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Chief
It is not your call whether those two people have the skill set or can be trained. Your task is to define rolls and prioritize them. Focus on the roll/job function not who is on them. Look at everyone's job. Are there aspects not needed, could be offloaded to support, etc. Are there tasks now split between people that would be more efficiently done by one person. What tasks are these people doing that don't need to be done or can be incorporated by others? What tasks have higher value that aren't being done. It's your job to say IMO this the most efficient way to use 6 FTE. It is your manager's job to decide who fills those spots.
Rising Star
It's also typically easier and cheaper to upskill people if you have the internal L&D programs, than it is to terminate and replace entirely.
I know the two people I’m thinking of have a reputation for being incompetent/nobody knows what they do, but they’re both friendly and seemingly well liked as people.
Wife seems to like hard > soft so that’s what I go with
Chief
So. Did you accidentally reply on the wrong post, or just enjoying happy hour and wishing you weren't on the road tonight 😉
Pro
You said the only thing you can come up with involves removing those two people's roles; why is that the only solution in your mind? (I'm hoping understanding your thinking can help us all help you justify your recommendation to your manager)
Rising Star
Be careful that you potentially have no idea what those people do. With people not in manager/leadership roles, I often times hear them talking about how so and so doesnt do anything when in reality, their work just doesnt cross over with that person at all.
I would be disappointed if the only rec you made to me was to lay people off instead of relaying to me the areas we should expand into. Your job isnt to staff the area in this case, it's to bring attention to areas of opportunity.
Chief
Are you looking to fire those two and replace them ? Or you think you can lay them off as you don’t need those positions at all?
If it’s the latter, then you can just say that headcount can be reduced by 2 without naming anyone.
Unfortunately it’s more the first… I don’t think their skill sets fit the team and what’s asked of us
Chief
This is about making good decisions. A you confidently support the basis for your recommendation? As others asked, is it about positions or people? Lastly, be carefully about the ease of cutting costs because there are real consequences to being understaffed.