Management headache
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Buttercup ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() One of my recruiters has a self-admitted problem with authority. I spend an inordinate amount of time fighting/pushing/pulling him to do the basics of his job. I have lost patience with this nonsense. The obvious recourse - termination - is not an option as he is also my boss' son. Chewing him out or having a "Come to Jesus" meeting are short term fixes - he is easily manipulated by a woman who works here who has inordinate control over him and his attitude (read: sex). Not being satisfied to control just his personal life, she resents that she doesn't get to control his work life also. She is jealous of my influence over him and I believe covertly works to undermine me. Everytime I have trouble with him, it's after he's spent time with her. I am not looking to change/interfere/manage his interaction with this woman; that's his own problem to figure out. I am looking for feedback on effective punitive measures, short of termination, to utilize when he gets belligerent. I have exhausted my patience for explaining what his purpose is here. His father knows what the problem is but is leaving it to me to fix. I am quite forceful, direct and task-oriented when dealing with him but this isn't working (long-term). I have made it quite clear that he has job security only because he's the boss' son and that it is his father who has asked me to make him a successful recruiter through whatever means I feel are necessary. Any suggestions you might have for dealing with an employee who has trouble with authority whom you cannot terminate is appreciated. |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Does he place many clients in new positions? If not, is it possible to give him a greater commision per client placed and a much smaller base sallery? This would force him to work as well as become aa sucessful recruiter. |
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Got Wahoo? ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() What about firing her? |
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Buttercup ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() tsmith - 2006-02-02 1:27 PM Does he place many clients in new positions? If not, is it possible to give him a greater commision per client placed and a much smaller base sallery? This would force him to work as well as become aa sucessful recruiter. Can't really touch his comp. His father would cover his bills one way or the other. The chick buys him dinners all the time. I can't terminate her, doesn't work for me. |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Demotion? Pay cut? Probably both as off the table as termination. Without the option of termination or the other two consequences I've suggested, you have no real authority over this person. Your boss has put you in an no-win situation. It really sounds like the only thing that will work to turn him into a successful recruiter is to not be in his fathers employ. |
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Got Wahoo? ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Fundamental problem here is that it is the dad's authority that is allowing this to happen. The dad is being unfair to you by making this your job to fix when it is his relationship with the boy that creates the problem. There is no shame in not being able to solve a problem that can't be solved. I say you talk to the father, explain how your hands are tied in this situation and that you would like HIM to deal with the issue. |
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Buttercup ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Things I've considered:
I'm looking for a quick, sharp 'ouch' to get his attention. |
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Master![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Is there any way of highlighting to the rest of the employees how crappy of a job he is doing? Many companies put up a performance chart in a public area so all the employees can see how everone is doing. Humiliation is a strong motivator and no one wants to be last. Or you can watch some tv. Seems like some sit-com should have addressed this very same problem and come up with a hilarious plan that worked out ok in the end. |
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Veteran![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() If you send him home for the day he's just going to have fun somewhere without the dress code. Make him stay longer. I think all you can do is either have a heart to heart with his father or accept that you have absolutly no control over this kid and move on. |
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Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Wow, that's a tough one, Renee. I'd fall back on several things:
Good luck. BTW...that doesn't sound too fun. Edited by rkreuser 2006-02-02 1:54 PM |
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Master![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm with Drew... I'm a sales manager and I have found peer pressure to be much more effective than anything I could do... Set a goal just out side of his normal volume but well within his and everyone elses ability, then offer a prize to the entire team if everyone reaches the goal. If everyone else regularly exceeds this goal and he simmply refuses to try he will become very unpopuler. I also track everyones volume for 3 months back in a public place where the entire team can see it. This really helped EVERYONE get better because people can easily see who the top dawgs are and go to them for advice, and poor performers can not hide under a cover of lies and stories of last month because everyone knows the truth. |
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Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Have a major heart-to-heart with your boss. He needs to understand that success can only occur if failure is also possible. (The corrollary: if the outcome is pre-ordained, what is the incentive to try?) Show how the disruptions caused by the protoge are costing the business (moral and hard $$). Introduce a plan that allows an appropriate degree of autonomy for the protoge. Negotiate support for the plan (may be a compromise plan) with the clear understanding that 1) you'll treat the son like other subordinates, 2) the son's performance must be in line with his peers, and 3) if the son's performance continues to cause problems, the boss will support your decision to separate that employee (not transfer him to another area so another underling has to deal with the same problems). Also, negotiate that YOU get a significant bonus if his performance does improve due to your planning and coaching (part of your incentive to keep him on, but also a reward for putting up with the hassle). Here is the important part: If you get agreement from the boss on this, your introduction of this plan needs to have all 3 of you at the table. That way, the son can be assured that failure is one possible outcome. If you can't get the boss to listen, it may be time for you to move on. |
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![]() | ![]() I'm in a family business and this pisses me off. As one of the owners and having grown up in the business we always committed to proving that nobody works harder for this company than we do. We lead by example. In two years I've taken exactly two weeks off of work for vacation. No sick or personal days. In fact when my daughter was born three years ago I took one day off. Anyway, people who not only don't help, but hurt their own family's support system really tick me off. The people who suggest publicizing performance may have a good idea. Other than that you only have two options. Deal with it/suffer in silence or tell your boss the situation is unworkable. I can't tell from your posts how a confrontation would play out in terms of your own job security, so I'm not suggesting it but the bottom line is this all your boss's fault. Not yours, and not the goofball's. If he's going to bring his son in he has to take responsibility for his performance/behavior. Leaving it up to you is unprofessional, especially if he's already aware there is a problem. He's put you in a hopeless situation and if it's distracting you from doing your best job with your other employees then he's put you in a horrible situation. Is this something you should discuss with HR, if you have one? I don't know if there's a boss above your boss or if he's the top of the food chain. Bottom line: the kid will never get it while his daddy is his safety net. You should not be asked to be either the fall guy or his substitute parent. The dad needs to grow a set and get his kid in line. Give him my email and tell him I've got an extra can of man in the fridge if wants me to send it to him I will. Good luck. |
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Buttercup![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Just had a long heart-to-heart talk with El Jefe (my boss/the owner/his father). We have a very good rapport based upon mutual respect and trust and I am always very candid with him. He knows I regularly chew-out Jr. and he has never questioned my actions. We discussed having a 3-way conversation with Jr. and I am reserving the right to call the meeting; I told him I wanted time to cool off and think things over. He assured me that he would support me and tell Jr. he needs to do as I tell him. Regarding some of your suggestions:
I think I'm going to ask Jefe to let me hire another recruiter, one with whom I'm well acquainted and would kick the pants off of him and my other problem child. I'm also going to give them much less of my time and expertise, and tend to my own deals. I'm also going to start tossing him out of my meetings if he gives me any crap. Edited by Renee 2006-02-02 2:59 PM |
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Buttercup![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() hangloose - 2006-02-02 2:20 PM Give him my email and tell him I've got an extra can of man in the fridge if wants me to send it to him I will. |
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Elite![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Renee - 2006-02-02 2:49 PM tell Jr. he needs to do as I tell him. |
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Buttercup![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() oneword - 2006-02-02 3:12 PM Can't you just get one of those bird dog training/shock collars, lock it around his neck, and everytime he gets out of line, give him a jolt or two :| Now this is the stuff I'm looking for... |
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Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Renee - 2006-02-02 4:15 PM oneword - 2006-02-02 3:12 PM Can't you just get one of those bird dog training/shock collars, lock it around his neck, and everytime he gets out of line, give him a jolt or two :| Now this is the stuff I'm looking for... For all you know that's what the girlfriend is doing...
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Buttercup![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() HAH! Well... he's got a whole new set of problems brewing there. In exchange for allowing her to control him, he lets her clean his apt/cook meals/buy him dinner/take him to hockey games/uhhh cross-train, I suppose. Yesterday, she called in sick. Seems she's all depressed/upset because he had a date (not with her) last night. The guys in the office are very vocal in a boys-locker-room kind of way about his dating activities and encourage him quite a bit. Edited by Renee 2006-02-02 3:43 PM |
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