Felix and John

I think the only relevant information I have to share in this realm has to do with people I have employed. Over the past few years I have hired several people, and only one of the hirings went well. 
In one circumstance I hired a gentleman, we can call him John, to assist as a technician. I might call this some sort of apprenticeship, and I was responsible for training him to perform certain technical tasks that had become overwhelming. I knew John prior to hiring him, and considered him a friend. We had frequent friendly interactions, and shared many interests prior to our work collaboration. I would say that our work relationship was quite good. I did everything I could to allow him to complete tasks to the best of his ability. I felt that I could trust him to a large degree and I knew that when he said something would be done, he would make a diligent effort to get it done. There was a mutual respect, and I believe that this fostered a collaboration rather than a superior-subordinate relationship. I compensated him very well, and often paid him more than I originally promised. 

In another circumstance I hired a gentleman, we can call him Felix, also to assist as a technician. I had known Felix from school for several years prior to hiring him. We never actually met face-to-face, but since I knew him for so long, I felt that the hire would work well. Felix was working for me in another city and was responsible for meeting with clients, picking up equipment, repairing it, and returning it. I would do most of the direct contact with the client and dealt with ordering replacement parts for the equipment he diagnosed. Felix was far superior to John in terms of technical ability, but overall, we did not end up getting along exceedingly well. There may have been something about his skill level that I found threatening. He was a very competent technician, and although I still had to teach him things from time to time, it was convenient that he was able to do the work with little guidance. Due to his skill level, it seemed to me that there was some amount of resentment he harbored that I was profiting from his labor. When it came time to pay Felix, however, this was always a time that was difficult for me. I was always slightly reticent at the thought of having to pay him for his work. It was not that I did not appreciate it, or that he did not deserve it, but I felt as though, perhaps, he felt that his share for the work should be larger. My perception of this attitude was maybe a resentment of a resentment. I believe that he resented having me profit from his labor, and I resented the fact that he had resentment at all. I felt that he should be more grateful. 

This was one big difference between the two relationships. John was extremely gracious and grateful for the work. He thanked me frequently for the opportunity, and I thanked him frequently for his work. I had absolutely no problem paying him, and often paid him more that I originally promised. Perhaps it was this lack of gratitude and a sense of entitlement that I disliked so much with Felix. I never burned any bridges with either employee, but my experience with John far more enjoyable and productive.