490
votes
What to do when a sick employee doesn't respond to communications, and has important data?
She is not "ghosting" you if she is on sick leave.
The whole point of "sick leave" is that the person is not feeling well and cannot work. She might be resting, she might be out for doctors ...
- 113k
301
votes
Accepted
How to react when employee is not interested in career development?
I just went through this myself. Not everyone really wants advancement and the more responsibility and pressure that goes with it. It is great for such things to be available, but as long as they ...
- 3,132
274
votes
Customers take issue with employee's social media posts
Obviously you should get legal advice or at least advice from an HR consultant. I think that's what should happen first.
But I think you're coming at this from the wrong side. You state repeatedly ...
- 42.9k
261
votes
Accepted
Employee questioning company policies too much - what should we do?
What should you do when an employee questions your corporate policies? You listen!
If the employee was disrespectful, then fix the disrespect. If the employee is respectfully questioning your ...
- 36k
257
votes
What to do with a good employee who comes late and leaves early?
How do I get her to understand that her attendance is critical but at the same time try to cater to her being a single mother?
I think what you need to do is make them understand that her attendance ...
- 8,733
245
votes
What to do when a sick employee doesn't respond to communications, and has important data?
The idea you don’t understand how an employee being out sick works speaks volumes to your core frustrations.
First you say this:
“Yesterday I tried to contact her through the usual channels and ...
- 9,721
228
votes
Accepted
How to say No to idea given by team member, when I know from my experience that it is going to fail?
You do this by presenting the thought process that led you to this conclusion - not the conclusion alone.
This gives the team, or the individual, a chance to offer their perspective regarding your ...
- 4,277
219
votes
Accepted
Cleaning lady misreporting hours worked
Why not do as I do with my cleaner?
Draw up a list of tasks to check and execute. Eg. mop kitchen floor; any clothes in washing machine, take out and hang them
If the cleaner does all the tasks in 1/...
- 16.8k
212
votes
Employee questioning company policies too much - what should we do?
Did you actually send him a copy of your travel expenses policy before he traveled to the interview?
If not, then I'm not surprised that he made a fuss about it. If I were asked to attend an ...
- 12.6k
208
votes
Accepted
What to do with a good employee who comes late and leaves early?
How do I get her to understand that her attendance is critical but at
the same time try to cater to her being a single mother? I think this
is a tough question because everything I think of comes ...
- 349k
206
votes
How to react when employee is not interested in career development?
Some people work to live.
Others live to work.
If she is happy and doing a good job why worry.
She has different priorities in life.
- 16.8k
200
votes
How to handle a highly productive employee but who reacts extremely emotionally to code reviews?
Let's start by taking about two steps further back:
If you have a team that is so deadlocked that a single person can make the headway you've described, you have a dysfunctional team. It just isn't ...
- 61.3k
184
votes
Accepted
Cleaning lady may have taken fruit from my work desk
From my perspective, going to your manager about this would show a serious lack of ability to solve your own problems. Here's an idea - ask her what happened to the fruit. Just say, "Hey, I had some ...
- 5,030
158
votes
Disrespectful employee going above my head and telling me what to do. I am his manager
My boss did not help things when he told Bill 'Bill, you're the guy until OP rolls his lazy butt in at 11:00', and that 'OP is really better behind a desk'.
That's a huge RED FLAG:
You are working ...
- 90.7k
154
votes
How do I prevent employees from either switching to competitors or opening their own business?
I would focus on:
don't want my technical staff abandon me when they believe that they can have more benefits elsewhere
rather than the last one because that is basically a question of "Non-...
- 15.2k
152
votes
Accepted
How to manage an "over worker"?
It depends on why this employee feels the need to overwork. I've encountered several "types" and if I'm being honest have been at least one of them myself, if you can try and work out what their ...
- 95.8k
138
votes
How do I prevent employees from either switching to competitors or opening their own business?
I have a lot of experience in this area. My job for the past 15 years has basically been using technology to automate processes for small businesses. I've worked with dozens of businesses over the ...
- 4,676
135
votes
How can I discourage employees from working voluntary overtime?
How can I discourage employees from working voluntary overtime?
By telling them, in person, at 5 PM, to go home.
This sounds simple (and it is), but it goes a long way.
Early in my career, my boss ...
- 14.4k
123
votes
Should I have shared a document with a former employee?
You need to talk to your manager about this immediately.
You absolutely should not have done this. This person is no longer an employee at your organization is not entitled to any company information....
- 29.7k
123
votes
Accepted
What should I do about a new employee who didn't mention their second job or planned leave?
Set some clear expectations that your employee needs to meet in order to pass their probation period.
Right after we signed a contract he said that he have planned a vacation in the next month and ...
- 22.4k
121
votes
How to convince new employee to stop trying to change our office culture on profanity
This is not about profanity at all. It's about understanding (or accepting) that different people (and groups) have different rules.
a new employee keeps saying "no profanity at work place"
What ...
- 5,156
116
votes
Accepted
Problematic employee that can't be fired
If you're dealing with someone that has problems with social interaction and social cues, one thing to do is ask yourself:
Do they comply with instructions?
The reason I ask that is because... well, ...
- 29.4k
115
votes
Employee questioning company policies too much - what should we do?
I don't understand the premise of your question. You wouldn't reimburse him for his transportation to the airport for business travel? I can certainly see refusing to pay for stretch limos and ...
- 3,466
112
votes
Cleaning lady may have taken fruit from my work desk
To be honest I think you may be slightly over-reacting here.
First of all, as far as I understand you don't actually know that the cleaning lady took the fruit.
Secondly, even if she did, you have ...
- 7,615
108
votes
Cleaning lady may have taken fruit from my work desk
If she had taken your stapler, I would suggest you BURN THE WHOLE BUILDING DOWN.
On a slightly more serious note, I cannot begin to fathom as to why you care so much about the fruit or why you are so ...
- 851
105
votes
Accepted
New employee has offensive Slack handle due to language barrier
Let them know right away that this handle has an "unintended" meaning that is not flattering, and that it should be changed right away. It's not necessary to go into details.
This is like telling ...
- 11.9k
97
votes
Accepted
Loud and unprofessional employee
This employee is being disruptive to your business and something more formal than a verbal warning is required. He's not only bothering you and other employees during the course of normal business, ...
- 17.7k
94
votes
Accepted
Employee is self-centered and affects the team negatively
Something I want to make clear first: dealing with coworkers, attitude during meetings, respecting someone senior... These are all things that fall under an employee's performance. It's not just the ...
- 3,381
90
votes
Employee is self-centered and affects the team negatively
I am really not sure what I must do.
Since you are their manager, you must manage the team. That means managing the existing team and the new hires both.
It appears that you haven't gotten to the ...
- 349k
88
votes
I suspect that an employee is constantly lying to me. How should I approach this in the one-on-one meeting with him?
"He always says something vague such that at a later time he can always deny with "I didn't mean that". "
You shouldn't tell him that you think he's lying, just say that there have ...
- 7,389
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