How would you deal with this employee?
Discussion
Update:
Actually got to speak to him last week for the first time in ages and he says he plans to come back to work next week. However, I thought this might be a bit of a guilt thing and just saying what I want to hear, so have agreed to make contact tomorrow (Monday) to see how the land lies.
Fingers crossed eh?
Actually got to speak to him last week for the first time in ages and he says he plans to come back to work next week. However, I thought this might be a bit of a guilt thing and just saying what I want to hear, so have agreed to make contact tomorrow (Monday) to see how the land lies.
Fingers crossed eh?
I have been there and my work sent me to an occupational health doctor to see what reasonable adjustments could be made to my working life. They did help and I saw a counsellor.
Be careful as depression can be classed as a disability under the disability discrimination act....
If he felt like I did, he will be feeling guilty for letting everyone down, but the advice the PH's have been giving is good.... hope things work out for him and you!
Lou
Be careful as depression can be classed as a disability under the disability discrimination act....
If he felt like I did, he will be feeling guilty for letting everyone down, but the advice the PH's have been giving is good.... hope things work out for him and you!
Lou
Agree entirely that he should call or text, but it is a difficult time for him, and Devon to Yorkshire is quite a distance. Maybe he forgot his phone/charger/your number or something. I'm sure he could get in touch somehow but as others have said it's probably not the first thing on his mind now. Also, if it is the grim matter of waiting by the bed for his father to die then likely he has no idea. It will take as long as it takes, and saying that he'll be back at work on Friday is quite meaningless and would only lead to further annoyance if he wasn't.
What the blowhards who say sack him seem to forget, is that this is a small company where (by the sounds of it) the owner gets on well with his staff and the employee in question is reliable and a good worker the rest of the time, and presumably liked and respected by the other members of staff. Go and sack someone like this right after his father dies and all the good will built up between the owner and the staff (and if you're in a small town then beyond that too) is instantly lost, and you look dreadful as a business and as a man. For most businesses, this is a lot more expensive than carrying the onr off cost of something like this.
I would say simply wear it, and only ask that if something similar happens again that he send a text or give a quick call to let you know what's going on.
What the blowhards who say sack him seem to forget, is that this is a small company where (by the sounds of it) the owner gets on well with his staff and the employee in question is reliable and a good worker the rest of the time, and presumably liked and respected by the other members of staff. Go and sack someone like this right after his father dies and all the good will built up between the owner and the staff (and if you're in a small town then beyond that too) is instantly lost, and you look dreadful as a business and as a man. For most businesses, this is a lot more expensive than carrying the onr off cost of something like this.
I would say simply wear it, and only ask that if something similar happens again that he send a text or give a quick call to let you know what's going on.
Sorry, chaps. Update as requested.
His dad was never ill and he never went to Yorkshire. He disappeared and I ended up calling the police who conducted a 'concerned for welfare' investigation. It turns out he has suffered severe bouts of depression in the past and just locks himself away. Anyway, the police informed me that he was at home and simply not answering his door or phone.
I left him alone until the new year and then rang his number on the 5th or 6th of January. Surprise, surprise he picked up. He said that he had had a really bad bout of 'flu and he was intending to ring me and he would return to work the following week if I would still have him back. As it turned out, it was a further week before his doctor would let him back.
So, all in all it turned out okay. I did have a gentle dig at him to let me know what is going on in future, which he agreed was fair enough.
His dad was never ill and he never went to Yorkshire. He disappeared and I ended up calling the police who conducted a 'concerned for welfare' investigation. It turns out he has suffered severe bouts of depression in the past and just locks himself away. Anyway, the police informed me that he was at home and simply not answering his door or phone.
I left him alone until the new year and then rang his number on the 5th or 6th of January. Surprise, surprise he picked up. He said that he had had a really bad bout of 'flu and he was intending to ring me and he would return to work the following week if I would still have him back. As it turned out, it was a further week before his doctor would let him back.
So, all in all it turned out okay. I did have a gentle dig at him to let me know what is going on in future, which he agreed was fair enough.
Tyre Smoke said:
Sorry, chaps. Update as requested.
His dad was never ill and he never went to Yorkshire. He disappeared and I ended up calling the police who conducted a 'concerned for welfare' investigation. It turns out he has suffered severe bouts of depression in the past and just locks himself away. Anyway, the police informed me that he was at home and simply not answering his door or phone.
I left him alone until the new year and then rang his number on the 5th or 6th of January. Surprise, surprise he picked up. He said that he had had a really bad bout of 'flu and he was intending to ring me and he would return to work the following week if I would still have him back. As it turned out, it was a further week before his doctor would let him back.
So, all in all it turned out okay. I did have a gentle dig at him to let me know what is going on in future, which he agreed was fair enough.
And a notional pint is bought for you, for being a decent human being at a time in this chap's life when he needed you to be one.His dad was never ill and he never went to Yorkshire. He disappeared and I ended up calling the police who conducted a 'concerned for welfare' investigation. It turns out he has suffered severe bouts of depression in the past and just locks himself away. Anyway, the police informed me that he was at home and simply not answering his door or phone.
I left him alone until the new year and then rang his number on the 5th or 6th of January. Surprise, surprise he picked up. He said that he had had a really bad bout of 'flu and he was intending to ring me and he would return to work the following week if I would still have him back. As it turned out, it was a further week before his doctor would let him back.
So, all in all it turned out okay. I did have a gentle dig at him to let me know what is going on in future, which he agreed was fair enough.
ianqv said:
Actually I have been in some pretty crap situations.... (not that it has anything to do with anything here) but the world keeps on spinning and life goes on.
It only takes SECONDS to send a text saying... I won't be in until further notice!
Thats all the poor guy who is trying to run his business is asking! A perfectly reasonable request IMO.
If ever my staff went AWOL (normally young girls having Boyfriend issues) I would txt, call, write - if no response, they would be SACKED!
It always made me laugh that they would forget to call, but ALWAYS remember to collect their wage packet! - funny that!
bit harsh tbh if your going by what this persons employee is going through, ive been in the same boat albeit with my grandad, it really isnt a position that you really want to be in, the night before my grandad passed i didnt go to work because i could see him slipping away, i never phoned or called because i wasnt leaving his bedside and my work knew he was in hospital as he`d already been in for 4 months. It only takes SECONDS to send a text saying... I won't be in until further notice!
Thats all the poor guy who is trying to run his business is asking! A perfectly reasonable request IMO.
If ever my staff went AWOL (normally young girls having Boyfriend issues) I would txt, call, write - if no response, they would be SACKED!
It always made me laugh that they would forget to call, but ALWAYS remember to collect their wage packet! - funny that!
ten mins after i found out he had passed i had work on the phone having a go at me for not telling them etc, and tbh they didnt really seem bothered when i told them why i never turned up because they could lose a contract....needless to say we parted ways from that moment.
so all ill say is if he is reliable and a good worker give him some slack and just leave him a message once or twice a week (no need to pester him)
ianqv said:
So whats the latest..... more excuses??
Sorry, but I would of sacked him in the first week!
And I didn't. That is why I have a very loyal and excellent workforce. Sorry, but I would of sacked him in the first week!
He was suffering from depression. Something I have no understanding of, and little sympathy. But I have seen first hand how debilitating it can be. My driver is now back at work, a better person and giving me 100%.
The last thing he wanted or needed was his boss on his back when he could hardly deal with day to day living. He's not a work shy malingerer. If he was, he wouldn't be working for me in the first place.
Tyre Smoke said:
ianqv said:
So whats the latest..... more excuses??
Sorry, but I would of sacked him in the first week!
And I didn't. That is why I have a very loyal and excellent workforce. Sorry, but I would of sacked him in the first week!
He was suffering from depression. Something I have no understanding of, and little sympathy. But I have seen first hand how debilitating it can be. My driver is now back at work, a better person and giving me 100%.
The last thing he wanted or needed was his boss on his back when he could hardly deal with day to day living. He's not a work shy malingerer. If he was, he wouldn't be working for me in the first place.
for you.
Deleted as I just read the thread quickly and I just wanted to say Well Done Tyre Smoke.
So you know, depression is a terrible condition and can have serious impacts upon a person, they don't necessarily think straight or logically and so might not act in a way you would expect.
Still, with your support I suspect you've also gained serious respect from your staff and I wished there were many more employers out there like you.
So you know, depression is a terrible condition and can have serious impacts upon a person, they don't necessarily think straight or logically and so might not act in a way you would expect.
Still, with your support I suspect you've also gained serious respect from your staff and I wished there were many more employers out there like you.
Edited by Jasandjules on Friday 28th May 13:39
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