Advice on handling employee
Saturday, January 15th, 2005 - 7:37pm
So, I have an employee that is pissing me off.
Basically, we have a good working environment. It's a retail job, everyone's on board, except this guy, let's call him Mike. He's been here longer than me, but is my same age. He's in charge of the store's supplies (meaning he manages and stores the merchandise), and is the only person for that job, except for a couple of backup guys who are in the store floor.
So he always fights about his time to enter the job.
Today, it was 3:55, time to open the store is 4:00pm. I was in the store next to it, so I have the keys to it(We have two stores in the same block).
So I give the cashier the keys to open the store.
Mike is hanging at the entrance to the store because he likes talking to the girls employed here. Cashier goes to open the store.
I say "Mike, (cashier) already has the keys to open the store!", clearly meaning that "Ok, let's get to work".
Mike says, in a mocking tone "Oh, yeah, all right, cool man." You know, just meaning that "Yeah, so?". I was busy speaking to a customer, so I just looked at him a bit puzzled, and went back to my client.
So, this got me thinking. This is just an example of his usual behaviour. Most of the employees are ready at their jobs at least 10 minutes early. One girl came in two hours early because "she was bored". Once, a couple of our employees stayed till 1 AM (about 5 hours after their exit time) to receive a big shipment. And they earn less than him.
This guy is a decent worker. He carries big packs of clothing, and usually doesn't slack off. But as soon as the clock strikes 8pm, or whatever his exit time is, he drops it all and goes away, doesn't care if there's a big shipment coming in and he's the only one to receive it, or whatever. He's late usually, tho I never say anything - 5 minutes, 8 minutes. But I don't like it, since everyone's ready, and he comes in late.
I've been looking at him for about 6 months now, and I'm not sure what to do now. I don't want to fire him(it's not up to me directly, but if I wanted to I could get him fired easily). But I'm not going to motivate the guy, because he's pretty negative (listens to metal all day, and so on), and really, I'm a pretty relaxed guy.
But, hell, if he's not even going to show some decent respect for his job, let alone for me, is it worth it to keep him, only because he's a fast worker? It's hard enough getting employees to respect you, and this guy is really demoralizing.
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
Introduce him to your new exotic friend to straighten him out.
Or, if you want to do something intelligent, if you could easily get your co-worker fired by talking to your higher-ups, then you could get them to lay into him. Hearing you criticize him for being late probably won''t do anything good, but perhaps hearing a gentle reminder from the bosses will. If not, then they can start dialing up the pressure as needed.
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Damn those kids and there rock music.
Good luck Mex, I know your fellow coworkers can make or break a job.
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I''ll agree with maybe having the boss talk to him about being on time, but leaving at his scheduled time isn''t really an adequent reason for dismissal.
If good oppurtunities come and he is passed up for those things for others that do stay, thta is cool then.
Also, it seems he winks at you and stuff because you are the same agae and HAVE NOT said anything to him. Are you his higher up (can''t tell from the post). If you are, say something to him. Maybe say ''hey some people have been noticing you are 10 mins late everyday and everyone else is early. Maybe that will motivate him abit.
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Its a tough call - I work at a pizza place while I''m in school (yea, laugh it up) - and I used to work at a Kmart during high school. I''m a good, quick, efficent worker. I try my best to be on time, and I try and be as cheerful and non-confronting as possible.
There, however, are things like, I can''t always get there on time (i go to school, and sometimes I get held up) or just can''t come in (i drive, so if my car''s brakes go out, which they have twice now, I can''t excatly work). So, sometimes I feel like I''m being a bad employee. I''ve been given the title of ""employee of the month"" so I can''t be that bad, but I still... am concerned, you know?
Also, I take a slight amount of offense to the comment about listening to metal. Its not excatly something that can be usedto judge character, though it can help sometimes, i listen to rock/metal etc... and I''m a cheerful person.
Now, to the question... b/c of my experience, I worry that sometimes I might get canned b/c I''m not able to do this or that. However, my current employer has a way of looking at the schedule. ""The schedule is an approximate time to start, and time to end. It is ultimatly up to the shift manager when you stay and go. I don''t know if this would work in retail, but its a way of doing things. It works nicely, and if I do end up coming 5-10 min late, and I hve to stay a little longer to help get something done, thats fine. I would try and talk to him, like actually sit down and tell him that you don''t like what he''s doing. If that doesn''t work, go to your superiors. If this guy is the only one not on board, well, then of course he should get canned, b/c if he''s not on board, eventually the others will see his behavior and start to think, if he can, I can. And down the spiral we go.
Thats my idea, suggestion, etc. So, yea... God I''m long winded...
I can give you a little advice because I was that kid when I worked retail. I''ve since grown up a lot and matured a little, but ten years ago that was me exactly.
You can''t make him report early or stay late unless you''re paying him to do so. You can set clear guidelines and leave it up to him to decide whether or not to follow them. Things such as finishing work before leaving and being ready to start working when the clock strikes ""open"" are not unreasonable demands to make on him.
If he''s not violating any pre-determined rules or regulations you really can''t bust him down or fire him. What you can do is be honest with him that you are not happy with his performance and give him concrete examples of how he can change that.
This will not work, but it is the best you can do without being unfair to him or your other employees. If this kid is determined to be an ass you can''t stop him or motivate him to do otherwise. Tne good news is you make the rules, so if he breaks them and you''re sick of it get rid of him.
Don't be saucy with me, Bernaise. - Count DeMonet
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Yeah, I mention metal because I listen to it too, and it does make me more aggressive. It''s nothing I''ve ever brought against him, he always has metal music in the warehouse, but I do notice just how aggresive it is. And I know that it does influence you.
Maybe you guys can control it more, but listening to it all day didn''t do anything positive for me =P
And I worry, more than his attitude, because I don''t trust him anymore. I mean, if he doesn''t do what I tell him to do(even if it''s a few minutes before his shift), who knows what the hell he''s doing when he''s in warehouse?
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
I think any action on your part will worsen the situation at this point.
There''s always going to be that one guy with attitude, if not Mike, then Shmike or Dyke or something.
For all you know his replacement would make you wish for the old guy back.
Man, I''d love a Dyke.
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
You know sometimes you have to work with people you don''t like. And that''s what it sounds like is going on here.
There''s people I have worked with that I knew I wasn''t going to be best friends with yet they did their job just fine.
Ahhh, Personnel issues...the worst...Fletch has some good ideas....I might add a few more...
If the music is an annoyance, you have to get someone higher than you in Mgmt to say ""No music, period for anyone""...that puts everyone on an even footing and it puts the onus on the higher-ups, not you...
Unless you have written work rules it''s hard to ""get"" anyone on anything- wherever you work...you might start by getting those rules written down, then implemented- the problem is you have to be fair to everyone and everyone has to work under the same rules. Speaking of that, sanctions have to be written down as well. Three lates and you get a warning; two warnings and you''re on probation; once more and you are fired.
I worked as Asst Mgr of a Telemarketing/Telecomunications Dept in a major retail chain in Philadelphia some years ago....the stories I could tell....
Consistency, fairness and no passion... that''s the way to go...
Keep us posted....
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I say you catch him after work one night and whip his ass.
Mercury's been in retrograde most of the week. It's like a full moon with a side of kicked-in-the-nuts. -- H.P. Lovesauce
Sounds like he''s comfortable there and doesn''t think anything he could do would result in his termination. But if he is routinely (like 2-3 every week) coming in late, they either you or the boss should discuss this with him. I hate to say it but sometimes employees can be almost like a toddler. They will push their limits to see how much they can get away with ... and the more he might get away with something, the more the other employees are going to resent him and then the ""everybody on board,"" attitude will start to wane. Other employees will see him do something and get away with it and wonder why can''t they do that too. I agree with cewargamer... be consitent and fair.
How is his intreaction with customers?
This is retail, right? As long as he doesn''t piss off the customers I''d say keep him. It sounds like he makes up the 5 minutes late he comes in with hard work during his shift, and leaving when the whistle blows is not something I''d associate with a bad employee, just one smart enough not to work for free.
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We do have rules, but I''m not too hard with them. If you''re late, that''s ok, just do the cleaning or something (just so you don''t get scott free). But I''m allowed to suspend anyone for being late, for up to 3 days. I could simply be waiting for him at the door, and go ""oh, you know what, you''re 2 minutes late, sorryyy"". But I don''t want to be a dick either.
Yeah, he''s not in contact with customers, he just manages merchandise.
Thanks for the advice guys. I''ve decided to keep quiet about his lateness, he does make up the ""being late/having an attitude with everyone"" thing with hard work. I did speak with my boss, and we both agreed that we can''t really say anything bad about his work. No one else was as efficient as he is.
It''s just that some details about him piss me off. He once made a pregnant girl who worked here cry (because she asked him to supply a few clothes and he had to move a lot of boxes and she just asked for like 5 shirts). And so on, but, you know, we earn more by keeping him than by sending him away.
The metal is no problem, it''s not in the customer area.
Thanks for the advice guys
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
There''s only one solution, Mex. You know it, I know it, but you just hate having to make the phone call.
That''s right. It''s time to sell him to the gypsies.
*Legion* wrote:
Nono! The white slavers offer much better prices.
My ongoing D&D campaign, Gaald, Certis and Trachalio playing
True...but the gypsies have better fashion sense. I mean, who do you want cluttering up your establishment during pick-up? Colorful, jingly, dancing gypsies or surly, whip-wielding Nords?
Me, I go for the musical bunch. I mean, sure, I make a little less money per annoying ex-employee...but I can make it up in volume.
*Legion* wrote:
This whole conversation reminds me of this.
Joanna: You know what, Stan, if you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, like your pretty boy over there Bryan, why don''t you make the minimum 37 pieces of flair?
Stan, Chotchkie''s Manager: Well, I thought I remembered you saying that you wanted to express yourself.
Joanna: You know what, I do want to express myself, okay. And I don''t need 37 pieces of flair to do it.
SteamId = RevenantKel
I''m gonna second this because I''ve been on both sides of this fence.
If you''re going to have minimum standards, then establish them and stick to them. Can''t fault people for running at the buzzer, but you shouldn''t recognize or laud them for it either. It''s easy to separate the A people from the C people. A people are there to work and improve and get promoted (in a perfect world) C people are there to get a check and go home. And depending on who''s watching, you might mistake one for the other.
I know my life doesn''t revolve around work. I punch out on time and punch in on time because I''ve got stuff to do and they rag on us if we work overtime without a specific reason. Maybe the people that are constantly working late just suck at their jobs and can''t finish them in the time allotted. (Or they''re bad at making work that should take 2 hours stretch into 8)
Also, make sure to pick your fights. If the guy is a screw up or is actually creating a problem, then at least mention it to him or to someone else who might address it. You''ve said that he''s both a fast worker and has an attitude problem that affects his performance and possibly influences others.
Maybe you can bring this up on his performance review (or mention it to whoever does it) rather than confronting him on the floor in front of other employees. But if you''re going to confront him about it, make sure you have a specific goal in mind with examples of what he should and shouldn''t do. Quantifying timeliness is easy, especially with a time clock. Measuring effort and attitude is trickier. I''m sure we all hope we''re judged by how fast we stock shelves, not by how well we sing the company song and suck up to the boss.
Little Devil''s Advocate from someone who just got a big dose of ''It flows downhill'' from the management. Good Luck!
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