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Stubborn employees
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Stubborn employees
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I just went from being a retail manager, to a practice manager at a small health clinic that is open 7 days a week. Being brought in as a new-hire manager has already made some of the employees questi
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Forums » Topic Forums » General Forum » Stubborn employees
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Stubborn employees
posted at 2/24/2013 7:28 PM EST
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 12
First: 2/24/2013 Last: 5/7/2013 |
I just went from being a retail manager, to a practice manager at a small health clinic that is open 7 days a week. Being brought in as a new-hire manager has already made some of the employees question me I'm sure, but I'm worried at their reluctancy to change and try new things. For example, while I brought up a template of a new paraprofessional schedule to show what the coverage we need on a daily basis and they were not happy, and warned me that one employee in particular would "flat out refuse" to work past 5 (we're open until 7 most nights, and need to have two nurses in until 7 to really provide good healthcare). I let them know I'm more than willing to work with the schedule so those who aren't comfortable with longer shifts work more frequent, split shifts. But you can't assume some people can work 8-5 M-F, and have everyone else pick up the slack. While I've had to clean house of Negative Nancies in previous management positions before, we're already short-staffed currently and I don't want to press anything too much to the point where I could lose more people before I've even had a chance to start. Any advice on how to deal with associates who are so stubborn they refuse to change their ways? I know I'm the boss, and I set the rules even if they aren't popular, but I don't want to start off on the wrong foot either and lead with "because I'm the boss." My only thought is that if someone refuses to work a certain shift, their hours will just get cut and they'll either have to suck up a smaller paycheck, or be more flexible.
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Re: Stubborn employees
posted at 2/25/2013 1:31 PM EST
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 221
First: 9/29/2011 Last: 5/2/2013 |
This is a very, very touchy situation as I'm sure you well realize. Your new employees will be watching very closely to see how you deal with your potential problem employee. Allow her to not work past 5PM and you'll have others pushing the behavior envelope in this area and quite possibly other areas. Lay down the law to her and follow disciplinary guidelines if she refuses to work past 5PM and you may lose her but the others will think twice before refusing work assignments. So, bottom line is that you can lose one uncooperative employee or you can lose the respect of all the others. The latter will cause you major headaches down the road. My recommendation would be to keep this at as low a level as possible. I suggest that you not rely on other employees input but sit down with your potential problem in a one on one. If you can get her to work until 7, great. If she has a major problem to deal with that prevents her working past 5PM (eg, child care), then see if there's a work around. If she's just wanting to go home at 5PM because its happy hour, then you have the "it's not fair to the other employees, these are the new rules and if you don't follow them I'll have to follow our progressive discipline process" conversation. Keep notes of the conversation for future reference. |
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Re: Stubborn employees
posted at 2/25/2013 1:35 PM EST
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 180
First: 9/21/2011 Last: 5/14/2013 |
My only suggestion is to try not to make too many changes too quickly. Try to get their input as much as you can but with the expectation that there will be changes needed. One other thing to remember is that there is history of why things are done the way they are. Sometimes those employees know something that could keep you from making a big mistake...they may just be grumpy or it may have been tried before and not worked. |
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Re: Stubborn employees
posted at 2/25/2013 6:26 PM EST
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 215
First: 9/20/2011 Last: 5/14/2013 |
In Response to Re: Stubborn employees: Sage advice from Ms RRupert Posted by nork4 Plus you may wish to chat and get the sage advice of your new boss that just hired you. |
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Re: Stubborn employees
posted at 2/25/2013 7:41 PM EST
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 12
First: 2/24/2013 Last: 5/7/2013 |
Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. A lot of the comments have already crossed my mind - I'm definitely trying not to change too much at once and turn the clinic upside down. I also don't want to get a quick judgement of being a pushover who can't/won't enforce expectations. Prior to me, there really wasn't anyone in this position. They had been searching for someone for awhile. As far as turnover goes in other positions, I've heard there's been a LOT, primarily because of the way the main Dr treats everyone. She's been nothing but polite to me so far but I've heard she yells at a lot of the employees pretty frequently. I was told a couple weeks ago she even went so far as to make a receptionist cry. I know there is zero trust/respect among most of the staff there, probably because when they didn't have a real manager for so long, it defaulted to the Dr who wasn't the best leader. I lightly spoke with my boss about some of the issues (not going into the drama of how no one gets along with the Dr)....he basically said what I already knew, that it's crap that someone would refuse to work after 5 and she came into this position knowing our hours and that she'd be expected to work them. He also expected a decent amount of turnover at my hospital once I implemented some changes, and didn't seem impressed with the personalities of most of the staff. In any case, he was just promoted and I now have another temporary boss for the next 2-3 months while my permanent boss who was just hired in is training. Never a dull moment...
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Re: Stubborn employees
posted at 4/10/2013 10:26 AM EDT
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 3
First: 5/23/2012 Last: 4/10/2013 |
People don’t like change as a rule so the one on one thing with potential problem employees is a good idea. It can help soften the blow so to speak as you get comfortable with a new position. |
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Re: Stubborn employees
posted at 4/14/2013 5:00 PM EDT
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 12
First: 2/24/2013 Last: 5/7/2013 |
Quick update on this situation (also related to another post, about associate's concerns with our main Dr) - After going to HR regarding the associate's concerns with our main Dr, I was asked to gather written accounts from the employees detailing specific instances where they felt uncomfortable. After more than a week of proding, only one associate sent an e-mail to HR. All the others seemed to stay away from putting their name behind any written records. I told them without it, there wasn't much I could do to help them as I had never witnessed any of these situations first-hand. Their lack of documenting the situations when help was offered makes it seem that their issues may not be as big as they voice them. Still, it's an issue to me that the associates don't feel comfortable using our primary physician. Instead they'll wait until a relief Dr is available. One in particular is very outspoken (behind the Dr's back, of course) of her refusal to go to the Dr for anything. It's really creating a toxic environment, and with some new staff coming on board, I don't want them getting the negative influence from current employees. When I came on board I had heard many things about the Dr, mostly negative. I know had I not come in with an open mind, things would be MUCH different now, and we wouldn't be working together and moving forward as a hospital. But now I need to get the associates on board, and I don't know how to repair whatever damage was done in the past. On top of that, I've had some serious issues in the past couple of weeks with certain associates being completely unprofessional with their conduct. Being rude, going behind my back and the Dr's to teach associates things outside their position, and a complete lack of accountability for themselves. I have not written anyone up just yet, but this week we are having a meeting that I am devoting entirely to talking about inter-hospital issues and *my* expectations of conduct and professionalism at work. I feel now that I have begun pulling people aside and holding them accountable for their actions, I'm being put in the same box of evil-people-we-hate that they put the Dr in. I'm a little concerned with how things will be after this meeting, so wish me luck :)
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Re: Stubborn employees
posted at 4/22/2013 3:22 AM EDT
on Workforce Management
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Posts: 1
First: 4/22/2013 Last: 4/22/2013 |
I'm pretty sure that your company has some guidelines regarding employees who refuse to follow the work schedule. You have to be firm with your decision and make sure that you use the company's guidelines for disciplinary action purposes. |
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