Employee Discipline (employers, job, company, paid)

[Movie Lover]

I'm finding it really hard to keep people in line. Sometimes I feel they run the show.

I need help people!

[Alanboy395]

Originally Posted by Movie Lover

I'm finding it really hard to keep people in line. Sometimes I feel they run the show.

I need help people!

Meet the ultimate person for keeping people in line.

YouTube - Terry Tate Office Linebacker

But seriously, do not be afraid to snatch them out of their own little sky.

[GypsySoul22]

There are a lot horrible bosses out there. You don't have to be one, but if I owned a company I would not allow people to get above themselves.

What sort of work do they do that you cannot bring yourself to rope them in?

[Movie Lover]

Sales in the DVD sector.

[dweej]

What state do you work in? Being a manager in California is a whole lot different than being a boss in Texas..... . And no, not stereotyping here- I'm just referring to the employment laws!

[IonRedline08]

I think it depends on your relationship with them. How long have you been their boss?

I manage a team of about 20-25 people, and it can be difficult.

I have a thing where I am friendly, and know about their personal lives, etc, but they also know that I mean business and that I will write them up, discipline, etc. I find that if you manage people a long time, and if you are easy going, this leads to them being overly comfortable and not afraid of you at all.

[STT Resident]

One of the biggest mistakes many employers make is not having an employee manual which clearly states the particular job responsibilities and covers everything else under the sun from dress to jewelry to absences, demeanor and anything else you can think of. The employee signs for a copy of the manual acknowledging receipt and understanding and after that it's quite plain sailing for a manager to keep things in check when infringements occur.

Several years I took over management of a retail store which had no manual. 95% of the employees were hard-working and diligent but there was the 5% who were real troublemakers and who were getting away with figurative murder and stealing as well. Employee morale was quite low because of their influence.

My first order was to put together an employee manual which was "tweaked" by a labor attorney to conform to all our local statutes and within three months I was finally able to get rid of the troublemakers and the working environment did a complete turnaround. Being a manager isn't an easy task but it means that you are responsible for your section's performance and if a few bad apples create problems then you'll be held responsible for the majority.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

[HillScoggin]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

One of the biggest mistakes many employers make is not having an employee manual which clearly states the particular job responsibilities and covers everything else under the sun from dress to jewelry to absences, demeanor and anything else you can think of. The employee signs for a copy of the manual acknowledging receipt and understanding and after that it's quite plain sailing for a manager to keep things in check when infringements occur.

Several years I took over management of a retail store which had no manual. 95% of the employees were hard-working and diligent but there was the 5% who were real troublemakers and who were getting away with figurative murder and stealing as well. Employee morale was quite low because of their influence.

My first order was to put together an employee manual which was "tweaked" by a labor attorney to conform to all our local statutes and within three months I was finally able to get rid of the troublemakers and the working environment did a complete turnaround. Being a manager isn't an easy task but it means that you are responsible for your section's performance and if a few bad apples create problems then you'll be held responsible for the majority.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

AMEN

I make sure everyone gets a manual. I make sure everyone signs off that they understand said manual. We go over it together. We discuss that is black and white, no middle ground. There will be a verbal, a written, a second written, termination. Of course you have certain things that merit immediate termination. Theft, threats, insubordination

[tagylyn]

I always believed that you do not have to be liked as a manager, but you have to be respected!

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by HillScoggin

AMEN

I make sure everyone gets a manual. I make sure everyone signs off that they understand said manual. We go over it together. We discuss that is black and white, no middle ground. There will be a verbal, a written, a second written, termination. Of course you have certain things that merit immediate termination. Theft, threats, insubordination

Amen back to you. As for theft, threats, insubordination, you can't necessarily terminate any employee for that unless it's proven and documented. It took me a while to document and fire one particular employee for theft between security cameras, the assistance of a floor manager who was hired by me and very time-consuming scrutiny of cash register tapes. The employee subsequently reported the company and me individually and collectively to the local Labor Board for firing her because of a whole long list of alleged discrimination ranging from basic racism, her place of birth and her pregnancy (she didn't become pregnant until AFTER she was finally terminated!) as well as unpaid holiday time, etc. She didn't prevail.

Likewise, she screamed and yelled at me in my office a couple of times after she was written up and I just stayed very quiet during both of these tantrums and quietly explained that her yelling wasn't doing her any good and that if she chose not to clock in and obey the rules then I would simply have her removed from the store.

It ain't easy but if you have the documented back-up at hand it makes everything so much easier where enforcement of rules is concerned. Cheers!