Help needed...how to get rid of a "difficult" volunteer

Annie1965_2

Hi,
I've been a longtime lurker but have never felt the need to post before now.
I run a small charity shop in the south. All my volunteers are wonderful except for one. We took him on about 4 months ago despite reservations about his ability to do the job and he has done nothing but make my life a misery since. He is always late. And I mean always. While he was working the till money kept going missing, however we couldn't prove anything so we removed him from the till and put him in back of house duties.
He is lazy. He doesn't want to do the jobs asked of him and spends the vast majority of his time on his phone or doing non charity related stuff.
I have gotten rid of him twice for no shows/lateness however both times he has gone over my head and concocted a sob story so I have been forced to take him back.
I have had enough now. He is bringing the moral of the rest of my team down, they are fed up and so am I.
What on earth do I do with this person?

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.
Annie

Leo2020

Why would someone volunteer if they don't actually contribute anything? When you say he spends his time doing non-charity related stuff his he using charity equipment and resources to do this? If he is may be you could explain to the managers higher up that he is actually costing the charity money. That should get him booted pretty quick I would have thought.

If not then you should explain that he is bringing the morale of your team down and therefore effecting how they work - i.e. not being as productive as they used to be - again effecting the charities earnings.

Itsgottabedone

How frustrating to have your line manager failing to back you up twice! You need to make it clear to him/her that not only are the rest of the team demoralised but that you feel that your judgement and authority are being questioned which is making you unhappy, too. Perhaps the fear of losing an entire team will force the line manager to reconsider what to do about your rogue volunteer. (I'd try imply this, rather than spell it out unless I really was willing to resign from my position!).

You'll know whether it's better to do this face-to-face or in writing. I wish you luck - do let us know what happens!

SCOYA

It may be that this volunteer has been requested to do volunteer work via the Job Centre, I know that in the shop that I volunteer in there is a guy who has come from the job centre, that said, boy he works so hard - horses for courses unfortunately, some people are just lazy.

I would speak with your manager/area manager and advise them of the situation, I'm certain they will get on board with your plans once they fully understand the problems he causes, directly or indirectly, particularly with regard to morale - other volunteers may consider leaving because of him.

Good luck, I hope you get a successful outcome.

Annie1965_2

Hi Leo,
Thanks for your reply.
It's my higher ups who have told me I have to take him back.
Basically he's only volunteering to get a reference/job out of it. In 4 months he has been at least 30 minutes late every time he's supposed to be in, if he shows up at all. When he's there he's either on his phone texting or pottering about checking himself in the mirror (the most vain person I have ever come across!)
He then will pop out as he's hungry or has an errand to run etc etc.
He's very very good at playing the wounded hard done by man. He's lied about various things (can't really get into it on here) plus we had the issues of money going missing out of the till.
I have vols who are working with me to better themselves and really believe in the work the charity is doing. They are not in it for their own ends while this guy plainly is and has told me as much.
My higher ups have fallen for the sob story/manipulation and are forcing my hand. I've have repeatedly tried to explain to them what having this man in the shop is doing to the rest of my volunteers however they can't seem to see past the sob stories he spins for them.
I am going to start documenting everything in the hopes that I can build a case to present to my higher ups.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this
Annie

gardner1

Annie1965 wrote: »

Hi,
I've been a longtime lurker but have never felt the need to post before now.
I run a small charity shop in the south. All my volunteers are wonderful except for one. We took him on about 4 months ago despite reservations about his ability to do the job and he has done nothing but make my life a misery since. He is always late. And I mean always. While he was working the till money kept going missing, however we couldn't prove anything so we removed him from the till and put him in back of house duties.
He is lazy. He doesn't want to do the jobs asked of him and spends the vast majority of his time on his phone or doing non charity related stuff.
I have gotten rid of him twice for no shows/lateness however both times he has gone over my head and concocted a sob story so I have been forced to take him back.
I have had enough now. He is bringing the moral of the rest of my team down, they are fed up and so am I.
What on earth do I do with this person?

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.
Annie

when you say forced do you mean "either take him back back or you leave"
if so i would be so tempted to say sod it

Annie1965_2

Gardner1
I didn't get that far. I was told, "I've told him he can come back". I didn't feel that discussing it over the telephone was appropriate at the time.

Leo2020

Annie1965 wrote: »

Hi Leo,
Basically he's only volunteering to get a reference/job out of it.

It will be a glowing reference won't it - turns up late if at all, spends all his time texting and looking in the mirror. I'm sure he'll get a job in no time.

I think your idea of documenting it is a good. Perhaps then your managers will not believe his stories. Keep a record of dates and times.

Mistral001

If this guy is late does it mean that the shop does not open on time? If he is not a key volunteer like that then be glad of him. He is giving his time for free remember. He is not an intern working in a business but a volunteer helping out in a charity.

Savvy_Sue

Mistral001 wrote: »

If this guy is late does it mean that the shop does not open on time? If he is not a key volunteer like that then be glad of him. He is giving his time for free remember. He is not an intern working in a business but a volunteer helping out in a charity.

Except that he's affecting the rest of the team ...

Annie, is it you who will write the reference? Are there agreed standards for references? Will you be able to say he was always late and not a good worker? If you will, then I'd tell him as much. Remember, you don't have to give a good reference as long as it is factual and can be backed up, and with that in mind you do need to document everything.

Also do you have policies, grievance procedures for volunteers, and regular chances to talk to volunteers about how they're doing, whether they're happy etc? That could be worthwhile. They may be volunteers, but there's still a need to manage them almost like paid staff.

Finally, I'd ask for a face to face meeting with your superiors to discuss the way you feel undermined by their decisions.

[Deleted User]

Count the till.

Put him on the till.

Count the till, or do a till check with a colleague, whilst he is present.

Call the Police.

Just watch him and prove your case, you clearly know what he is doing.