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JenMarie
One day at a time
Member since 11/07 7397 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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WWYD?
Thanks for the feedback everyone!
Message edited 10/12/2009 10:02:38 PM.
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Posted 10/12/09 3:20 PM  |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: WWYD?
Do you have an HR department? He's being passive aggressive. I've dealt with an employee who did not respect his boss, felt that he should have the job, etc because he had been there longer. He thought he was untouchable because he brought in $$$.
We put him on a probation plan. It was enough of a wake-up call for him to recognize his manager had the authority to terminate him.
Here's the problem. He doesn't report to you. Who does manage him? That manager may want to address the absenteeism. I would take whatever work you are trying to manage & ask his manager how he expects the work should get done in the employee's absence.
I would not go to my boss for "help". I would go to the manager for him to handle it. I'd only go to my boss with a plan of action to address the situation.
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| Posted 10/12/09 3:32 PM |
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JenMarie
One day at a time
Member since 11/07 7397 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: WWYD?
Posted by nrthshgrl
Do you have an HR department? He's being passive aggressive. I've dealt with an employee who did not respect his boss, felt that he should have the job, etc because he had been there longer. He thought he was untouchable because he brought in $$$.
We put him on a probation plan. It was enough of a wake-up call for him to recognize his manager had the authority to terminate him.
Here's the problem. He doesn't report to you. Who does manage him? That manager may want to address the absenteeism. I would take whatever work you are trying to manage & ask his manager how he expects the work should get done in the employee's absence.
I would not go to my boss for "help". I would go to the manager for him to handle it. I'd only go to my boss with a plan of action to address the situation.
We don't have an HR department. We're a small company and things are very informal here. Both of us report to the same person so it's our boss I would be going to in order to figure out how to address it. The problem is our boss is hardly ever here. He only comes into the office 1 or 2 days a week and works in another state the rest of the time, which is why I manage this employee's work.
The absenteeism isn't an issue. He basically used his lunch break to run errands. And I don't even care that he had to go back out and was away from his work for 2 hours instead of 1. My issue is the blatent disrespect in not telling me he was leaving even after I specifically asked him to. I shouldn't have to go searching for him when I need him. I'm just not sure if I should address it myself, or ask our boss to.
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| Posted 10/12/09 3:43 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: WWYD?
Honestly, I think that his telling someone that he is going out at lunch time for what ever purpose is fine. It is his lunch break. Personally, I would assume that if I could not find someone from 12-1 that they were at lunch. By going to your mutual boss it will make you look bad. Even if he reported to you at another job, that is just it, it was another job. From what I gather, you are his same level (?) but have some additional responsibilities which are to support your boss in his absence. I would not make an issue out of this. I can see making an issue about his not respecting you, but I would not make it about him not telling you he is going out for lunch. IMO it will not make you look good.
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| Posted 10/12/09 4:02 PM |
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MrsList
Sweet cheeks
Member since 4/09 1696 total posts
Name:
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Re: WWYD?
Since he did tell the secretary to tell you, I'd at least give him credit for that. If he continues to not let you know though, I would be level with him and say Look, I need to know when you're here and when you're not (insert reason here). If you're taking lunch or leaving the office, please email me or drop by my desk.
I think it's reasonable to tell your coworkers when you're in, even if it's your lunch hour. It's a courtesy.
If he continues to be discourteous, are there any consequences you can lay out? Passing him over for projects or other work or something? Then at least you could say Well you weren't here and I didn't know when you'd be back so I gave the work to Employee X. Anything that negatively affects him that starts with "Well you weren't here and I didn't know when you'd be back..." might do the trick.
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| Posted 10/12/09 4:42 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: WWYD?
Posted by JenMarie
The absenteeism isn't an issue. He basically used his lunch break to run errands. And I don't even care that he had to go back out and was away from his work for 2 hours instead of 1. My issue is the blatent disrespect in not telling me he was leaving even after I specifically asked him to. I shouldn't have to go searching for him when I need him. I'm just not sure if I should address it myself, or ask our boss to.
But while you manage his work, he does not report to you. Therefore you don't have much authority when it comes to disciplining him.
I'm not sure how I'd feel about a co-worker, who I used to report to & no longer report to insisting that I tell her my whereabouts during the day. I agree it is blantant disrespect - and while it causes discord, you aren't the one to address it. Because of the reporting structure, I'd discuss it with your boss. I would document & then give examples. It is absenteeism in a sense if he's missing during the work day.
Good advice for anyone dealing with an issue at work when you go to your boss, always have a few solutions worked out - he can report to you, he can be put on a 30 day probation period (I do have a similar letter that I've written if you want me to email it), he can have a verbal warning - or your boss may not see it as much of a problem as you do - in which case when he's missing, you could email your boss whatever questions the missing employee should address or email the missing employee & cc your boss.
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| Posted 10/12/09 7:47 PM |
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Bellaocchi
Hope Faith Love
Member since 2/07 5694 total posts
Name:
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Re: WWYD?
Posted by LSP2005
Honestly, I think that his telling someone that he is going out at lunch time for what ever purpose is fine. It is his lunch break. Personally, I would assume that if I could not find someone from 12-1 that they were at lunch. By going to your mutual boss it will make you look bad. Even if he reported to you at another job, that is just it, it was another job. From what I gather, you are his same level (?) but have some additional responsibilities which are to support your boss in his absence. I would not make an issue out of this. I can see making an issue about his not respecting you, but I would not make it about him not telling you he is going out for lunch. IMO it will not make you look good.
ITA 
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| Posted 10/12/09 8:40 PM |
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Re: WWYD?
If it is an urgent matter can you just call him on his cell? (Yeah I know he forgot it that one day, but overall). That's what I used to do when I was in supervisory roles with my staff and needed to know something, or have something followed up on right away.
I guess I am just used to working at places where there is lots of field work involved and we can pretty much come and go as we please since we are all adults. If our work is slipping because we are taking advantage, yes, we are then penalized for that up to termination. Frankly, I'd be pretty annoyed if I had a colleague checking out my every move like that. What we need to keep in mind, like it or not, is that everyone's "work style" is different from our own. Maybe I am missing something but it sounds like you are just annoyed because he wasn't there a couple of times when you needed an answer to something. He may not actually delibrately be doing this to you.
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| Posted 10/12/09 9:01 PM |
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