Employee Trouble.....Need help.

[Uncharted]

Please read the update that I posted.

First, I was not looking to fire him. I was looking for help to motivate.

Second, I have addressed the issues and we have a plan moving forward.

Thank you for your reply though a little late.

I'm glad you worked it out, but it doesn't invalidate anything I said. This employee can still, at anytime, claim constructed dismissal.
I'm just letting you know.

My employer thought they could do the same thing with working from home, up and sold the office and everything. They are now learning the hard way that they just can't do that. They are being sued by almost 25% of their employees for constructed dismissal.

 

[squiffynimrod]

Jenesis, I must congratulate you on your plan with your employee. Even though it's business, we're still people. And people need to communicate. You did just that. Expectations defined, consequences laid out.
Your employee stated his position, you yours. Whatever shakes out after this I think you did a fantastic job.

 

[Jenesis]

So I have an update.

He is doing great! Everyone’s production is up actually with some of the changes that were made.

I do know he is doing a lot of work at night. Into the wee hours actually. I spoke with him to make sure he is not burning himself out. Which he says he is not, so hopefully that is true.

But I am quite happy with the way things worked out.

Thanks to all who gave advice public and private. You help save a man his job.

 

[K Douglas]

Working from home isn't for everyone. Some people need the direct supervision that comes from being in physical office environment. My company has worked remotely for over 10 years. We've had to terminate a few people because they can't seem to supervise themselves and need a more structured environment.

 

[I'm Me]

Working from home isn't for everyone. Some people need the direct supervision that comes from being in physical office environment. My company has worked remotely for over 10 years. We've had to terminate a few people because they can't seem to supervise themselves and need a more structured environment.

and people are suing their ex employers for wrongful dismissal who dramatically changed their work environment-and rightfully so.

 

[JeanGary Diablo]

and people are suing their ex employers for wrongful dismissal who dramatically changed their work environment-and rightfully so.

Yup, it cannot be overstated on how environment plays a huge part in workers' performance. It can be the smallest thing.

I used to work for a company that had "casual Fridays". Monday to Thursday employees were expected to dress in collard shirts, trousers (no denim), blazers and ties, but on Fridays you could tone it down and come to work dressed more casually. That worked fine until people kept pushing their limits. Eventually, we had guys coming to work Fridays dressed in T-shirts, shorts and sandals in summer. What the company discovered was that as soon as Fridays became "too casual", performance and in-office professionalism plummeted on Fridays.

There's long been theories that dress dictates behaviour, and I fully agree with that, as I have witnessed it first-hand.

 

[explorerzip]

Yup, it cannot be overstated on how environment plays a huge part in workers' performance. It can be the smallest thing.

I used to work for a company that had "casual Fridays". Monday to Thursday employees were expected to dress in collard shirts, trousers (no denim), blazers and ties, but on Fridays you could tone it down and come to work dressed more casually. That worked fine until people kept pushing their limits. Eventually, we had guys coming to work Fridays dressed in T-shirts, shorts and sandals in summer. What the company discovered was that as soon as Fridays became "too casual", performance and in-office professionalism plummeted on Fridays.

There's long been theories that dress dictates behaviour, and I fully agree with that, as I have witnessed it first-hand.

I think it's less about the "uniform" and more about the company culture or industry. If you're in financial or legal services then of course you need to dress in traditional office attire. That won't work in creative industries like marketing or advertising, which are usually casual all the time.

It sounds like your Monday to Thursday dress code is very structured especially if men are expected to wear blazers and ties. When you have casual Fridays, people don't know what's appropriate or press their luck as you said. I think a better strategy would be to have business casual all the time, but have some well defined restrictions like no ripped jeans, shorts, un-collared shifts, sweat pants, mini-skirts, Crocs, etc. Then people don't have to make such a dramatic shift between blazer and tie and casual. I think there is more to the apparent drop in productivity than dressing too casual.

 

[JeanGary Diablo]

I think it's less about the "uniform" and more about the company culture or industry. If you're in financial or legal services then of course you need to dress in traditional office attire. That won't work in creative industries like marketing or advertising, which are usually casual all the time.

It sounds like your Monday to Thursday dress code is very structured especially if men are expected to wear blazers and ties. When you have casual Fridays, people don't know what's appropriate or press their luck as you said. I think a better strategy would be to have business casual all the time, but have some well defined restrictions like no ripped jeans, shorts, un-collared shifts, sweat pants, mini-skirts, Crocs, etc. Then people don't have to make such a dramatic shift between blazer and tie and casual. I think there is more to the apparent drop in productivity than dressing too casual.

True enough, but there were little things that were noticed by the managers, such as people reclining in their chairs and putting their feet up on their desks on Fridays -- and it seemed to only happen on Fridays. This is absolutely not a mark of professionalism or proper office decorum.

What essentially happened was a trickle-down effect. Casual Fridays began with guys wearing dressy jeans, a V-neck sweater over a collared shirt and a pair of chukka boots, which is absolutely fine for going "casual". But within a year it had morphed into anything-goes-on-Fridays -- I literally remember one guy wearing a pair of flip-flops.

Totally agree with your point on setting rules about what constitutes "casual dress" and then sticking to those rules. Sweaters, non-ripped jeans and chukkas are absolutely fine for casual Fridays. A Rolling Stones concert T-shirt, a pair of shorts and flip-flops are absolutely not OK.

 

[explorerzip]

So I have an update.

He is doing great! Everyone’s production is up actually with some of the changes that were made.

I do know he is doing a lot of work at night. Into the wee hours actually. I spoke with him to make sure he is not burning himself out. Which he says he is not, so hopefully that is true.

But I am quite happy with the way things worked out.

Thanks to all who gave advice public and private. You help save a man his job.

Good on your for trying to accommodate him and it looks like it worked! It sounds like he cleaned up his act, but I agree that working really late hours is worrisome. That could affect his performance or maybe he's just a night person? It could be that he's still being whipped by his wife and MIL to do chores during the day. That would explain his crazy long hours.

 

[drstrangelove]

So I have an update.

He is doing great! Everyone’s production is up actually with some of the changes that were made.

I do know he is doing a lot of work at night. Into the wee hours actually. I spoke with him to make sure he is not burning himself out. Which he says he is not, so hopefully that is true.

But I am quite happy with the way things worked out.

Thanks to all who gave advice public and private. You help save a man his job.

So did you find out if he hobbies?

 

[Jenesis]

So did you find out if he hobbies?

LMAO!!!!! No. I never did. Don’t think I ever will.
How would I even go about finding out? That is more a penis to penis convo. LOL