Conflict in the Workplace

gettingtheresometime

CakeBaker wrote: »

I have taken a step back - I now let the payroll go through, even though it's wrong (which is very hard for me to do). I then flag any errors afterwards.

By afterwards do you mean when people query their pay?


I think you need to let this person face the consequences of their actions & redirect any queries to them straight away, not getting involved.


If they're making as many mistakes as you say then people will soon get fed up, flag it up with their manager who can have a manger to manager chat with your manager

xapprenticex

CakeBaker wrote: »

We are both qualified accountants and employed as such. Payroll is just a small part of the job, but they just can't get it right! I think they just put it on their CV to make it look better - they clearly don't have a clue. I've had to train as though they were a complete novice.
I don't have time to look at what else they are messing up - it's too scary to think about!

Ahaa I get you now. Okay i thought payroll was your sole role.

I'd follow the advice above too, or book some time off come payroll deadline and let the sh#t hit the fan in your absence.

TELLIT01

CakeBaker wrote: »

Ozzuk - payroll was my responsibility for the last 8 years, so staff still come to me.

If is no longer your responsibility stop worrying about it. Whoever is responsible for payroll now is the person who needs to sort it out, not you.

You've done everything you can to address the issues but either nobody is listening, or they don't see it as a big a problem as you do. Either way, you need to leave is alone and/or look for another job.

TBagpuss

CakeBaker wrote: »

Gettingther.... No, nothing is linked to pay - other than when we are audited I feel it reflects badly on me.
They are correcting their own mistakes once I have re-shown them what to do.
I gave them a list of mistakes on the last payroll, they have corrected them and told our boss they did not exist - I took backups of the work, so I can prove what I was saying was correct.
The payroll errors are to do with SSP and holiday pay. They have told the boss that they are also correct, but they are not. Something will need to be done quickly as some staff are owed a few hundred pounds and are unaware that they are entitled to it.

Is it your responsibility to correct their errors and to show them (again) how to do the work?

It sounds as though part of the issue is that their incompetence is causing more work for you, but if you are fisxing the problems, it is not causing more work for your boss.

Can you back off? Rather than showing them how to fix it, simply say "You have made errors in the payroll, please re-check and correct them"
If they ask you for help, can you say "I've shown you how to do this multiple times, I can't keep doing so. You will need to speak to [their line manager] to ask for further training"

In terms of the errors it may also be worth writing to your boss and be explicit - " I am very concerned about [name] continuing to make errors, including making multiple, repeated errors which mean that staff are not being paid correctly in terms of their SSP and Holidays. I am concerned that this could lead to legal consequences for [business] and that it could also serious affect morale "

You could add

"I have done everything I can to help, including repeatedly reviewing with [coworker] what the process is and how to check it. Effectively I am doing large parts of their job, as well as my own, as I am effectively having to re-do their work to show them how to correct their errors. I don't feel I can continue to take on this responsibility on top of my own work load, it is causing me huge stress"

In other words, highlight the consequences for the organisation as well as the personal consequences for you, of what is happening.

If your job does not now include dealing with payroll, then 'go limp'. Stop checking coworkers work. If other staff come to you, redirect them to your co-worker . If necessary, tell them that you can't help, and that if they don't get the information/help they need from co-worker they need to go to his/her manager. (this effectively puts the problem back where it belongs, with your manager, not with you)

I think the noise is a separate issue, have you asked the co-worker directly (and of course politely) to keep the noise down? I think it is tricky as it is a fairly subjective issue, and it may be that you both need to compromise a bit. Would it be possible for you to use noise cancelling headphones, or earbuds listening to 'white noise' ?

CakeBaker

The short answer is no, it is not my job to correct their mistakes. However, there is no one else who could do it. I am an accountant, the 'senior' accountant is the one making the mistakes and our line manager is the Director, who knows nothing about accounts!
I did back off a while ago - I let the June payroll go through. I gave a list of the staff who had SSP and holiday errors and suggested that they were looked at. They told the boss there were no errors. I let July go through and again all SSP and holiday pay is wrong. The staff concerned do not know how to calculate their sick pay or holiday, so they rely on us to get it right.
When staff query errors, they are told that they have been checked and that their pay is correct.
A few have been brave enough to keep pushing until it gets escalated to me - but most just accept the first answer.
My job now includes HR, so I will be involved at some point!

xapprenticex

its time to find a better employer im afraid.

theoretica

Why is this person doing the payroll and not you? Would it lower the stress all round for this job to be given back to you and something else (perhaps a job that affects the company more than the individual employees) passed to them?

TELLIT01

Put your concerns in writing to whoever the people continually making the errors report to and then forget it. It is not your area any more, leave it alone!

CakeBaker

Thanks for all your great advice. I have raised my concerns with my boss and washed my hands of it.
I am no longer going to check their work or make corrections.
Just hoping my guilt will hold out!


News Flash : Really good, undervalued accountant with great attention to detail - looking for a new challenge !

TELLIT01

CakeBaker wrote: »

News Flash : Really good, undervalued accountant with great attention to detail - looking for a new challenge !

Glad to see your sense of humour is intact, even if your nerves are somewhat frayed.