Forgetful Employee - What to do?

[APanda]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 03 August 2012 at 12:48

[budgie smuggler]

Can you/the employee not set up a todo list in outlook or similar? Sorry if i've missed the point here, but relying on somebody to remember to do something is a bit risky at the best of times.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Wednesday 18th July 13:45

[Mr Gearchange]

Said employees job is to remember to send things out on time to the right people.
Said employee doesn't do this.

Why on earth would you want to keep them on? They seem fundementally unable to undertake the basic task required.

Verbal warning - written warning - sack. Get someone else.

[Robb F]

You have an employee whose job it is to 'make sure everything is correct and in order and then sent out promptly and on time'

and they send stuff out wrong, late or maybe not at all and has cost you money directly as well as potentially a lot more money due to lack of repeat business?

And you would rather keep them on in the same job than get someone new? Is it not possible to move this person sideways to a better suited role and employ someone actully capable of doing the job in hand?

(personally they would have already had their P45, but we don't know the full circumstances)

[APanda]

budgie smuggler said:

Can you/the employee not set up a todo list in outlook or similar? Sorry if i've missed the point here, but relying on somebody to remember to do something is a bit risky at the best of times.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Wednesday 18th July 13:45

The issue is, all the info and schedule is there, it's been missed and not actioned. The excuse is 'I don't know I just missed it sorry'.

Robb F said:

Is it not possible to move this person sideways to a better suited role and employ someone actully capable of doing the job in hand?

(personally they would have already had their P45, but we don't know the full circumstances)

To be honest there's some politics with our company chairman, being family/business friends and all. The other thing is, it's an important but very simple job, I'm not quite sure what they could do that's more simple.

[Honestherbert]

APanda said:

it's an important but very simple job, I'm not quite sure what they could do that's more simple.

I think you have just answered your own question unfortunately.

[KrazyIvan]

APanda said:

it's an important but very simple job, I'm not quite sure what they could do that's more simple.

Then I am sure there is more then one competent young person in your local area who would just love the chance to prove they are worth employing over your current employee.

Edited by KrazyIvan on Wednesday 18th July 15:12

[APanda]

I don't think letting them go is an option, that ones out of our hands. Is there any suggestions on improving the employee and their methods besides telling them off?

[MP85]

I work format very large company who's training and development department is huge, and I know there is. Option should I wish to o on a time management and productivity course (in house or external company led).

I'm sure these must be widely available by training and development companies.

Some really rate the courses highly.

[Robb F]

He doesn't need training, you even said the job was as simple as they come, he needs an attitude change.

[Burrow01]

APanda said:

To be honest there's some politics with our company chairman, being family/business friends and all. The other thing is, it's an important but very simple job, I'm not quite sure what they could do that's more simple.

Sounds like they know they are fireproof and don't really care......

[New POD]

APanda said:

To be honest there's some politics with our company chairman, being family/business friends and all. The other thing is, it's an important but very simple job, I'm not quite sure what they could do that's more simple.

I'd ask them what to do about it, and say that you would have given them a written warning already if it wasn't for the fact that they are friends.

[HoHoHo]

If you can't teach or discipline this employee (because they're too stupid and/or part of the family) why on earth are you asking the PH massive for help?

Either take the bull by the horns and sort the employee in a professional fashion regardless of the relationship or live with the losses because you're too scared to upset Daddy.

End of thread.

[clarkmagpie]

Would a simple tick list do?
Start of the day/week and tick off the jobs as and when they are done?
Once they are in a set routine then it should become second nature.

[Xerstead]

Create a list of cockups that have cost the company and speak to the boss about your concearns in pivate.
Hopefully the boss will have a word with them or let you know what to do next.

[Gargamel]

So fwiw here is my view

1. Regardless of how well defended this person is, sit them down and lay out for them the impact on the business of these errors

2 Ask them to come up with suggestions for a change in the work process to ensure greater efficiency or accuracy in their work.

3. Quantify the commercial impact and costs to the business of these errors, new ones only don't go backwards. This is your evidence should you need it in the future.

4. Create a simple incentive, given weekly (timely) for error free weeks. I'd suggest around 5% level or similar

So clear the air, tell them in a clear way that their performance is below what is required, ask them to participate in changing it and incentivise this.

[The Restorer]

Losses of tens of thousands. Suggest a new role for him that hes more suited to ;-) (won't cost the company as much) and hire someone that appreciates the opportunity.

[Efbe]

APanda said:

budgie smuggler said:

Can you/the employee not set up a todo list in outlook or similar? Sorry if i've missed the point here, but relying on somebody to remember to do something is a bit risky at the best of times.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Wednesday 18th July 13:45

The issue is, all the info and schedule is there, it's been missed and not actioned. The excuse is 'I don't know I just missed it sorry'.

Then it sounds like forgetfulness is not this guys problem, something else is.

In what format is his current schedule, workload?

I would suggest that if it is currently electronic, then make it paper based, or vice versa.
As a development plan get him to write his schedule&deadlines as a very brief list and hand it to you every morning, either e-mail or paper; whichever he doesn't use now.

Ths WILL come across as condescending, so if he is within your team make everyone do it, as a 'training exercise' for a few weeks or something.

[STW2010]

The Restorer said:

Losses of tens of thousands. Suggest a new role for him that hes more suited to ;-) (won't cost the company as much) and hire someone that appreciates the opportunity.

I agree with this. Get them to clean the toilets and bring you coffee, surely that isn't too hard for them.

I cannot stand incompetence, especially when it affects me at work.

[Light n Hairy]

Unless I'm missing something, you still seem to have some faith in this person. Makes me think they are of some kind of value to you.

Therefore, it's worth also mentioning, and it's not a copout, that there may be something amiss with their head (depression, alcohol etc??).
If they have always been bad at the job, more fool your company for letting it continue. If they have become bad lately, but for some reason are not able to come clean about what's causing this drop, it may be best to build up some social currency with them for a bit and then talk to them about what's going on that they may need help with. Are they looking after themselves in other ways? Are they looking dishevelled/demoralised etc? And maybe work with HR to get them seen by Occ Health our similar. ..