Lazy member of Staff
Discussion
Looking for a bit of advice regarding an employee that is rather lazy in his work ethics and spends an awful amount of each day either on the internet, playing solitaire or other such computer based single person games.
This guy is actually the company's Quality Manager and whilst have no actual staff to manage does have a quality system to implement.
Although he does not report directly to me there is a dotted line of command to me, his main report is directly to the MD.
We are a small company and most employees both shop floor and office based will muck in when required, except this person who whilst occasionally helps out always has to be pushed to do so in busy times.
The MD has asked me to discuss his work ethics and attitude with him and I am unsure as to whether I should make it an informal chat or a formal discussion and note it down as such should the employee continue with this behaviour.
He has been employed for well over the two years and this really should have been sorted out earlier but the MD was reluctant to do so.
Personally I would make him redundant as I don't feel that there is enough work load for a full time QM, employ a lower grade individual as a QA inspector and sub contract out the ISO requirements as and when, however the MD doesn't see it that way at the moment.
So any advise please would be gratefully received, especially if someone has/had a similar situation.
This guy is actually the company's Quality Manager and whilst have no actual staff to manage does have a quality system to implement.
Although he does not report directly to me there is a dotted line of command to me, his main report is directly to the MD.
We are a small company and most employees both shop floor and office based will muck in when required, except this person who whilst occasionally helps out always has to be pushed to do so in busy times.
The MD has asked me to discuss his work ethics and attitude with him and I am unsure as to whether I should make it an informal chat or a formal discussion and note it down as such should the employee continue with this behaviour.
He has been employed for well over the two years and this really should have been sorted out earlier but the MD was reluctant to do so.
Personally I would make him redundant as I don't feel that there is enough work load for a full time QM, employ a lower grade individual as a QA inspector and sub contract out the ISO requirements as and when, however the MD doesn't see it that way at the moment.
So any advise please would be gratefully received, especially if someone has/had a similar situation.
An informal word is the best approach initially.
Then ask the IT department to issue a new "IT Policy" which explicitly includes the option for the company to monitor computer use. Make sure the QM is well aware the computer is being monitored with hints/overheard conversations/a visit form a technician to install "logging software".
If there is no change, set up a "leaderboard" highlighting non-productive use of work computers (to do this you might have to actually install the monitoring software, unfortunately).
If he still doesn't change his ways, move on to the normal performance improvement process.
Then ask the IT department to issue a new "IT Policy" which explicitly includes the option for the company to monitor computer use. Make sure the QM is well aware the computer is being monitored with hints/overheard conversations/a visit form a technician to install "logging software".
If there is no change, set up a "leaderboard" highlighting non-productive use of work computers (to do this you might have to actually install the monitoring software, unfortunately).
If he still doesn't change his ways, move on to the normal performance improvement process.
There are no bad dogs, only bad dog owners.
Sit down with the guy, tell him what's expected. Tell him how he'll be monitered over the next 3 months, tell him he gets binned if he doesn't improve.
He's either a good guy who's demotivated for some reason you can uncover and fix (bringing benefit to you both) or he's not what you want on your team and you've just legally supported binning him.
Simples!
EDIT: corrected spelling.
Sit down with the guy, tell him what's expected. Tell him how he'll be monitered over the next 3 months, tell him he gets binned if he doesn't improve.
He's either a good guy who's demotivated for some reason you can uncover and fix (bringing benefit to you both) or he's not what you want on your team and you've just legally supported binning him.
Simples!
EDIT: corrected spelling.
Flooble said:
An informal word is the best approach initially.
Then ask the IT department to issue a new "IT Policy" which explicitly includes the option for the company to monitor computer use. Make sure the QM is well aware the computer is being monitored with hints/overheard conversations/a visit form a technician to install "logging software".
If there is no change, set up a "leaderboard" highlighting non-productive use of work computers (to do this you might have to actually install the monitoring software, unfortunately).
If he still doesn't change his ways, move on to the normal performance improvement process.
Have IT remove games and block the most popular sites. Easy even if IT is a one man band.Then ask the IT department to issue a new "IT Policy" which explicitly includes the option for the company to monitor computer use. Make sure the QM is well aware the computer is being monitored with hints/overheard conversations/a visit form a technician to install "logging software".
If there is no change, set up a "leaderboard" highlighting non-productive use of work computers (to do this you might have to actually install the monitoring software, unfortunately).
If he still doesn't change his ways, move on to the normal performance improvement process.
Vaud said:
Have IT remove games and block the most popular sites. Easy even if IT is a one man band.
Honestly, as someone working in IT I think that's just the lazy approach as it bypasses dealing with the issue.In the good old days if someone was reading a newspaper every time you walked in you'd need to manage it and deal with it - not shift the problem to make it an IT issue.
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: Honestly, as someone working in IT I think that's just the lazy approach as it bypasses dealing with the issue.
In the good old days if someone was reading a newspaper every time you walked in you'd need to manage it and deal with it - not shift the problem to make it an IT issue.
I think it is part of the solution, not a silver bullet. None of our systems have games on them - though we have fairly free internet access and good performance management.In the good old days if someone was reading a newspaper every time you walked in you'd need to manage it and deal with it - not shift the problem to make it an IT issue.
I never begrudge any team member surfing at lunchtime or a a quick 5 mins. It's a trust thing that sadly some abuse.
Vaud said:
I think it is part of the solution, not a silver bullet. None of our systems have games on them - though we have fairly free internet access and good performance management.
I never begrudge any team member surfing at lunchtime or a a quick 5 mins. It's a trust thing that sadly some abuse.
That's fair, I just see too many IT people asked to play the internet police when really it is a management issue if you put to one side safety and security.I never begrudge any team member surfing at lunchtime or a a quick 5 mins. It's a trust thing that sadly some abuse.
It's an interesting question for the OP and I suspect comes down to if the job is "9-5" or "so long as the work is done".
Give the guy a deadline. Six to nine months seems to be the going rate for a quality system:
http://www.qualitysystems.com/support/pages/iso-90...
http://www.iso9001consultant.com.au/FAQ-how-long.h...
http://www.techlogicinc.com/most_communally_asked_...
To be able to do something about him you'll need to prove he's failing.
http://www.qualitysystems.com/support/pages/iso-90...
http://www.iso9001consultant.com.au/FAQ-how-long.h...
http://www.techlogicinc.com/most_communally_asked_...
To be able to do something about him you'll need to prove he's failing.
wilksy61 said:
Looking for a bit of advice regarding an employee that is rather lazy in his work ethics and spends an awful amount of each day either on the internet, playing solitaire or other such computer based single person games.
This guy is actually the company's Quality Manager and whilst have no actual staff to manage does have a quality system to implement.
Although he does not report directly to me there is a dotted line of command to me, his main report is directly to the MD.
We are a small company and most employees both shop floor and office based will muck in when required, except this person who whilst occasionally helps out always has to be pushed to do so in busy times.
The MD has asked me to discuss his work ethics and attitude with him and I am unsure as to whether I should make it an informal chat or a formal discussion and note it down as such should the employee continue with this behaviour.
He has been employed for well over the two years and this really should have been sorted out earlier but the MD was reluctant to do so.
Personally I would make him redundant as I don't feel that there is enough work load for a full time QM, employ a lower grade individual as a QA inspector and sub contract out the ISO requirements as and when, however the MD doesn't see it that way at the moment.
So any advise please would be gratefully received, especially if someone has/had a similar situation.
Seems he shouldn't have been employed in the first place and perhaps he's just marking time until the MD realises this. People who try to coast along doing the minimum always seem to hit on a level of laziness which is obvious enough to irritate everyone else but not obvious enough to get sacked.This guy is actually the company's Quality Manager and whilst have no actual staff to manage does have a quality system to implement.
Although he does not report directly to me there is a dotted line of command to me, his main report is directly to the MD.
We are a small company and most employees both shop floor and office based will muck in when required, except this person who whilst occasionally helps out always has to be pushed to do so in busy times.
The MD has asked me to discuss his work ethics and attitude with him and I am unsure as to whether I should make it an informal chat or a formal discussion and note it down as such should the employee continue with this behaviour.
He has been employed for well over the two years and this really should have been sorted out earlier but the MD was reluctant to do so.
Personally I would make him redundant as I don't feel that there is enough work load for a full time QM, employ a lower grade individual as a QA inspector and sub contract out the ISO requirements as and when, however the MD doesn't see it that way at the moment.
So any advise please would be gratefully received, especially if someone has/had a similar situation.
Thanks for the replies, went down the informal route and gave him one month to buck up his work ethics or it would be a formal meeting next time.
Interestingly he didn't argue with most of my comments, although he did say that he does everything that is asked of him - which was quite funny as I gave him a task almost three weeks ago which he had forgotten all about.
We shall see what happens in the near future although today he has phoned in sick
Interestingly he didn't argue with most of my comments, although he did say that he does everything that is asked of him - which was quite funny as I gave him a task almost three weeks ago which he had forgotten all about.
We shall see what happens in the near future although today he has phoned in sick
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