Employees With Issues

trav007

This is a rather odd situation. I've tried to help out Jack for a while now by giving him some work to aleviate his poor financial situation. He wants to be his own boss eventually but I don't see him going much further than "helper" status. He is slow, seems to think he knows more than he does (probably because he saw something on TV), can't talk and work at the same time, can't stay focused on the task at hand (most likely ADD), I get nervous when he uses power tools.

He does have some good ideas from time to time and he helps me remember things that I would otherwise forget ( I can be a bit absent minded ), but how long can I allow the cons to outweigh the pros in this situation?

Just the other day his character showed an interesting side. His foot went through a hole and he fell down. As he fell he screamed like a little girl and I thought he broke his leg or something. Turns out he let go of his shovel and the handle hit him in the mouth and apparently put a hairline crack in his tooth. So he doesn't show up the next day due to a sore tooth and wants to "split the bill" on the Dental. I was stunned.

This guy hasn't been a superstar but was adequate. Now it appears he will be a liability. I don't disagree with helping on the dental bill but his approach was poor and his attitude sucks. This is getting too long so I'll see what all your thoughts are and I will interject as I can. Thanks for letting me vent.

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Travis
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flashheatingand

If sounds as if you are ready to drop the hatchett. If the cons are that overwhelming, you got to do what you have to do. Yeah, I have to day that if you think there are no plans for him in your future, it's that time. On the bright side, you gave him a hand for a spell. Good luck

Jason Whipple

You might want to keep him just long enough to be sure the tooth thing doesn't turn into something over blown. You would be surprised at how minor injuries can become major ones when a guy loses his income. Just food for thought.

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Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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22rifle

Split dental with a release being condition of cutting the check then fire him.

22rifle

The exact reason I said what I did.

AllAmerican

Yes. You may have a problem looming in your future. If laws in Canada are anything like they are in California, you will need to handle this situation carefully. Remember to document everything.

SelfContract

A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye...that's what they're all saying (revenge).

AllAmerican

Business only...not revenge.

Mike Finley

Wow, that's hitting home, does he have a brother? I think he does. I've gone through this exact scenario you are describing. I rarely believe it's the employees fault, he is who he is, it's up to us to hire the right man for the job, usually we want to see more than is there or think they will grow into it or etc...

How is his attitude? What is good about him? What's great about him?

Can you reclassify him? Put him in a better position more suited to his abilities. That can be the trick. All his bad traits will be minimized and his good traits will be amplified and everything might turn completely around.

As for the tooth you should be paying for 100% of it shouldn't you through workman's comp?

Jason Whipple

That was my first thought too. Sounds like the guy was hired under the table. If the guy is offering a split he may be a pretty nice guy. Something else to consider!

I had a guy working for me last year that turned out to be a total cluts! I got him gone before he hurt himself or me!

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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MALCO.New.York

Bleeding Hearts and Business DO NOT mix. Time to adjust your compassion indicators.

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Geoff MRT

See ya, Jack...

He says he wants to eventually do his own thing?

Now's his chance.

Floordude

File a claim for workmans comp on his on the job injury. That is what it is for. After you have had enough, which sounds like now, you have to have a one on one meeting with the employee, and get it all straight, or tell him he is not producing to your needs or expectations, and he will be replaced.

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Heritage

Drop him like third period french.

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boman47k

Regardless if he screamed like a little girl, he got hurt on your job, right?

Were you stunned because he asked for the split in cost, or because he didn't ask for full payment of dental cost??

I think I would consider paying full cost.

themudman

Like an earlier post said, let workmens comp take care of it.After all ,isn't that what you pay all that money to them for. after that if he is still a problem, get rid of him. counstruction is hard enough without having to put up with someone who is not performing. There is better out there.