Taking Someone's Job

[cmaher]

Question for anyone really,

Quick background- I recently started a new job (3 months in) at a 10 person company including myself. Two of the ten employees are part time. This is at a financial services firm.

After being on the team for 3 months I have come to realize that I could fairly easily do the work that the two part time employees are doing. My boss (the owner) has even slightly eluded to me about creating a different deliverable for clients. When I complete this project it will make one of the part timer's job nearly obsolete. Clearly, the answer is to attack this project and be as productive as possible. I wanted to know if anyone has experienced a similar situation where your success on the job leads to a failure/job loss for a team member? Is there a gentle way to handle this? Or is full attack mode the mentality I should be taking?

Thanks,

Colin

[mynewunit]

Good question.  If the the other worker is humble, he will be willing to fill a new task or role. 
I would talk with the other team member. Tell him what you think your task will do. See how he responds. 
It would be great if he can help you with your task. Try to learn the art of the task he performs in addition to the mechanics.
Then when you are done with that task you can give him part of the credit for making his task unnecessary.

If he doesn't care to help you. Good. You are here to win. What is winning? It is helping the company. If replacing this employee with a program helps the company do more work, use less money it helps to ensure the jobs of the employees who remain.
There are lots of unintended consequences of all decisions of life. Getting fired can be the most important event in your life. If you can't help him while you work together, You may help him after you work together. For you to help benefit their life, they need a few drops of humility. I have found if the person you talk to will read a book you recommend, they will take the steps to improve their lives. 

And watch the video below. It might be more helpful.

[helgs]

Is it necessary to make the person redundant, or could the additional efficiency lead to growth instead? Being part-time can sometimes be less efficient than being full time, but I think it's a real problem that employment is always 'all or nothing'. You're either working stupid hours or unemployed or underemployed. Look for alternative solutions that are win-win.