roxy_1980 Posted August 6, 2007 Posted August 6, 2007 Well, there's not alot that you can do. The contract is gonna be signed. He plays favorites. You're always gonna have coworkers you don't like. This is just going to add to the list. You tried your best to warn management about this woman that's all you can do. She'll probably show her true colours to someone higher up than the boss she hangs out with eventually.
Heavenly55 Posted August 7, 2007 Posted August 7, 2007 Update: So a few things: 1. On my review last week my boss said that the whole above issue was more dramatic then it needed to be. And that I guess I have learned a lesson from it but that overall I handled it well. 2. They are going to hire her as an employee, we have not met to officially discuss it. 3. She told me this morning that our HR Manager told her she is being hired on as an employee (which has not officially been discussed). I guess they hung out at a party this weekend and he said "Monday, just wait til Monday." Which meant that she would then be hired as an employee. So should I be upset about this. I went to him for advice when all of this was going down and recommended that she be let go. Then I find out that they hang out on fridays and weekends. I am not sure if this is an issue or not, I guess it depends on him and his ethics. If they are friends how can I trust what I tell him and how can I trust him to keep the companies best interest in mind. What do you think? This girl must be really hot or have a really great personality lol. This is all office politics and you're boss likes her as a person so she can do pretty much whatever she pleases. And since the 2 of them are friends on the outside too complaining to him will do nothing besides give the 2 of them something to talk about because he is most defentially going back and telling her what you say. You have 2 options..leave or leave.
Author redfathom Posted August 7, 2007 Author Posted August 7, 2007 Yeah, I know!! I was just thinking that. Well, as pretty as she is, I am prettier (haha) just shy. I guess that is the problem. I used to be invited to hang out with these people but I am shy so I did not go. She is just a flirt and knows how to work people. I guess I will just hang in there and see what happens.
nouralhoda Posted August 7, 2007 Posted August 7, 2007 Personally I would look into replacing her as the temp.. if you are going to hire her from the temp agency a big fee is paid by your company to the agency to buy her from the agency Hire or reassign a temp or contract employee who is currently on assignment at your company Advantage: A known quantity who knows the project, the people and the corporate culture. Disadvantage: Absolutely none.
amerikajin Posted August 7, 2007 Posted August 7, 2007 Okay, so our company has a temp to hire receptionist/"my assistant" she has been with us since Feb and once her four months are up we can hire her fulltime from the temp agency. Here is the MAIN issue: Between May and June she has missed or gone home early 12 days. Two days vacation, four days calling in sick and six days leaving early (when I say early, I mean before 10am). Now, I get an e-mail from her saying that her sister is coming to visit (she already bought her a plan ticket) and she wants to know if she can have six days off in July. To me this seems a little bold! I mean if I had taken so much time off with in the last month and a half I would not be asking for vacation time. To top it off, she did not get permission before booking the plan ticket. What if I had already planned to take those days off. The professional thing to do it to get permission for X days then take the time off. We several clients that will be here during the time she requested. I mean we have cut her a lot of slack and now this is asking too much. I am considering whether or not to even hire her now. I have not given her the permission. I checked with my bosses and they do not seem to mind, there deal is that since she is a temp we do not have to pay her for her time off so what does it matter. My thing is, we need her to do her job. What are your thoughts, would you give this employee the time off? The bottom line is this: is she doing the job you have asked her to do? Beyond that, if there's something you don't like, make sure she knows about it. It's strange, but she could have come from an office where that kind of thing was tolerated provided she "did her job". You might want to sit down and have a mid-term review (preferably on the record but it might be more relaxed if it were informal). If she's not doing her job, let her know she's not and let her know what she needs to do - that's when you segue into the problems. If she is doing her job, then you can say "You're doing a good job, but...I've noticed you leave early or take time off. There's actually always some work you could be doing around here" - that kind of thing. ETA: Never mind, I read about her antics on the rest of the thread. Clearly, she needs to find somewhere else to work.
Author redfathom Posted August 7, 2007 Author Posted August 7, 2007 HI All, Too late! She was offered and accepted a job as a full-time employee today. She has been doing a better job then when this thread first started. For some reason my work did not think it was a big deal what she was doing. I only restarted to post here because of her friend ship with the HR Manager. I guess I should not assume what will happen around here now that they are friends.
justice Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Given that she has missed so much time, I don't think I would consider her as a new hire. To me, from what you posted regarding her taking time off, it looks like this is a repeat thing for her and I'd have second thoughts about hiring someone who did this on what seems to be a regular basis. If you really did want to hire her though, do you think you could talk to her about her absenteeism and tell her you'd like to hire her but you aren't sure that she could do her job because of her being absent so much, if you hire, I'd put her on a probabionary period so that if she still misses time, she knows she will be fired if it continues. Best of luck.
Citizen Erased Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 I'll come work for you, I'm an awesome receptionist
uniqueone Posted August 9, 2007 Posted August 9, 2007 Be careful even when they're employees. I knew a woman who had been a stay at home mom for 10 years. She lucked out and got a job as a receptionist making almost 30K!!! Yet she whined to me when her raise was not what she thought it would be (it was a normal raise and after only 6 months even!) She told me how boring her job was. She ended up chatting with people online all day--including a guy who had the hots for her (and she was married). She'd sometimes leave early or call in sick and used her kids as excuses (which were lies). Sometimes when she left early or took off it was to see that guy. She was good at lying though so she had them fooled and they didn't catch on. She was also good at BS and she was very pretty. I stopped talking to her about a year ago. She's probably head of the company by now!
love necessity Posted August 10, 2007 Posted August 10, 2007 OMG! This post makes me feel so horrible.=( Unfortunately, I have no way around missing work here or there or showing up late, because I am a full-time student, so I guess my excuses are ok to an extent. However, your assistant is taking advantage of her position. I don't think she deserves the job, give it to someone that is more reliable. You'd rather cut her as a temp, rather than going through the paperwork of cutting her as a regular employee. If you hire her now, you'll be wasting your time, because sooner or later you'll get tired of her. She seems to not care, so treat her like you don't care and fire her ass!!
Author redfathom Posted August 10, 2007 Author Posted August 10, 2007 The issue I am having now is that despite her bad work habits and poor perfomance, the HR Manager is buddying up to her and they are hanging out at work and outside of work. How am I supposed to have the support I need from HR to discipline her if needed and make decisions for the company when she does not do a good job if I will not have the support of the HR Manager. I was completly taken out of the loop on her being hired as an employee. I heard it from her that she was hired on (I knew it was going to happen eventually) but the HR Manager did not include me in any of the process. He told her, he gave her the paperwork and I was not included in the discussion. Her work lately has been better, so that is not a problem. But if she goes back to the poor performance I know I will not have any support from HR. I mean I posted on here about the HR department which has two people taking 100% credit for work I did about 60% of. I think my only option is to buddy up to them just as much - haha!!!
roxy_1980 Posted August 10, 2007 Posted August 10, 2007 If you're having that many problems with management, maybe it's time to start picking up the want-ads. For your sanity's sake.
Author redfathom Posted August 10, 2007 Author Posted August 10, 2007 Yeah, I have thought about it. Things are much better here then before, I am more or less wondering what the future outcome will be re this situation. I have to decided to see how things play out before I make a rash decision that is right now based on assumptions. But it never hurts to always have an updated resume.
Mary3 Posted August 11, 2007 Posted August 11, 2007 Time off...no...pink slip .. yes... Get someone else... Fire this idiot! Imagine the hassle if you want to get rid of her later, after she's permanent.. how bold of her to take so much time off... weird... I guess she just doesn't care about her job... No company would hire someone like her. She is on Probation right ? This is the beginning of chronic lateness and disrespect to the workforce. I would not let her continue this behavior. If she is willing to get a pep talk and counseling maybe there is a chance she might chance her ways.
Author redfathom Posted August 17, 2007 Author Posted August 17, 2007 I had to post an update. On Aug 6th the receptionist above was hired on from a temp agency. She has been working here for 6 months. In the Six months up until Aug 6th she taken 154 hours of time off, 64 hours of which was for pre-approved vacation. If you read the thread you will notice there was a blow out due mainly to other issues but her attendance IS a big problem. When I mentioned to my bosses her attendance and the other issuses he felt that I was correct in being upset but that I handled it more dramaticlly then needed (because I said we should fire her while she was a temp). Well, since Aug 6th she has missed 12.5 hours of work. She has taken a few afternoons because she is going to marriage counseling and two hours to go to the dr's because she thought she broke her foot which she had not. Of the 12.5 eight are from today because she called out sick. On wed. she requested 8 hours of time off (which I agreed to) because her husband is being deployed to Iraq, no I am not agry about this one - that would just be cold hearted. She will also be taking 2 hours to go to another marriage counseling appt. on Monday. So from 8-6 to 8-24, she will have taken 22 hours of time off. Some approved. I understand the marriage counseling, but I go to marriage counseling also and I always pick the last appt. so I do not miss work which sometimes means I have to wait a whole month in between sessions. When I told my boss she called out sick today, he gave me a funny look. I think from here on out, I will not let her take any time off. So when you add up from 2-6 to 8-24 she will have taken 173 total hours off, for pre-approved and non pre-approved things. That is an average of 26 hours a month of work she misses. Time she has missed - Full days will be 9 days of vacation and 8 sick days (plus about 40 hours of leaving early or coming to work late) in 6.5 months. I have taken 1 sick day and 4 vacation days and left early 4 hours which I made up in the 9 months I have been here. I told my boss once they hire her full time that I would not be responsible for her absentiseem any more. Thanks for listening to me rant.
Author redfathom Posted August 29, 2007 Author Posted August 29, 2007 She called out sick again!!! GRRRR!!!! I have so much work to do and now I have to cover the front and I was going to delegate work to her that I can't get done myself because I just got this huge project, that needs to be done by Friday and will require 20 hours. I am so pissed.
Fun2BMe Posted August 30, 2007 Posted August 30, 2007 If she was so flakey during the period when she's supposed to impress and shine to win over the employee for a permanent position, it will only go downhill once she has gotten the spot. I think she's going to miss work even more now that she's hired.
Author redfathom Posted September 12, 2007 Author Posted September 12, 2007 So my assistants sister and newpher just flew in last night, they are moving in with her. So this morining, all three of them come in the office and to my desk, and she says to her three or four year old nephew, "don't you have something to ask her." Well, he is shy so he pretends to sleep then she asks me if shecan go have breakfast with them downstairs, it is now 7:56am and work starts at 8:00am. So I hesitate and tell her she can until 8:30am, and she goes "do you not want me to go." and I was like "you can but only until 830, the bosses are reallt busy so I can't cover the front for too long." Okay, again...what nerve...to try to have her 3-4 year old nephew ask me if they can have breakfast so I will feel guilty in telling HIM no. WOW!!!! When she gett's back I think I need to have a talk with her. I am super pissed. While her sister is standing there. I will tell her next time she wants to have breakfast with them she can do it before work, at 8:00am she needs to be at her desk working.
TogetherForever Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 So my assistants sister and newpher just flew in last night, they are moving in with her. So this morining, all three of them come in the office and to my desk, and she says to her three or four year old nephew, "don't you have something to ask her." Well, he is shy so he pretends to sleep then she asks me if shecan go have breakfast with them downstairs, it is now 7:56am and work starts at 8:00am. So I hesitate and tell her she can until 8:30am, and she goes "do you not want me to go." and I was like "you can but only until 830, the bosses are reallt busy so I can't cover the front for too long." Okay, again...what nerve...to try to have her 3-4 year old nephew ask me if they can have breakfast so I will feel guilty in telling HIM no. WOW!!!! When she gett's back I think I need to have a talk with her. I am super pissed. While her sister is standing there. I will tell her next time she wants to have breakfast with them she can do it before work, at 8:00am she needs to be at her desk working. redfathom, I'd send you my resume if I wasn't already employed. I am the receptionist at a very busy kitchen/bath design center. Have been for 5 years now & only use the days that are given to me. 6 sick / 4 personal / 2 weeks vaca. She doesn't deserve to work for you! TF
Author redfathom Posted September 14, 2007 Author Posted September 14, 2007 Thanks, that is what I am talking about. It is so frustrating. I am not sure how stupid she thinks I am. I did have a talk with her when she came back, I told her to never put me in a position like that again and if she wants to have breakfast with them she needs to do it before work. She said she was not trying to put me in a bad spot - aheeeemmm, really. I have taken a stance that I will just be a jerk to her. I mean I have been nice and she took advantage of that. So yesterday when she did something stupid I asked her tons of questions and she got pissed and I could tell she felt like an idiot. HAHA. I know it is mean but seriously. Yesterday she was suppose to work on a project and when my boss was looking for her she was MIA, out having a smoke. So when she came back I had taken care of the project and I told her this, then she goes on about an e-mail she got on the porject instrcuting her on what she needed to do and that she did not understand it (she had to scan three documents) the e-mail said to mame each one it's own file. So I said, again, it's already done. Then she comes to me 30 min before we have to leave saying X needed something taken to FedEx for overnight delivery, but that it is not critical and can go out REGULAR MAIL tomorrow. I reminded her that FedEx's last pick up was 5 min ago and she tells me she can drive - 45 min away to a 6pm drop off. So I said, but it is not imperative that this goes out. She said no. So I e-mailed the person that requested it and they said we could send it regular mail tomorrow (today). I told my assistant, that we should not drive an hour to FedEx something overnight when it can go out regular mail (which takes 4-5 days). She was pissed and I think it was because she wanted to leave early. She has tried that one before. HAHA.
Author redfathom Posted September 28, 2007 Author Posted September 28, 2007 So the saga continues: My assistant has missed three days this week and gone home early one for being sick, when she does not and has not looked sick. She say's she has the stomach flu (again) and emphasized how she should not come to work vomitting while we have clients in the office. Hmmm, if she has to state it so clearly it makes me wonder if it is true. Here is the kicker. We have out quarterly reviews, which she sent to my boss and he forwarded to me to make comments on. In the review she says: she has done a good job, rates hersef - exceeds expectations, and says that what could have gone better: The big item that I think could have gone better is the delegation of more responsibility from (my name, her boss) to allow me to grow in this position. Also, I would like to have a discussion of what I will need to do to structure my employment along a path that will lead to my transition to a higher position Hmm, is it okay that I am slightly bothered by this. I would like to say that f she want's a higher position she needs to start being reliable and coming to work. I mean since Feb, she has taken 208 hours off from work.
roxy_1980 Posted September 28, 2007 Posted September 28, 2007 I write her comments as such: More responsibility and advance opportunities require more dedication and reliability.
Author redfathom Posted September 28, 2007 Author Posted September 28, 2007 P.S. Are you allowed in a review to recommend that someone cut back on their smoke breaks? She is the receptionist and sometimes people will come to the door and I have to run over and get it and she is mising because sheis off smoking. She takes about 10 min to smoke and will pull other employee's from there desks to comehang out with her while she smokes and does this about 4 times a day. She is also on IM the whole day, which I sortof understand because the work load is light, but she could be more proactive.
Author redfathom Posted September 28, 2007 Author Posted September 28, 2007 I write her comments as such: More responsibility and advance opportunities require more dedication and reliability. I really want to say that, so I wrote: That overall she meets expecations expect in the area of attendance which needs to imrpove significantly. I also put that she needs to be more proactive in anticipating the needs of the office (i.e.she can do things with out me telling her to) and that if she wants to grow in her position I can sit with her and show her how to use the different Microsoft programs.
Magnatolia Posted September 30, 2007 Posted September 30, 2007 Ok so she takes a lot of sick time, doesn't she provide medical certificate? If she really is sick then she should be able to provide a medical certificate. Have you spoken to her directly about her time off? Don't you have a regular staff review where you tell the staff what you're not happy with etc. It could be that she really is sick. I worked with a girl once who had to work 2 days a week because she had a blood condition. If there isn't that much work, and she's not proactive, can't you give her work? Keep unimportant tasks aside and when you see she's bored give her those tasks. Or tell her that when she's bored she needs to come and ask for work.
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