Ugh - have to dicipline an employee today

[Hillbeans]

for lateness. It's gotten so bad and my boss is cracking down on me (i'm a supervisor) to write her up and meet with her by tomorrow.

I've been a supervisor now for 5 + years and it's never easy doing this because I can't help but feel bad. I just wish she'd get here on time and do her job but I know I can't do that for her. I can't help but take it personally, and she'll probably not like me very much anymore. I guess that's all part of the job, but that just stinks.

Please wish me luck.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I know just how you feel....good luck!!

 

[Griggle]

I totally empathize with you. I had to do this last week with my assistant whose time sheet showed that as of the week of 4/1 she hadn't yet worked one 40 hour week and had called in sick 5 times since January 1.

I was a wreck because she can be somewhat combative and defensive....

To my surprise, she couldn't refute the facts and it actually went much, much better than I expected and so far - I've gotten a full eight hours a day from her since....hopefully that will continue.

Good luck with yours!

 

[peg2001]

The best advice my father ever gave me related to working for a living was NOT to be a supervisor. LOL Load me up with technical work but don't make me responsible for another person!

Peggy

 

[Belle1962]

I know how you feel. I had an employee who was late EVERY DAY and even when I talked to her about it I was told "I leave my house at 7:30 every morning. I can't help it if traffic is bad". And I'm thinking if you know you're late EVERY DAY and EVERY DAY you leave your house at 7:30 then why not (GASP!!!) LEAVE EARLIER? (By the way there were no home issues involved such as getting kids to schools/buses, etc. She was an older single woman who lived by herself). I've also had the dubious distinction of terminating two employees for various reasons. I think I lost more sleep over it than either of them.

 

[disneyfan551]

Hang in there sweetie! I know how hard it is, just in the last 3 weeks my "problem child" has been giving me fits. Thank goodness the job isn't officially hers yet, and she will have to interview for it in a few more months. Hopefully, I can just hang in there until then.

I walked in to our Warehouse yesterday, and her 6yo ds was climbing on a 2nd level of inventory shelving! I couldn't believe it! She wasn't anywhere around either.

If you ever need to sound off, feel free to pm me!

 

[Hillbeans]

Yes, Belle, same issues. Traffic, Accidents, etc. Thanks Disneyfan! Everyone else drives the same roads yet manages to get here on time. We're also not talking about 2-3 minutes, it's more like 15 - 25 minutes.

I know i'm losing a lot more sleep over it then she ever will. I'm just hoping that putting it in writing over my previous verbal warnings will show her that now is the time to turn it around and that it's serious.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I was in HR for many years and have issued more than my fair share of verbal/written warnings. What's really sad is that it usually doesn't make any difference. Most people's habbits are not going to change overnight. She will probably be "good" for a couple of weeks and then it will start all over again. Be firm and make her realize what a shame it would be for her to lose her job over that extra 15-20 minutes she spends puttering around the house. In the meantime, start preparing yourself for the day you have to fire her. I hope it doesn't come to that because it's a horrible feeling for everybody involved (even more so for the person holding the axe )