I have an employee on my project. I did not hire her - she transferred in from another project and I got stuck with her. I have tried for the last 10 months to teach her. I can't. She is an idiot!!
She is young and doesn't give a crap about the job. I've written her up once already because she's always late, has just not shown up once and calls in sick at least once a month - usually more.
I took off Friday so I could have a 4-day weekend. I just checked my emails. I gave her two VERY SIMPLE tasks to do while I was gone. One was a list of document numbers I asked her to look up and see if they already existed. There are about 35 numbers. All she had to do was type those numbers into a search feature - if they were found then she copied all the information out (date of document, name of document, etc.) and if the numbers were not found she was to enter them and for the title type in "HOLD FOR [NAME]".
Its not the software - she uses it all the time and knows exactly how to do it.
Her other task was to create a transmittal for five documents that were laying on her desk. Another task she does ALL THE TIME. Those documents needed to be transmitted on FRIDAY!!
I just checked my email. Task #1 came from an email list. I saw an email from this girl and she had forwarded the original email list of document numbers back to the engineer that requested to know if he could use those numbers or if they already existed. In Her email she typed a list of the other five documents and said that those numbers did exist and did he want her to issue them?
WHAT! She combined the two requests and completed neither - making them a crisis. So, I will be going in to the office on Monday - a holiday - and doing the work myself, and writing her up again. This is happening a lot and its unacceptable.
I'm begging for more help (I've been working 50 - 60 hours a week myself) and I'm not getting it because the client has decided to tighten the purse strings. I have had it. Especially with this girl. I'll save the client a lot of money by just getting rid of her. She's worthless.
I have given her every chance. It's time to Be The Boss. I didn't get to choose her, but I sure can tell her to go.
Ten months of putting up with an employee like this is far too long. Use the 1,2,3 method and document everything. Ensure you document the times you've spoken to her by following up with an email. A one inch thick folder full of write ups, can save you a lawsuit.
Also, when you talk to her, ensure you ask her what she's lacking, as in training and tools, etc. In giving her every tool possible, she's either incompatible for the job or completely disinterested. Offering her every tool and training, especially when she refuses them in writing, provides you more backup for the release process.
I'm begging for more help (I've been working 50 - 60 hours a week myself) and I'm not getting it because the client has decided to tighten the purse strings.
First problem... If the work is getting done, the client/employer doesn't care how. Your long hours is not their problem. They're going to tighten the budget until something goes wrong, then loosen up just a bit.
If you're willing to work long hours, fine. But if you don't want to work long hours, don't. Something will break, they will percieve a problem, and they will act.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HokeyReligions
I have had it. Especially with this girl. I'll save the client a lot of money by just getting rid of her. She's worthless.
By all means, let her go. It's tough, but necessary for the good of the whole team.
Ten months of putting up with an employee like this is far too long. Use the 1,2,3 method and document everything. Ensure you document the times you've spoken to her by following up with an email. A one inch thick folder full of write ups, can save you a lawsuit.
Also, when you talk to her, ensure you ask her what she's lacking, as in training and tools, etc. In giving her every tool possible, she's either incompatible for the job or completely disinterested. Offering her every tool and training, especially when she refuses them in writing, provides you more backup for the release process.
Thanks for the input I'm just pissed and venting.
I've already done all of this. I inherited this person and because the client is being #$%*&-pid and my hands are tied. We can have no change in personnel unless approved by the client and there's a bunch of back-stabbing espionage going on right now. I have formally written her up before and everything is clearly documented. I'm hoping that since I had to go in to work today (screwed up my 4-day weekend) that I can finally get rid of her.
Grrr.....
I can't not do the work because it reflects poorly on me and my field is highly competitive. Perception of work is just about as important as the work and I have an excellent reputation. As much as it irks me to tolerate her - her f***ups make me look better as long as I have accurate documentation of my training and the tools I give her -- and buh-leeve me I do have documentation, including getting her a new computer two weeks ago because the problems she had always seemed to be technical.
Last edited by LoveShack.org Moderator; 30th August 2008 at 6:00 PM..
Well, I knew she was going to call in sick yesterday because on Tuesday when she came in she was very subdued when she was told I had to work on Saturday to do the work she screwed up.
Today I let her go. Man, I hate doing that. I did check the "eligible for rehire" box on the exit form. Maybe this will shock her into taking her work more seriously. I feel bad for her, but I did everything I could.
I also intereviewed someone today and am offering her the job and hope that she takes it and works out. We are doing everything on a 'temporary' basis now and will have a 90 day probation period before the job becomes permanent. Meanwhile, I'm working lots of extra hours!
You right the right thing .. Well, you had no choice either. It was either you carrying her load as well as your own work load and putting up with it, maybe getting TOO stressed out/burned out or laying her off.
Hope the replacement is a harder and better worker!
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I'm just pissed and venting.
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