Miserable In The Workplace

Glasshousebltr

Recently I've noticed a trend in my help. It seems they feel I need to be on the job even when their digging a hole. The attitude stemmed down from my nephew who cried all day every time he had to extend some effort, but like a fool I kept him on.

The other day I saw an interview with an author who wrote a book called 'Miserable in the Workplace'

His take on the matter I found very interesting. I intend to buy the book.

It seems he's done research as far as employee attitudes and found that one bad employee, no matter how just the thorn, can infect everyone around him to the point that, if not handled, even very large operations can easily sink into the abyss.

He quotes several large industrial operations brought down by this, then displays statistics from new management that took over and re railed the train with nothing more than a swept house.

Of course I haven't read it, and only saw his interview, however if it unfolds as it appears it could be valuable reading for all of us.

Just thought I'd pass it along

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Bob

Mike Finley

Heck yeah Bob. Employees don't talk to the boss, they talk to each other, and the old adage one spoiled apple spoils the barrel is true in my opinion. Good employees get resentful after awhile if bad employees don't get corrected by the boss. They begin to wonder why the hell should they go above and beyond what the jerk does if the boss keeps the jerk around, obviously the jerk is setting the bar for everybody else, or actually lowering it.

LeonApel

I totally agree with Mike. I find that my enjoyment of a job is directly correlated to who I am working with. If someone is a Debbie Downer that it just makes work miserable. If you are working with great people work is actually fun.

The moral of the story is work with people who bring you up. If your management, remove those that bring others down.

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http://www.contractor-center.com
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floorinstall

I could not agree more !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MattCoops

My crew is the opposite.
They can't wait for me to leave the jobsite.
They act nervous when I'm around.
My crew gets things done, and they get it done right.
Cus they know I'm gonna snoop around and make sure everythings cleaned up and all the lines are straight, all the curves look gorgeous, and the customers are 100% happy.

I always have my crew on site when I pick up the check.
And the customers always thank them for a job well done.
If there was a discrepancy, there right there to put in extra hours to correct the matter.

We get callbacks, but there for more work or a referral.


Take care of your help and they'll take care of you.
Take them out once in a while for all you can eat crab buffet.
Invite them over to watch the red sox win the world series.
Joke around with them. Give them all nicknames, get personal with them.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a monetary "giving" to your workers.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

RenaissanceR

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George Z

That's the idea.
Jennifer's friend looks like a frog. But is he a frog or a Prince?
Flood (her last name) left paint on the hardwood floor,
we now call them "floodmarks".
Did you ever see someone with ADD paint spindles? That was fun

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Painting Toronto Blog

vinylguy

it can be just the oppisite too! like the one crew i have the forman is always telling everyone how great he is and how great his work looks but the guys get sick of hearing him and wish he would tell them how nice thier work looks! he always has to be the man

airborneSGT

I worked for a G.C. and I always hated when he was around or was just constantly micro managing me. When I just worked for his lead carpenter it was fine.

When he let me work a little more independent with just a small crew everything was great. I worked with a couple guys and it was always a competition to see who could get more done before the end of the day.

Getting a good crew together always seems difficult. I have found even when you pay people more it does not always fix problems with certain employees.

Susan Betz

Well said.

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Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

Amber

Employess want the same thing as the rest of us. Respect and acknowledgment for a job well done. I used to show up and spot checik jobsites. My crews never minded. They were confident in their work and I made sure to let them know that they were doing a good job. The few instances were there were problems I made sure that I gathered everyone together and all though I lead the conversation we trouble shot the problem together.

woodmagman

It is different having the company owner on site and a foreman on site...

woodmagman

Pull him aside, tell him the solution...put his mouth up against their abilities. He may be as good as he thinks he is, or may not. Sometimes you need to go back to the tools to remember why you are doing what you doing now...Remove him of his duties for a day or two, take away his cell phone and put him up against the best you have.....Don't make a big deal of it just let him know that you would like him to do what the guys are doing as a refresher coarse in management...

L. B. Condulet

The duty of a manager is to maintain the value people see in their jobs. A manager needs to maintain a culture where people take pride in their jobs and a work ethic thrives.

You need to identify problem employees and try to turn them around and make them members of the team, but if their attitude can't be corrected, they must go immediately. You owe this to the others.

If you allow a slacker and bellyacher to remain in your employ, the overall morale of the workforce will decline.

MattCoops

right on,

The One Minute Manager is a good read

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more