Problem employee

[freddy_star]

Hello,

I am new to the forum, and was wondering if someone would be able to offer me some advice with regards to an employee I have.

Basically, I have been having trouble with her for a few weeks, as she is quite moody and can be quite aggressive towards authority. However, on other days she is lovely and a great asset - I can normally tell what kind of mood she is in as soon as she comes into the salon, as on bad days she won't even say good morning!

Anyway, her moodiness is starting to be picked up by clients and I think damaging the business. So, the other day, I tried to speak to her, and asked if there was something bothering her, or anything upsetting her that we could resolve.... she got quite aggressive and said that she hates me asking her during the day "if she is ok" and that I shouldn't speak to her at all in the mornings!!! She is my employee may I add....

A couple of days ago she was in a mood, and managed to cut her finger in the salon, we put a plaster on it and some dettol spray -it was quite a small cut, so I thought that was the end of it. However this stylist does a lot of plaiting as part of her role, and refused to do any of her clients that involved plaiting, as it hurt her finger too much. I just gritted my teeth and said it was ok, and cancelled four clients that day (as there is no-one else that can do what she can do in the salon). The following day, she again refused to do any plaiting,so again I cancelled 3 clients and said it may be best if she takes the afternoon off sick as she had no further appointments, it may help herfinger to heal and I also needed a break from her mood too. The next morning, I was off work, so I called up to see how she was. She was again in a mood, so I tried to keep the conversation as short as possible, I asked how her finger was, and if she thought she may be able to do a couple of clients that morning, she said it still wasn't better and she couldn't do it, I politely accepted this, but then asked "when do you think your finger may be better,so that I can re-book the clients", to this she said that she didn't know, but was very aggressive and shouted it at me. I asked her not to shout at me, as I think it was a legitimate question - one which the clients had asked me as they wanted to re-book next week. I was about to ask her again, but then she hung up the phone on me and marched out of the salon, leaving in the knowledge that she had four clients that she was able to do that day, wthout any cover to do them. I had to call them up and cancel their appointments, plus I was furious that an employee would react to me like that. She has not called me, and I have not called her since (this happened yesterday). I am not sure what I should do.. any ideas?

She is a full time stylist, paid weekly. May I also add that I have done a lot for this stylist, such as helped her move house several times, drove about 2.5 hours to move all her belongings to my area when she first started. She was attacked the other month, and I spent 4 hours in the police station after receiving a frantic phone call from her,and then let her sleep on my sofa for a night, as she had nowhere to stay....

Thanks all and sorry it is a long post...

 

[persianista]

How long has she worked for you? If less than a year, get rid.
If it is more than a year, you need to begin disciplinary proceedings. Keep a diary of all events.
Specialist companies can give you HR support for a monthly fee. The best known one is peninsula.
Best of luck x

 

[kimi1101]

do you have a contract with this girl? abandoning work could be classed as misconduct, which you could sack her for, depending on how long she has worked for. if it is under 12 months, she can be layed off for pretty much any reason, obv not race or sexual discrimination, or any kind of discrimination. after one year, it becomes much more difficult, needing verbal warnings etc. do you have a lawyer? i pay for an employment lawyer and its helped me loads. i pay £60 an hour and pay for 5 hours in advance, then if i call him, he takes the amount of time off my allowance. its worth it for me.

anyway, i wouldnt want her back in my salon. a cut finger?! what, 3 days she couldnt work cos she cut her finger?! cant plait?! in the words of persianista...is she hankering for the dole queue?!

good luck. i know personally how stressful these situations can be.

 

[abicrunch]

Hello,

I am new to the forum, and was wondering if someone would be able to offer me some advice with regards to an employee I have.

Basically, I have been having trouble with her for a few weeks, as she is quite moody and can be quite aggressive towards authority. However, on other days she is lovely and a great asset - I can normally tell what kind of mood she is in as soon as she comes into the salon, as on bad days she won't even say good morning!

Anyway, her moodiness is starting to be picked up by clients and I think damaging the business. So, the other day, I tried to speak to her, and asked if there was something bothering her, or anything upsetting her that we could resolve.... she got quite aggressive and said that she hates me asking her during the day "if she is ok" and that I shouldn't speak to her at all in the mornings!!! She is my employee may I add....

A couple of days ago she was in a mood, and managed to cut her finger in the salon, we put a plaster on it and some dettol spray -it was quite a small cut, so I thought that was the end of it. However this stylist does a lot of plaiting as part of her role, and refused to do any of her clients that involved plaiting, as it hurt her finger too much. I just gritted my teeth and said it was ok, and cancelled four clients that day (as there is no-one else that can do what she can do in the salon). The following day, she again refused to do any plaiting,so again I cancelled 3 clients and said it may be best if she takes the afternoon off sick as she had no further appointments, it may help herfinger to heal and I also needed a break from her mood too. The next morning, I was off work, so I called up to see how she was. She was again in a mood, so I tried to keep the conversation as short as possible, I asked how her finger was, and if she thought she may be able to do a couple of clients that morning, she said it still wasn't better and she couldn't do it, I politely accepted this, but then asked "when do you think your finger may be better,so that I can re-book the clients", to this she said that she didn't know, but was very aggressive and shouted it at me. I asked her not to shout at me, as I think it was a legitimate question - one which the clients had asked me as they wanted to re-book next week. I was about to ask her again, but then she hung up the phone on me and marched out of the salon, leaving in the knowledge that she had four clients that she was able to do that day, wthout any cover to do them. I had to call them up and cancel their appointments, plus I was furious that an employee would react to me like that. She has not called me, and I have not called her since (this happened yesterday). I am not sure what I should do.. any ideas?

She is a full time stylist, paid weekly. May I also add that I have done a lot for this stylist, such as helped her move house several times, drove about 2.5 hours to move all her belongings to my area when she first started. She was attacked the other month, and I spent 4 hours in the police station after receiving a frantic phone call from her,and then let her sleep on my sofa for a night, as she had nowhere to stay....

Thanks all and sorry it is a long post...

Personally I think you know what to do, I think she is taking advantage of your good nature. This is not the way you should trerat your boss, maybe give her a warning first, go down the propert routes first, maybe verbgal warnihng then written warning and then third strike means she is out. You cant run a business with an employee like that. You are well withing your rights to get rid but like I said follow the rules and then you shouldnt get any come backs. Good luck. Abi

 

[freddy_star]

Thanks to you both for your replies, she became an employee with a contract in October 2009, however, she worked for us on a freelance basis for four months before that. Would this class as being employed for less than a year? How would I go about getting rid of her, a letter, or is there a procedure for someone under a year?

Also, can I take the cost of losing the clients from her weekly wage, as it was horrible canceling them, as some were obviously very unhappy about it, and I don't blame them.

I did do a contract with her, one which I found on the internet.

 

[kimi1101]

i would speak to her verbally, then give her a written conformation of termination of employment. on final payslip, have it noted what is pay, what is holiday pay etc.

i know you may miss out on money but there is plenty of people looking for jobs, and i your clients are complaning about her...you may be losing clients by her being there. x

 

[kimi1101]

sorry didnt read your last post. no you cant deduct it from her, although you can try to claim it back once you have paid her, its not worth your while money wise thoguh, employment laws are geared towards the employee. iv just dealt with a similar situation and it sucks from the employers point of view but youll feel better when the dust settles. x

 

[persianista]

Getting damages from an ex-employee would cost you more in legals than you would get. The freelance period doesnt count as employment. If she went on your payroll Oct 09, you can dismiss verbally, then follow it with a letter. You should not allow her to work her notice (legal min is a week but depends on your contract) but pay her instead.

Difficult, melodramatic, moody employees do not get better, they get worse. They damage your salon and your peace of mind, trust me I have had more than my fair share!

 

[freddy_star]

Thanks to you all again. I really appreciate your replies, this is the first time anything like this has happened to me.... maybe I have been too much of a softie and should have installed discipline from the start... at least I have learn't a lesson

 

[kimi1101]

was the same. let staff away with things i shouldnt have. but its a lesson learnt...you'll not make the same mistake again. keep us posted x

 

[foundlings]

I have had to work alongside someone who was exactly the same as this and it was incredibly frustrating that there never appeared to be any comeback from our salon owners at the time, I think it is imperative to protect the reputation of your salon as it is amazing how one person really can control the mood and feel of a place, and the job satisfaction of other employees!

My experience was over 5 years ago and I still refuse to be to get into a position of employing people purely for fear of coming accross the same scenario, it put me off that much! So don't feel bad, you're protecting yourself and other staff just by dealing with one difficult person x

 

[JesseDavidNailDesign]

She is a full time stylist, paid weekly. May I also add that I have done a lot for this stylist, such as helped her move house several times, drove about 2.5 hours to move all her belongings to my area when she first started. She was attacked the other month, and I spent 4 hours in the police station after receiving a frantic phone call from her,and then let her sleep on my sofa for a night, as she had nowhere to stay....

Thanks all and sorry it is a long post...

I know this is not your problem, but this part of the story has jumped out at me. She is obviously going through alot emotionally, and is taking it out on you.

Not sure how the employment laws work in the UK, but if you have until October of this year to fire her with no other consequence, I would try to explain to her that you feel for her, but just can't run your business that way. Maybe you can put her on leave until she gets her head on straight.

There's got to be something that is causing you to have compassion for her. And you seem like such a caring person (to help her move and all). She obviously is crying out for any kind of attention she can get.

What's her story?

 

[persianista]

I know this is not your problem, but this part of the story has jumped out at me. She is obviously going through alot emotionally, and is taking it out on you.

Not sure how the employment laws work in the UK, but if you have until October of this year to fire her with no other consequence, I would try to explain to her that you feel for her, but just can't run your business that way. Maybe you can put her on leave until she gets her head on straight.

There's got to be something that is causing you to have compassion for her. And you seem like such a caring person (to help her move and all). She obviously is crying out for any kind of attention she can get.

What's her story?

You are correct, it's not his problem. The moment for kindness and understanding has long passed here. As an employer, your role is different from that of a friend, never forget you are paying them.

The moment you become an employees friend, they stop being good employees. They see the friendship in a different light to you. They see it as a green light to take advantage, feeling safe in the knowledge that their "friend" would never sack them.

These employees have a terrible effect on the rest of the salon, and it demotivates other employees.

My best advice, through years of getting it wrong, is to keep your relationship with employees professional only.

 

[JesseDavidNailDesign]

You are correct, it's not his problem. The moment for kindness and understanding has long passed here. As an employer, your role is different from that of a friend, never forget you are paying them.

The moment you become an employees friend, they stop being good employees. They see the friendship in a different light to you. They see it as a green light to take advantage, feeling safe in the knowledge that their "friend" would never sack them.

These employees have a terrible effect on the rest of the salon, and it demotivates other employees.

My best advice, through years of getting it wrong, is to keep your relationship with employees professional only.

Looking at the whole situation again, I have to agree with you. Definately can't tolerate that behaviour because it will infect the staff.