Memorygirls - The Matrix Re-inspired

Dorastar

Tenmah - sounds like you need to find out what happened first - was he chatting? talking about a work related thing? sharing holiday pics? supping 7 brews and generally lolling around and making sure everyone else was disturbed from their work? They are very different scenarios and also given the other managers previous there may be some half truths in there for good measure. Is there anyone else in there you trust to ask on the quiet before discussing it with the technician?

Or you could go straight to him and ask in very general terms how the job is going and how the whole 'doing other stuff because there isn't enough to do out there' is going. It sounds from your post that the other manager and you don't love each other much either so I would make sure you do it in your time rather than as a reaction to them.

The third option, and tbh probably the one I would go for is to fact find for a period of time - set yourself a deadline of say 3 weeks and try to observe what is really happening. This way you will be able to judge more clearly how often/when/if this is happening and be able to also shoot a warning shot across the technicians bows so he has a chance to realise he has been slacking (if this is the case) or he can choose to carry on, in which case you then have every right to speak to him about it armed with your own knowledge. Even in this case I would still start with the positives "I know the change in your role might have been a difficult transition for you but I have noticed over the last few weeks that we really need to look again at your workload, is there anything we could sort out as you seem to spend a lot of time in the office chatting to colleagues and I know you wouldn't like to be seen as letting us down...etc" (Then you can shoot him for being a lazy slacker if you so wish :rotfl:)

Sorry marathon post - back to reports now honest. !!!! am with scottish power:(

Dorastar

Double checked and am on capped rate till next Feb:jPhew!

tenmah

Thanks Dorastar, some great ideas there I can use. I really don't like being a manager at times

Bitsy_Beans

LOL My H has been home and we've both been discussing how we both feel "meh" Great minds think alike obviously Actually I think my H knocked the nail on the head........we've a few things unfinished, conservatory, bought a tent but don't have all the gubbins we need to go away......really daft things really but it all feels like it's hanging and neither of us like that. However as my H just said just remember by the end of the year everything we are planning will be done and in place so I suppose that should be my new mantra.

Off to wade my way through Self Assessment online.......sorry EH but I think chocolate IS needed Still at least I am being mindful about it

Susan - More surgery, poor you. And 3 lots of anti b's........hope you'll be back on your feet soon xxx

Triciaxx

Dorastar wrote: »

Tenmah - sounds like you need to find out what happened first - was he chatting? talking about a work related thing? sharing holiday pics? supping 7 brews and generally lolling around and making sure everyone else was disturbed from their work? They are very different scenarios and also given the other managers previous there may be some half truths in there for good measure. Is there anyone else in there you trust to ask on the quiet before discussing it with the technician?

Or you could go straight to him and ask in very general terms how the job is going and how the whole 'doing other stuff because there isn't enough to do out there' is going. It sounds from your post that the other manager and you don't love each other much either so I would make sure you do it in your time rather than as a reaction to them.

The third option, and tbh probably the one I would go for is to fact find for a period of time - set yourself a deadline of say 3 weeks and try to observe what is really happening. This way you will be able to judge more clearly how often/when/if this is happening and be able to also shoot a warning shot across the technicians bows so he has a chance to realise he has been slacking (if this is the case) or he can choose to carry on, in which case you then have every right to speak to him about it armed with your own knowledge. Even in this case I would still start with the positives "I know the change in your role might have been a difficult transition for you but I have noticed over the last few weeks that we really need to look again at your workload, is there anything we could sort out as you seem to spend a lot of time in the office chatting to colleagues and I know you wouldn't like to be seen as letting us down...etc" (Then you can shoot him for being a lazy slacker if you so wish :rotfl:)

I agree with Dorastar and would go for option 3 if possible. Option 1 has the potential for seeming to have favourites - unless you have a deputy? Option 2 does have some advantages, though I would be careful not to make this in any way confrontational. Perhaps there is a role for him beyond his technician's role that you could bring him along in? Also, if he really doesn't have enough to do, you do need to give him extra duties - my guess is that if he was really slacking he wouldn't be doing it in the office.

Other manager could be stirring or genuine - I don't know, but you sound as if you have doubts about his motivation. Whatever you do, cover your back! Does this other manager have a wider agenda which includes you? Is he empire building? "I told her about this ages ago - here is the email I sent on xx/xx/xx." They don't call me Marvin the paranoid android for nothing. :cool: Fire an email back, possibly asking what he was observed doing and who else can corroborate this.

I always hated office politics. :mad::mad:

greenbee

Cheri - when I heard HRH on the radio I thought that might be what you were up to! Well done!

Tenmah - my suggestion would just be to have a chat reminding him that if he needs to go into the office he should be considerate torts those working there. Often people who work out on the road forget that the office is somewhere that others have to work quietly. Make sure he realises that you understand that he needs to use the time to catch up with people and work on building and maintaining working relationships. And then point out to him that he should keep his chats brief to avoid other people getting into trouble for chatting and neglecting their work. That way he knows you know, but also that you've given him the benefit of the doubt and have assumed that he was there for work purposes. How long was he there for? He might have been on a break and wanted some company before going home.... Anyway, make sure you come across as reasonable but make it clear that not everyone is lucky enough to have such an understanding manager

Any chance of some vibes for tomorrow? I'm expecting a call from my consultant with histology results. If they're bad, then it's a hysterectomy, which as well as being major surgery means a lot of emotional adjustment to deal with the fact that i won't ever be able to have children. So I'm hoping that it's nothing, but won't know till I get the call

InaPickle

greenbee wrote: »

Any chance of some vibes for tomorrow? I'm expecting a call from my consultant with histology results. If they're bad, then it's a hysterectomy, which as well as being major surgery means a lot of emotional adjustment to deal with the fact that i won't ever be able to have children. So I'm hoping that it's nothing, but won't know till I get the call

Extra specially positive vibes for that, greenbee. Although, even if it does go ahead, can you not freeze your eggs so that even if you can't physically give birth, you can become a biological mum with the help of a donor?

But it's not going to come to that, is it? *Shakes head vigorously*

Bitsy_Beans

Lots of positive vibes Greenbee and have a virtual hug from whilst we're at it xxxxx

Get me, tax return submitted, just printing off proof of incomes for Building Society to email to lady at BS, that conservatory is now a step closer to becoming reality

MrsMoo2U

clairewop wrote: »

Lol I live just outside Cardiff and I didn't know the Royals were coming here.

:rotfl::rotfl:Claire, I couldnt have dropped bigger hints for you love. Really made me laugh.

Memory_Girl wrote: »

Me too -:rotfl::rotfl:

And when we get Hollywood - remember I got first dibs on Gabriel Byrne
Ononly if I can have Robert Downey Jnr

BTW Fanatsia - I say this lovingly as a friend, BUT B****Y NORA WOMAN ....................

rehousing dogs
huge family crisis
new job
giving up smoking

The Frogs you have been chomping have not been recognisable to you as Frogs cos they are the size of bleeding Godzilla's!!!!!!

So even if you are not admitting it to yourself .......... YOU ARE FABULOUS!!!!
I second this.

MG

tenmah wrote: »

I would be grateful for any tips from managers please? I manage a technician who visits homes and installs grab rails, lever taps and other minor items. He doesn't have enough to keep him occupied all day every day, so we have given him some other work to do which means he doesn't need to come back to the office unless I phone him to say I have a job for him.

This afternoon I had an email from another manager in the company asking me to talk to my technician as he seems to be spending too much time in the office. He was apparently in the office from 3.30pm today talking to someone (I was off site at a meeting).

Part of me wants to tell this other manager to butt out as it is nothing to do with him, but actually he does have a point and it should be addressed if my technician is not working 100% of the time. This other manager has had it in for my technician from day one though, so it is all office politics as usual!
I would suggest that if the technician is not supposed to be in the office, even tho the other manager might annoy you and there may be some jibes going on he does have a right to tell you that this is happening and may be trying to help (much as you might not like it, they are a manager too)

I am not sure what to say to my technician - First I need to ask him what he was doing at the office at 3.30pm I presume, just in case he has a good reason for being there (which he will, because he has an answer for everything). It is very difficult because I like to be liked as a manager but don't want anyone to think they can walk over me.
I agree that you need to give him the chance to explain. Just mention that you had understood him to be in the office and ask if there was a problem that you should know about. Consider his answer before acting upon it. He may have had a good reason.

So if anyone can offer tips on what to say and how to say it, I would be grateful!

Whilst I tend to agree with the others about waiting and watching I do also think that you should have some kind of Keep in Touch meetings in place with him to regularly review what is happening. Say every 2 weeks if he is out of the office all the time or monthly if he has times in the office. That would give you the opportunity to bring up things like this without it seeming as if you are "picking" on him.

Thanks again everybody for the good vibes. I really did appreciate them as I was quite nervous. Strangely I ended up being the calm one and my boss said that I appeared very serene and in control compared to others. It was the most fantastic experience. The best bit was seeing the reactions from the young people and realising that it helped them to feel completely valued and worthwhile. I was very proud of them all and I have to say that it was one of the most emotional days of my life.

Susan, glad to see you back, hope that you are on the mend now.
Bitsy, there is nothing worse than feeling like there are several things unfinished, it will all come together eventually.
MG. Well done on finishing the blogs, you are really steaming ahead now.
Cheery - and why would you be surprised to be told that you are fantastically wonderfully competent? You are and it shines through in every post.
TMIF - what can I say that everybody else hasnt already said. I agree that when the intimacy wains it can really magnify everything else. You need to take a step back and really work out what is going on. Well done for having the courage to post and take that first step in working it out. Communication is so important. There could be many reasons why this is happening, either on your part or his but it can be resolved. Remember though that acknowledging that you have a problem is the first step in moving it forwards.

Ok, I am just back from a restaurant and still feel on a bit of high so I am going to the hotel bar and treating myself to a well earned red wine.

PS - going to the bar ha nothing to do with the fact that there are 150 squaddies in the hotel HONEST

susan946

greenbee wrote: »

Any chance of some vibes for tomorrow? I'm expecting a call from my consultant with histology results. If they're bad, then it's a hysterectomy, which as well as being major surgery means a lot of emotional adjustment to deal with the fact that i won't ever be able to have children. So I'm hoping that it's nothing, but won't know till I get the call

Greenbee - Buckets full of positive vibes winging your way. Know that whatever tomorrow brings you are a strong woman and you will cope.

tenmah wrote: »

It is very difficult because I like to be liked as a manager but don't want anyone to think they can walk over me.

So if anyone can offer tips on what to say and how to say it, I would be grateful!

Tenmah - There is some very good advice on here. I think you need to make your own observations, bung off that email as suggested, and maybe keep a log of what action you take - but maybe keep it off site so that nobody can 'come across it accidentally'! Keep your backside safe!

I'm afraid being a manager means you cannot always be liked by everyone. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, take the bull by the horns (add any other relevant metaphor to the mix) and accept that in doing the job you are going to have to ruffle a few feathers!!

Sue