How would you deal with this employee?
Discussion
Somewhatfoolish said:
I'm still thinking if his father is dead as much of a "piss take" as it may be to not inform folk what is going on it ain't right to add to his misery
I dont believe anyone is saying he should be fired but he should be given a stern talking to about his lack of communication to the company when he gets back to work assuming he actually comes back or gets back in touch within a reasonable amount of time to discuss coming back to work.Tallbut Buxomly said:
Somewhatfoolish said:
I'm still thinking if his father is dead as much of a "piss take" as it may be to not inform folk what is going on it ain't right to add to his misery
I dont believe anyone is saying he should be fired but he should be given a stern talking to about his lack of communication to the company when he gets back to work assuming he actually comes back or gets back in touch within a reasonable amount of time to discuss coming back to work.
My way of thinking... "stern talking to"s are for schoolchildren. If you get to the stage you need to talk to your employees like that you're either running a retard team at mencap or you might as well sack them all.
I am very fortunate that my father is still alive, but were he to die suddenly I would much rather do more or less whatever feels appropriate without having to worry about keeping folk updated...
Let's be clear about this. I am unable to get in touch with him. He is not at home so not answering his landline and his mobile is switched off.
I have no desire to add to his misery, but we are a small company and to not know when a member of staff is coming back to work (if at all) is extremely inconvenient. If you work in an organisation with 100 employees, imagine 25 of them suddenly not turning up for work and you not knowing when they would. This is what it is like for me.
His sister died last year and he was perfectly capable of letting me know what was going on. He is taking the piss now, father at death's door or dead. I need to know when/if he intends to return so that I can continue to run my business to the best of my ability. Are all you do gooders seriously suggesting that I say absolutely nothing to him when/if he returns? What sort of precedent would that set? I'd have staff taking days off whenever they wanted to and sod the consequences.
Whoever suggested I was asking for a family or work choice needs a reality check. Nothing could be further from my mind. But common courtesy of letting me know what's happening after a week of total silence is surely not unreasonable? I am led to believe that even in Yorkshire the phones will be capable of STD calls*?
I have no desire to add to his misery, but we are a small company and to not know when a member of staff is coming back to work (if at all) is extremely inconvenient. If you work in an organisation with 100 employees, imagine 25 of them suddenly not turning up for work and you not knowing when they would. This is what it is like for me.
His sister died last year and he was perfectly capable of letting me know what was going on. He is taking the piss now, father at death's door or dead. I need to know when/if he intends to return so that I can continue to run my business to the best of my ability. Are all you do gooders seriously suggesting that I say absolutely nothing to him when/if he returns? What sort of precedent would that set? I'd have staff taking days off whenever they wanted to and sod the consequences.
Whoever suggested I was asking for a family or work choice needs a reality check. Nothing could be further from my mind. But common courtesy of letting me know what's happening after a week of total silence is surely not unreasonable? I am led to believe that even in Yorkshire the phones will be capable of STD calls*?
* No, not that kind of STD. You have to be of a certain age to understand!
I agree OP. It's been a week; no way does anyone go an entire week in such a state of anguish that they don't think of their obligations for ten seconds of all that time, and so send a text.
Taking the piss is spot on by this stage, especially as he will be in no doubt of the hole you and his colleagues are in due to his absence.
Of course it may be that he's now aware he's left it too long, and the longer he leaves it the harder the conversation is going to get.
Unfortunately in that case he needs to man up and face the consequences, else the consequences may include redundancy. That's a lot worse than embarrassment and humble pie...
Taking the piss is spot on by this stage, especially as he will be in no doubt of the hole you and his colleagues are in due to his absence.
Of course it may be that he's now aware he's left it too long, and the longer he leaves it the harder the conversation is going to get.
Unfortunately in that case he needs to man up and face the consequences, else the consequences may include redundancy. That's a lot worse than embarrassment and humble pie...
Phone the police and notify them of a missing person. Seriously. A couple of years ago a colleague failed to turn up for work and had been off a couple of times feeling unwell. I popped round his house to see if he was okay only to see the telltale signs of something being wrong. Phoned the police who found him dead in his armchair. You say this chap's father is potentially dying/dead and his sister died last year. That may be enough to make him do something terminal. Hope not for his sake.
ndtman said:
Phone the police and notify them of a missing person. Seriously. A couple of years ago a colleague failed to turn up for work and had been off a couple of times feeling unwell. I popped round his house to see if he was okay only to see the telltale signs of something being wrong. Phoned the police who found him dead in his armchair. You say this chap's father is potentially dying/dead and his sister died last year. That may be enough to make him do something terminal. Hope not for his sake.
He's definitely not the suicidal type, but murdered.........Death is a perfectly acceptable reason to be absent from work!!
However, if it was suicide - he could of at least txt you first!!
However, looking on the brighter side….. (And assuming / hoping he is still alive) If he has not magicly reappeared by today, and you have still not heard anything from him - I would replace him!
However, if it was suicide - he could of at least txt you first!!
However, looking on the brighter side….. (And assuming / hoping he is still alive) If he has not magicly reappeared by today, and you have still not heard anything from him - I would replace him!
Whilst it is very sad, life goes on and your business HAS to take priority (sorry but it does!!).
Unfortunately there is no right decision…. If you don't move on your business will suffer (and it'll also set the wrong example to other employees… and trust me on this one it WILL!!).
And if you do move on you'll be branded as a heartless bas*ard!!
If I were in your shoes, I'd replace him NOW! (I can hear all the Boo's and Hiss's from other PH'ers) - but to be honest, I would have replaced him last week!
ianqv said:
Whilst it is very sad, life goes on and your business HAS to take priority (sorry but it does!!).
Unfortunately there is no right decision…. If you don't move on your business will suffer (and it'll also set the wrong example to other employees… and trust me on this one it WILL!!).
And if you do move on you'll be branded as a heartless bas*ard!!
If I were in your shoes, I'd replace him NOW! (I can hear all the Boo's and Hiss's from other PH'ers) - but to be honest, I would have replaced him last week!
Unfortunately, I do tend to agree that something must be done now... Unfair to leave you in the lurch for so long... Would consider approaching police though, to see if they can look into it if it's out of character. I think you;ve been very patient when it would have just taken a call or text (at the VERY least)... The uncollected wages concerns me.Unfortunately there is no right decision…. If you don't move on your business will suffer (and it'll also set the wrong example to other employees… and trust me on this one it WILL!!).
And if you do move on you'll be branded as a heartless bas*ard!!
If I were in your shoes, I'd replace him NOW! (I can hear all the Boo's and Hiss's from other PH'ers) - but to be honest, I would have replaced him last week!
If his Dad has passed away, the usual reaction would be to enjoy life while you can. Work in general isn't enjoyable.
Does he have enough ties in your area to keep him there? If not, maybe he won't be returning back down south. I was on the employees side AT FIRST, but regardless of what has happened (even him killing himself) you have to do what you have to, to keep your customers happy.
As said before, as the days and weeks pass it does get more difficult to man up and contact, who could be a very angry boss.
Does he have enough ties in your area to keep him there? If not, maybe he won't be returning back down south. I was on the employees side AT FIRST, but regardless of what has happened (even him killing himself) you have to do what you have to, to keep your customers happy.
As said before, as the days and weeks pass it does get more difficult to man up and contact, who could be a very angry boss.
Tyre Smoke said:
I'm not angry - just annoyed.
Angry is next week.
There is no commercial value in getting angry or annoyed.Angry is next week.
He's been AWOL and not been in touch for just over a week
and, to me, the uncollected wages speak volumes.
I strongly suspect he will not be returning. I'd arrange
a temporary replacement, and if he hasn't returned or been in
touch in a week or two, make the temp into permie.
I'd also contact the Police to see if he's been reported
as missing / dead by relatives or friends.
dcb said:
Tyre Smoke said:
I'm not angry - just annoyed.
Angry is next week.
There is no commercial value in getting angry or annoyed.Angry is next week.
He's been AWOL and not been in touch for just over a week
and, to me, the uncollected wages speak volumes.
I strongly suspect he will not be returning. I'd arrange
a temporary replacement, and if he hasn't returned or been in
touch in a week or two, make the temp into permie.
I'd also contact the Police to see if he's been reported
as missing / dead by relatives or friends.
I'd also write to him explaining both your concern at his lack of appearance at work, or being in contact.
Mention that his wages have not been collected and that you've been trying to contact both his home and mobile numbers with no successfor some time now.
Whilst you don't wish to lose his services and in the absence of any contact whatsoever, he has 7 days to make contact or you will have to assume that he doesn't intend to return to work and then you will have to find a replacement member of staff.
Tell him that not being in contact and not turning up for work is causing you problems and so you have to act very quickly etc.....
Keep written copies of everything, just in case.
Mention that his wages have not been collected and that you've been trying to contact both his home and mobile numbers with no successfor some time now.
Whilst you don't wish to lose his services and in the absence of any contact whatsoever, he has 7 days to make contact or you will have to assume that he doesn't intend to return to work and then you will have to find a replacement member of staff.
Tell him that not being in contact and not turning up for work is causing you problems and so you have to act very quickly etc.....
Keep written copies of everything, just in case.
Have you been past his house over the past week and not seen his car, and now it's there?
If yes - You have now established he's back for the first time. You should put a note through his door saying you've been worried, you have his wages and to get in touch asap.
If the guy has been a good worker in the past (i.e. not too many sick days/usually punctual/etc) and his dad is seriously ill or dead, I would still cut him a bit of slack.
If however, you've seen his car over the past week and/or he's a slacker with punctuality/sick days, discipline him immediately for lack of contact.
It all boils down to whether or not you want to keep him? You still haven't said how important he is in your business/how easy he'll be to replace.
If yes - You have now established he's back for the first time. You should put a note through his door saying you've been worried, you have his wages and to get in touch asap.
If the guy has been a good worker in the past (i.e. not too many sick days/usually punctual/etc) and his dad is seriously ill or dead, I would still cut him a bit of slack.
If however, you've seen his car over the past week and/or he's a slacker with punctuality/sick days, discipline him immediately for lack of contact.
It all boils down to whether or not you want to keep him? You still haven't said how important he is in your business/how easy he'll be to replace.
Tyre Smoke said:
No word yet, but his car is outside his house this evening but no lights on. I'm going to leave it a couple of days to give his wife/him a chance to contact me and then I'll report it to the police as a misper.
I'm actually beginning to get worried that something has happened to him.
I've been watching this thread with interest.I'm actually beginning to get worried that something has happened to him.
I still today, 14 and a half years after the event, remember how I was treated by my employer when my then eighteen month old daughter suddenly became very ill.
I was working away in London, my employer found me, told me to get home quickly, covered the work, its was so serious I didn't contact my employer for two days ( I just didn't, I could have, but didn't want to ).
My daughter survived.
When I returned to work, after three days ( I had rung after two, as she was getting better), there were two gift wrapped teddy bears on my bench (one for my older child), and my boss told me to bugger off home, just answer any messages from junior engineers whenever I could, and come back to work next week.
That was, and still is, some boss.
I have my own part time company now, but still work for that man part time, I could have him as a customer ,and earn more out of him, but would you ?
I'd now be more worried somethings happened to him.
How long has he worked for you ?
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