[cml]

This month there was an error in the pay run so payments were delayed by a day.  This seemed to be a case of STAFF STRIKES BACK!!! 
Surprisingly two of my longest serving staff went balistic, one phoned in threatening to send his bailiffs to our offices to collect on his payment gave a lot of verbal to his new supervisor which I will not repeat for the fear it would offend and the other decided that he would not show up for work without calling in . 

Now generally we have a good relationship with our staff but there has been recent changes and new staff recruited.  These two staff in particular tend to do a lot of our jobs being some of the more experienced.  But they are still requesting more hours more than they are already scheduled and are both full- time workers 9-5. They believe that we do not need to take on more staff because there will be able to do the extra hours and we know what the laws are on this.

Now I believe in second chances, third even  and we all like good workers but just when you think you know someone they can pull a blinder on you.  I cannot believe be paid a day late has caused this and am swayed towards the want for extra time.

I can't excuse nor ignore their behaviour towards their new supervisor or their act towards the company generally.  I am in two minds I either have a good old chat about events or impose a written warning.
Our handbook states we will not tolerate such behaviour.


What would you do? 

 

[dg-cleaning]

poor you cml , first bad paying clients and now snotty staff!!!

I would issue a verbal warning , thats the standard procedure, verbal, then written then boot them out the door!!

verbal abuse isn't necessary and I wouldn't tolerate it. If your supervisor is upset you should talk to them about what happened and see if they want to take it further,it could be classed as bullying in the work place which is quite a serious issue and frowned upon much more than a pay packet being a day late!!!

[cml]

Both already have a verbal for lateness.  But when they arrive on the job you could not ask for better workers and go out of their way to please the client.  The question is have they now gone to far to state their cause? 

I shall speak with the supervisor again tomorrow.  The last thing we want is to find ourselves heading towards some sort of tribunal for failing to respond to such behaviour.

I'm not having a good day today and that rain does not help.

[dg-cleaning]

bless ya

[Bertie Boo]

Both already have a verbal for lateness.  But when they arrive on the job you could not ask for better workers and go out of their way to please the client.  The question is have they now gone to far to state their cause? 

Hmmmm.....i'm thinking will you be able to replace these people like-for-like if they leave or you sack them....? Yov've said they are good workers....

bert

[Robert Parry]

Before doing anything, including a verbal warning, you must ensure that you follow the law regarding such things, a lot of staff are only too well aware of their rights under the ever changing employment legislation.

Because you mentioned a staff handbook, it sounds as though you have all the mechinisms in place to deal with this situation, unless of course you downloaded the example that I put on the forum, and just changed the company name

Seriously though, if thats what you did, please, check with an employment specialist first, it is all very well issuing the paperwork, but you do need the systems and processes to go with it, I think I read somewhere, that the average employment settlement is now £9,000 per case.

When you talk to those concerned, make sure that you remain calm, professional, and ensure that everything discussed is written down, be reasonable and remain objective, apologise for the late payment, be honest with them, and hopefully you will be able to move on, regarding the abusive language, you must deal with this asap, you must retain control and respect from all staff, best of luck!

Regards,

Rob

[Jan K]

isnt it 3 verbals and a written before the boot 

cleaners take the p1$$ too often imo......i dont think it helps that they know that good cleaners are hard to come by, so sometimes they take advantage of the fact that if you drop em you might have trouble finding replacements, at least down this way it is like that....i guess i am lucky, i have lost a load of clients due to interest rates rises and have had very few customers since the end of last year.....as people down here just cant afford the luxury of a domestic cleaner any longer.....tbh after 4 years of trading I am just about on the verge of throwing in the towel as I am not bringing in a decent enough wage any longer

[The Great One]

Jan

Swop from domestic to either EOT cleaning or get in with the MOD on march outs, or blitz the local offices and go into office cleaning.

I am EOT with common ways and a few offices, I am thinking of taking on more offices to get something regular in, for those quiet times

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.

Regards

Martin

[Bertie Boo]

isnt it 3 verbals and a written before the boot 

cleaners take the p1$$ too often imo......

Hmmmm.....you wouldnt get me doing what i do for the wage that cleaning companies (big or small) are paying. I work for myself cleaning houses, and for a decent wage too.

Can you blame people for taking the p1$$ who have to do the work they do and for not a lot of money? Good cleaners ARE hard to come by, one of the biggest domestic cleaning franchises in this country always tells prospective franchisees that getting work will be no problem, getting staff will.

I've never heard of anyone cancelling a cleaner due to interest rates increasing, maybe its a local thing?

Bertie