Ugh....employee rant....

[Signsforwhile]

He's new....still in his 60 day probation.....but I'm not sure how much longer I can take listening to:

"This didn't cut right"
"This tool doesn't work right"
"I think there is a different way of doing this"
"Didn't we do this job last week? Why are you cutting it again"
"You blades are too dull (snaps new blade, ohhhh)"

I think these are just from today, and it's not even lunch.

 

[Gino]

Yep, it's always someone or something else's fault.

 

[GWSigns]

I think his southern cousin used to work for me.........LOVE the positive energy - oh wait, it flew out the window.

 

[player]

Don't put up with it. If it won't stop and it will infect your whole shop. It won't be better in 2 years either. Shut it down!

 

[MrSalumi]

Talk with him. Find out if it's his personality or something else manifesting itself in negativity. Give him a chance to correct either. If he doesn't, let him go and move on.

 

[Signsforwhile]

Talk with him. Find out if it's his personality or something else manifesting itself in negativity. Give him a chance to correct either. If he doesn't, let him go and move on.

started making a list. i hate coming to people without proof. i would hate someone coming to me like that.

 

[rjssigns]

No need to make a list since he is on probation. Bring the offending party into the office and say this job is not a good fit for you or the company. At my old job probationary employees were told just that. They got escorted to pick up their stuff and walked to the door. Done.

 

[StarSign]

"This didn't cut right" Did it cut right? Maybe he is just making you aware that there is a problem with the job.
"This tool doesn't work right" Has he been properly trained on using the tool, or is there a problem with it?
"I think there is a different way of doing this" There could be a better way, what is his suggestion.
"Didn't we do this job last week? Why are you cutting it again" This could be a sign of someone who cares and wants to know if there was a problem.
"You blades are too dull (snaps new blade, ohhhh)" Not everyone ca be trusted with a knife.

All I am saying is sometimes employee complaints are rooted in improper or no training, or correct systems are not in place.

 

[omgsideburns]

"You blades are too dull (snaps new blade, ohhhh)" Not everyone ca be trusted with a knife.

It's a sign shop.. I'm guessing half of the work he does will involve a knife. That would be the definition of, "Not the right fit for the job."

 

[Marlene]

Originally Posted by StarSign
"This didn't cut right" Did it cut right? Maybe he is just making you aware that there is a problem with the job.
"This tool doesn't work right" Has he been properly trained on using the tool, or is there a problem with it?
"I think there is a different way of doing this" There could be a better way, what is his suggestion.
"Didn't we do this job last week? Why are you cutting it again" This could be a sign of someone who cares and wants to know if there was a problem.
"You blades are too dull (snaps new blade, ohhhh)" Not everyone ca be trusted with a knife.

All I am saying is sometimes employee complaints are rooted in improper or no training, or correct systems are not in place.

these are good valid questions as I know that shop owners are thinking bottom line and try to eek out the last cut out of a blade or wait until a tool is totally dead to replace. your guy sounds like he is no robot that you plug in and set to work. he is asking questions and you need to decide is it because you don't like to answer to anyone or is he really a pain.

 

[bernie]

hmmm ... I recently had a discussion with someone about this very subject ... I called it negative energy, negative input and negative body language and explained to him it affects everyone else within ear shot - not just for the moment but the entire day.

I don't think the guy really had a clue that he was such a whiner. Attitude has improved and I see him smiling more.

I think some people who are are on probation, trying too hard, are frustrated as they are having problems with something - want to blame it on whatever they can ... need to be told that things only get easier as one learns how to relax and enjoy what they are doing.

I do agree that some complaints are 'for real' and we as owners need to take a look at whether we have properly trained someone to do the job we are asking of them or furnished them with the proper tools to do the job. Maybe a suggestion box - addressing certain issues or concerns in writing - reviewed by you on a once a week basis - and then discussed at the Monday morning safety meeting )) that surely you have or the Monday morning meeting discussing the jobs that are on the board that need to get done. Limit the time you will spend on the suggestion box
stuff to xx minutes and go from there. Sometimes the people who work for you have a keen eye on what might work better.

 

[FireSprint.com]

Well put bernie

 

[jfiscus]

I've been in both positions, as I'm sure most of yall have also.
But, I recently made the transition in "reverse order" so to speak; I went from running my own shop with employees and sub-contractors of my own to becoming an hourly employee of another larger company.
I'm assuming this employee has experience in the industry, AND that your company has also properly trained him on your business' unique workflow.

If your employee is asking questions, I feel it is a good thing. New blood is always a good thing, since it brings new ideas, experiences and creativity to the table.
When you've been entrenched at a certain workplace for a while, you've been able to wear quite a rut into the carpet.
This "rut" so to speak, seems like the most logical way of doing things, since you've been doing it that way forever. However, IS IT actually the best way now?
Is there a quicker way? (different way to cut/produce/set up)
Are you trying to get too much life out of consumables like blades? (they're cheap, or are you just talking about exacto blades?)
Why ARE you doing the same job again? (and why aren't your work orders shared between employees if he has to ask?) (maybe he's just worried that he f'd up the last one since he's the new guy?)

Not all businesses are ran correctly, in my experience most AREN'T.

An employee that wont work out is easy to figure out.
Common sense goes a LONG way, and most potential employees weed themselves out very quickly.
just my $.02

 

[peavey123]

It's kind of funny you are complaining about your employee on here. If I had my own business, this site would be required reading for all. To see your boss complaining about you in the interwebs would be very discouraging.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

Having a talk with an employee helps because sometimes they aren't aware people are irked at them nor are they aware they are doing something ... habits aren't sometimes visible to the person doing it. Do a performance correction ... if he's actually asking questions, get him in the habit of asking regular questions like "how can I make this cut right?" instead of "this didn't cut right" .. you know small things like that. ... if he is just generally a pain in the ***, he's on probation ... let him go ... good help is hard to find ... decent enough help you can stand to be around is easy. Being as I've bounced from freelancer to boss to shop help back to boss and back again to freelancer then back to semi-boss then back to shop help which turned to boss then back to freelance then back to boss, etc etc etc ... (got to love moving for the Wife's career ... or promotions and self imposed demotions) ... I know there are a lot of factors to why people are the way they are ... if he shows up on time, does the work good and the issue is personality ... that can easily be shifted .. got to weigh the cost vs benefit of having him and getting him to fit the shop vs letting him go and finding someone else. I know in this area I would be hard pressed to find a vinyl jockey that doesn't have some issue ... just have to find the middle ground.

 

[Allied Digital]

...If your employee is asking questions, I feel it is a good thing. New blood is always a good thing, since it brings new ideas, experiences and creativity to the table.
When you've been entrenched at a certain workplace for a while, you've been able to wear quite a rut into the carpet.
This "rut" so to speak, seems like the most logical way of doing things, since you've been doing it that way forever. However, IS IT actually the best way now?
Is there a quicker way? (different way to cut/produce/set up)...

I so totally agree - new eyes on your business should always be taken into consideration. "Cant see the forest through the trees" kind of thing

 

[signsandsuch]

Ugh...employee rant

Is his name Obama?

 

[player]

No it's Signsandsuch.

 

[bikecomedy]

Personal experience when people don't fit and bring you down it requires more energy that you or a 100 of you have to reverse to downer. The amount of energy turning an employee around is better spent satisfying the current customers with an employee they deserve. Besides it is taking your game down and we can't let anyone do that as business persons.

Please do not give them any reason whatsoever as they are in the probationary period. If they are one who blames, you will be hung with whatever information you provide as a cause.

Interview for harmonious staff, and those who have a prime directive or goal in life they want to reach.... dig deep and find out what they want. If you can give it to them or a portion of it towards their life goal, they will be able to give you a great days work and bring you harmony and prosperity.

Another thing you could do if you are not already doing it is play music in the shop... just no lyrics... just music. Hard to be down with music playing. It increased productivity for us.