Pure randomness

It's been a long day for me and I'm tired, so I will start this thread to get things off my chest. Just need to type to someone right now. This thread isn't about me griping, but pretty much whatever you want to say to someone. Please feel free to chat about anything and everything in this thread.

***Disclaimer: Do not feel free to gripe about majorgeeks and moderators and any other subjects that are known annoyances ***

I'll start... I have a bum job right now. I'm locked in with a small company that just doesn't "get it". As quality manager I have the task of trying to obtain a quality certification for the company that requires major major changes to the way we do business. I am floundering in this project. I have minimal (below minimal) resources in my department to accomplish this. One guy is my direct assistant and he has a very serious attendance problem and doesn't seem to want to work a lot. The other guy is very hard working and is my life saver, but doesn't have the knowledge right now to accomplish the things that I need done. He also has a serious attendance problem. I have a tyrant boss breathing down my neck right now and I just can't seem to get the boll rolling with these people. I don't have the money to just take off and quit. I'm frustrated and tired. [/end rant]

 

Here's my downfall as a manager. I'm a sucker for a sad story. The lazy guy just had his 4 year old boy die and is having marital problems. I can't (yet) bring myself to fire this guy right now. Perhaps I'm being too nice, but I don't think I can sleep at night if I just let him go. Sigh.

 

With more than 20 years as a Sergeant in the Army supervising as few as 2 people to as many as 254, I know from experience you have to be firm and fair when dealing with the people you supervise. You have a job to get done and if your employees aren't showing up for work it isn't getting done. As their supervisor you have to enforce company standards of conduct and policies, otherwise you are jeopardizing your job.

Write them up place it in their 'Official' company employee file, make it known they have to come to work otherwise you will release them from their employment. Make it known that you understand there are 'Personal Issues' and will do what you can for them, but they must come to work.

As far as the Boss being a tyrant, that sucks, been there feel your pain. Could be part of the reason why you employees don't show up for work. Look for another job, but not while you are at work. Don't throw your arms in the air in a moment of frustration and leave the company without having something else lined up.

Hope things start looking up for ya soon.

 

Awww, that's a hard spot to be in! I would keep the guy with good attendance, it shows he's interested in his job therefore well, I'd just try to get him to learn more asap!
the lazy guy I'd keep until I could get someone better to replace him, or maybe take him on the side and have a long talk with him about his attendance etc.

Are you in charge of hiring and firing these people?
If not I would talk to the higher up about this problem (even if this person is a jerk) If he's looking out for the company. I would think he'd make the effort to do something about it!
I hope things get better soon for you!

 

Haha...You are a sucker tho! I should talk, I'd probably be the same way!
I should practice what I preach. Easy to tell you what to do being I'm not in your situation!

 

could you set up a weekly meeting with your boss to exchange ideas and discuss the weeks accomplishments and/or difficulties?? this would include such things as the best way to help the employee who lost their child. it is possible that he needs to take unpaid leave or sick time or something. i would advise him to see his doctor. having suffered that loss myself, i am not sure it is even possible to simply pick yourself up and carry on as normal. aloha

 

make nicey nicey to YOUR boss and utilize his position and experience.

 

I'm with laurie on this one. I would also add regular meeting with the two employees, but separately, to giv them a designated time to voice their personal issues and the impact this has on the company and their work. They both need to realise they are jeopardizing thier employment with you, but the guy with marital problems needs to be aware that if he lost his job this would be a further strain on his marriage. Maybe suggest as well as a doctor's visit, they both seek counselling...both for the loss of their son and for thier marriage. This is a real big one...no-one can get through this alone, and work isn't the place to expect a listening ear constantly, no matter how much you are torn to help.

Keep at it Caveman, and don't lose that sensitive side..it is a credit to you, but remain fair too *Hugs*

 

Hey, Capn! just how long has this guy been working there?

 

Thanks for the advice everyone! I will take the suggestion of weekly meetings, probably my most effective non-confrontational option. I've tried this in the past, but need to do some more enforcement on my end to make it effective. And to answer you question Starbow!er, he has been there for 4 months.

I think I need to have a heart to heart with both of these guys. Perhaps there is something I'm not doing right that I need to hear about. One thing is for sure, something has to change or everyone is out of a job before too long.

In the meantime I'm doing a moderate search for a new line of work. This automotive quality thing gets on my nerves. Need more cerebral work LOL.

 

I was curious to see if the 'bad' guy was there a long time and just started to act up because of a death, or if he came to you with this problem to begin with.
I think anywhere you go there's always someone who isn't doing their job, maybe cause of something happening or maybe cause they're lazy. maybe see's that they can get away with it,
Then you go and complain and nothing gets done about it!
I wish you luck in your 'cerebral' job hunt!
I don't believe in staying somewhere that just makes your blood preessure boil!

 

Perhaps that hit the nail on the head. I don't like to be stressed out in the way I am right now. Earlier on tonight I had a candid conversation with the guy I described as "my life saver". And he told me a few things about what is going on that I don't know about. Our company's production manager is a real piece of work to say the very least. He has been a constant thorn in my side - although we keep it civil. He has a direct line to my bosses' ear because he's a real real smooth talker. Anyway, I talked to "my life saver" and he informed me of some really disturbing shady stuff going on that I didn't know about.

This is the scam.... all overtime in the company, including my department, must be directly authorized by this production manager. This person informed me that he has a deal with the production manager that he is authorized overtime every week because he pays the production manager $50 in cash every week. He's not the only one in this scam. Lets just say our production manager makes about $700 a week extra in overtime kickbacks. I just about HIT THE ROOF when he was telling me this but I kept my composure. The thing is, I cannnot bring this up to anyone, well, because I have no proof. I'm flabbergasted and stunned and frankly disgusted. Caveman out!

 

K caveman! Your situation really stinks! If I were in your'e shoes.....words cannot describe how I would feel!
Being I have a big mouth, I would probably say something, proof or not to someone. ( Then end up getting fired!)
is there really anybody out there who is 100% happy with their job?