all time - such a simple, powerful lesson. I've used this approach in work, personal, and romantic life to overall positive effect. Cheers all
Same here, If im going to be let go, I realize that there is only so much control you can have, that will give you a clear enough head to try to land on your feet.
You say you've used this approach in romantic life, and I immediately thought: "Honey...you've been traded to Jack across the street. Here's the paperwork."
"Carlos, you've been traded to the Tigers. This is Jay Palmer's number, he is the travelling secretary for the team, he's expecting your call to take care of everything. " "Is that it?" "Now take your little bat, take your shit and get the fuck out of my team!"
I had to fire someone today for only the 2nd time in my life. The 2nd firing was a lot more difficult than the 1st due to the length that person worked for my company so I came here after worrying about it. I decided to take Billy's advice, just facts...didn't mention performance and it turned out the dude took it just like Carlos IRL
Lol he actually went to a team that was about to finish 43-119. Definitely would not call that a stacked team. He then got released the year the tigers went to the world series
@@mattl4119 I was just about to say something like this. Since the movie takes place during the '02 season, Pena would have been likely to be apart of the '03 Tigers roster. Arguably, the one of the worst baseball teams of all-time.
I feel this kinda. I have to fire people once every month at my job. State facts, apologize and give them info for unemployment benefits or maybe a new job lead and lead out with a handshake if they are ok with it. Doesn't always go that smoothly but most of the time it works.
I'm sure there are days where you have to let go of someone you liked or cared about and it was probably the worst day of your life every single time. And I can respect that 100%. But with sports, where players are treated like pieces of equipment instead of people, I just can't get behind it. They're traded for ticket value or "getting a set" to accomplish some personal collection goal for a dream team. It seems cruel, wasteful, insulting, and dehumanizing. The movie "Draft Day" with Kevin Costner has a great scene showing exactly what I'm talking about. He makes trades to several teams and players/picks get tossed back forth like cheap sports cards. It's one of the reasons why I can't sports movies very often.
@@Soldier4USA2005 If it makes you feel better, the players all know what they signed up for, and they get paid very well, enough to make up for any heartbreak I would imagine.
@@benmitchell0036 That's not the point. They're still people with families and dreams and so many times a players' life/career has been destroyed simply because the TEAM isn't doing well and the management wants to make more money.
Tell them things haven't worked out as you hoped, and that it's best for all concerned to part ways with immediate effect. Then go through the logistics of their departure. No apology, no info, no handshake.
I was dumbfounded by Jonah Hill during this entire movie. I never thought Superbad could be topped but out of all the roles this did it for me. I think the director deserves a lot of credit but he stole the show. Which is something I can’t really say for most movies that have Brad Pitts distractingly beautiful face and charisma…no homo.
Showing the fan what the player has to do logistically, like selling or buying a house when you hear a player was cut, designated for assignment or traded.
If I were fortunate and talented enough to be a pro athlete I would buy one house for the off season such as in my home town or wherever I would want to permanently live then rent an apartment, house or condo since I'd likely be moved to another city at any point in time.
@@poppy87 The players who make a lot of money do that. The guys on the A's like in this video making 250k/yr can't really afford to spread out as much depending on where they live.
Wish Dell had been that direct with me back in 2001. A-holes tricked me into flying 2000 miles because I was needed at a "meeting". Once I got there, all of a sudden I was asked to go into an office, my boss walks in, and lets me go.
I don't know shit about Detroit except if was I ever traded to the Tigers, I would make sure to live an hour drive from Detroit. Also, if I play a home game at night I'm sleeping in the locker room until it is light out. "They mostly come out at night. Mostly".
Stuart Otis Detroiter here. It’s not that bad here at all anymore. Granted, there’s some crime, but it’s not as prevalent as it used to be. And there are some great suburban areas around Detroit that are very nice that are within 15 minutes of the city. An hour away is basically living in the middle of nowhere.
The one wrong thing they do with this is they present being traded as horrible, when in reality being traded is usually a good thing, if someone trades for you they want to use you, they see value in you. They kinda present being traded as being released, two totally different things. It can be hard I especially if you have emotional ties to the team, but you’re not out of a job.
It's still pretty disruptive, especially if you've been on a team for a couple years. Your friends and home life are suddenly uprooted to go halfway across the country. Like the weather in Oakland? Too bad, you're traded to the Twins, better learn how to shovel snow. Their salaries are high so they don't just quit, but it's not fun to suddenly move.
I was fired from my management job of 8+ years for reasons outside of their control. It was nothing personal - we just couldn't meet on the same page about certain things. I completely understood why it was happening and accepted the decision. I turned my keys in during my last shift in anticipation of the event. When my higher ups called me the following day to officially let me know the decision was being made (and we did have somewhat of a personal friendship,) I could hear in their voices that they were nervous and I told him "Do what you gotta do. I understand." I've sat in offices where just the slightest reprimand turned people into emotional messes and sob stories. I always let people speak their minds openly, even to a point of criticism, but at the end of the day - the decision was made and never once was it unfounded. And neither was my own termination. If I was gonna dish it, I had to be able to take it. That being said, while this cold method of managing is the best and easiest way to get things done, it's not how I carried things out. I had people's respect and people wanted to work with me on my team which meant more to me than a higher position and pay at the cost of being a robot. This method of approach definitely helps you excel but I always ask at what cost. I never regretted my decisions and I never burned a single bridge.
Love all the relatable little anecdotes, but can I point out that trading ≠ firing? Dude still has a job. Glad you guys are lulling yourself to sleep at night with a movie though.
The bit I always struggle to wrap my head around is the fact that he was traded to the Tigers, which means he has to up and move from San Francisco to Detroit. If he's got a wife, she has to quit her job. If he's got kids, they have to move schools. His entire life is upended in five seconds.
got fired after a year putting in hard work, manager barely moves a finger, after that vowed never to work for anyone again, 5 years laters on my way to making a million dlls a year, now im the boss but still hustle if i want. you can do it too
Brian Cashman must have been a smooth talker to tell Aroldis Chapman we got to trade you to the Cubs for a top prospect Torres and then we want you back next year.
@@MikeNapoli1989 When watching the scene for the first time I thought that he would yell at Pete, but as Pitt's character said, they are professionals. No one in the right mind would lash out at any HR guy or manager unless they want to be jobless for the rest of their lives.
A lot of truth in this scene, just be direct and to the point in a situation where you have to do this, better to kill someone quick than kill them slow
@@osmoticmonk I try too but once I said it exactly like this once hey nick I don't need you anymore go home find another job your fired in front of other employees and I looked at everyone directly in their eyes
These men work in an industry where trade is a very real possibility. Most professional athletes do not put down roots they cant pull up quickly. Does baseball even have a no trade clause?
Well, they’re pro ball players. It isn’t like they’re going to go postal. My company has security meet you at the door and escort you to the HR department. They don’t even let you go back to your desk to pack your own shit. They already have it packed for you.
@@nicholasmelchiore1233 I don't know if I would call them references per se, but there's a Joe Strummer picture behind Hill and a Clash poster behind Pitt