Dealing with inflexible workers

[mdshunk]

Hey Peter-- May I call you Ruthless... You and Danny DeVito

It's certainly not something I'm ruling out, but as they say, "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know".

 

[Dennis Alwon]

He is the boss...he shouldn't have to walk on eggshells. That's all I was trying to say.

You see-- you do like Marc. You can hate me instead

 

[mdshunk]

In the mid-90's, I was working for a company and I gave a guy three days on the street as the final straw for a number of things. On the 4th day, when he returned, the SOB thanked me for the days off and said it was a nice vacation. I awarded him with a permanent vacation. :wink: I read in the paper, some years later, that he was arrested and jailed for robbing a jewelry store.

 

[Karl H]

You guys just need to have an "Old Fashion" man to man talk.
I've had a few Man to Man talks in my life and I think nothing
but postive came out of them. Well except when I learned
I was in the wrong.That really hurt but I changed my ways.

 

[mdshunk]

It's times like this when I have to stop and ask myself, "What would the much older and wiser Bob Badger do?" (or, what would e57 do?)

 

[peter d]

You see-- you do like Marc. You can hate me instead

Fine, I guess I'll tell you about the dart board I have in the basement with Marc's picture on it.

All kidding aside, either the boss is the commander in chief or he isn't. Having to bend to the whims of his workers puts the boss at a position of weakness IMO, and that really shouldn't be allowed to stand for very long IMO. Of course productivity does make it more tolerable but in the long run I see nothing but problems.

 

[iwire]

That right there is why you should sack him immediately.

Then Marc's Ma will be upset with him because Pa will need be hanging around the house.

 

[mdshunk]

You guys just need to have an "Old Fashion" man to man talk.
I've had a few Man to Man talks in my life and I think nothing
but postive came out of them. Well except when I learned
I was in the wrong.That really hurt but I changed my ways.

Yes, it's becoming clear that this might be the resolution. or, at a minimum, I need to do it. I'm not ashamed, frankly, to admit that I'm a bit intimidated to have such a talk with a man that's older than my dad. I can do it, but it's going to be one of the most uncomfortable things I've had to do in a very long time.

 

[peter d]

Then Marc's Ma will be upset with him because Pa will need be hanging around the house.

Hilarious.

 

[mdshunk]

Then Marc's Ma will be upset with him because Pa will need be hanging around the house.

My dad was a carpenter.

 

[mkgrady]

Say you have an employee who is... oh, 73 years 2 months and 14 days old. :smile:

What do you do? Just deal with it, and struggle to keep him doing the routine and predictable work OR fire him and take pot luck with another candidate OR counsel him?

I would be concerned about an age discrimination law suit if you fire him.

Mike

 

[Rockyd]

I was working for a company and I gave a guy three days on the street as the final straw for a number of things. On the 4th day, when he returned, the SOB thanked me for the days off and said it was a nice vacation.

At that point, everyone in the front office will know that he is FIRED, and lucky that I'm not up for assault charges. When I'm sucker punched from behind, consequences need to be fast and furious.

 

[mdshunk]

I would be concerned about an age discrimination law suit if you fire him.

I wouldn't even give that a moment's thought. I wouldn't be firing him because of his age. Matter of fact, other than this particular personality flaw, the guy's a rock star in my mind. The fact that he is old has nothing to do with the reason I'd have to fire him. He's an at will employee anyhow. I don't even need a reason, frankly.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Fine, I guess I'll tell you about the dart board I have in the basement with Marc's picture on it.

I can understand why you would have this photo of him on the dart board.

All kidding aside, either the boss is the commander in chief or he isn't. Having to bend to the whims of his workers puts the boss at a position of weakness IMO, and that really shouldn't be allowed to stand for very long IMO. Of course productivity does make it more tolerable but in the long run I see nothing but problems.

It's not all about being the commander. Trust me, he knows where the paycheck is coming from. Firing him without a heart to heart talk is just not right in my book. There will never be an employee, friend, family member, spouse, etc that will have every quality that you would expect of them. Sometimes our expectations are too high.

 

[peter d]

Matter of fact, other than this particular personality flaw, the guy's a rock star in my mind.

A rock star?

 

[nakulak]

tell him to shut up and stop whining. sounds like one of you needs a vacation.

 

[480sparky]

I wouldn't even give that a moment's thought. I wouldn't be firing him because of his age. Matter of fact, other than this particular personality flaw, the guy's a rock star in my mind. The fact that he is old has nothing to do with the reason I'd have to fire him. He's an at will employee anyhow. I don't even need a reason, frankly.

Fire him for no reason, and he gets unemployment. Have good cause, and he's doesn't.

Besides, that won't prevent him from at least suing you, cause or not. CYA by documenting what you did prior to termination (if that's the route you're taking). Once his legal eagles know your side of story, they'll realize there's no payday in it for them.

 

[Karl H]

Yes, it's becoming clear that this might be the resolution. or, at a minimum, I need to do it. I'm not ashamed, frankly, to admit that I'm a bit intimidated to have such a talk with a man that's older than my dad. I can do it, but it's going to be one of the most uncomfortable things I've had to do in a very long time.

I'm here to tell you it is not easy,but neither is the working
relationship you have with this man now.

 

[peter d]

It's not all about being the commander. Trust me, he knows where the paycheck is coming from. Firing him without a heart to heart talk is just not right in my book. There will never be an employee, friend, family member, spouse, etc that will have every quality that you would expect of them. Sometimes our expectations are too high.

True, but right now the labor pool is pretty heavy with good talent. I think Marc is in a good place to be particular with who he hires and not have to deal with stuff like this.

 

[mdshunk]

A rock star?

Yeah, like a really old rock star. Maybe like Gene Simmons?