Blatantly disrespectful employees
How do you deal with blatantly disrespectful employees? I always make sure that I am approaching a situation in a calm and collected manner, considering the employees point of view, and providing a solution, not a write up. Despite this, I've had numerous times where I have to deal with someone who outright refuses to correct something and/or throws some pretty terrible insults out. I work with an older union crowd that despises change so it has had its moments.
I know this is part of the job but it can be draining at times. What are your experiences and how do you handle them?
Comments (5)
I always ask them their point of view and show you what they are meaning. I even Job shadow to get to know the floor people better. There are times though you have to go to the write up to show them at the end of the day its not a joke. As you go through this be sure to document you process so when push comes to shove you will prevail with this documentation not say so.
If you are having a repeat offender, It may be time to step back and look a little deeper into the situation. Root Cause is often more than the surface. bringing things back to the leadership, leads, supervisors, managers and work to have the message pushed down from the top.
There will always be push back, but if you don't have Top Cover or support you will continue to have the disrespect. Document everything to include positive and negative interactions to show attempts were made to make corrective actions should something go sideways, you won't be the one holding the bag at the end of the day. If you aren't empowered to stop the work, send that person home without pay, or enact a disciplinary action, you have to rely on leadership to influence the outcome. Good Leadership will help and support you, Poor leadership will say you gotta do it cause the safety person says so.
I also try to explain hierarchy of controls a little to them and ask em what's it worth to not follow a safety policy or procedure, and then ask them about family or loved ones, is it worth it to them?
All with out confrontation :D
I grew up in a huge unionized (UAW) iron foundry. I was a supervisor and learned the trade of managing with tough mentors, and most of my employees were pretty tough too! If I did not get yelled at by my bosses and employees each night I thought there was something wrong. If I got paid for every time I got called a "MF" I could have retired at 35.
I remember vividly I asked one of my "problem-childes" to get a shoved and start picking up a pile of sand from a conveyor leak. The guy says, "He__ No!" I turned around and walked up to him and yelled, "Now I do not have time for this, you get over their and pick up that sand RIGHT NOW, or you're Fu_____ As_ is gone!" He runs over to the steward and yells, "You hear how he is talking to me?" I want a grievance!" The steward laughed and said, "You got to be kidding. I heard him ASK you to pick up that sand. You flat out refused, son the gloves come off then!" We will be buried in sand if we do not keep up with it! He__ Fitz is in a good mood! If I wrote a grievance the Chief Stewart would laugh at me! Now you better get over there and get busy, or Fitz will fire you and there won't be much I can do to protect you!" This was a tough environment and 1977.
I think this is where chain of command is huge - follow up with their supervisors if they're not listening to your recommendations. Keep going up the chain until the issue gets resolved.