A key employee from my team made a significant error which had company-wide impact. She identified it early, owned up to it and without any fuss we put together a plan to rectify the error. All fine. No-one so much as raised an eyebrow because errors happen and this one was easily fixed.
That is until it all got too much for her and instead of working steadily to correct this error she decided the best solution would be to run away from it.
She started by asking for, and then demanding, four weeks annual leave RIGHT NOW. I turned this down on the basis that the error needed to be fixed and we are in the middle of pay review. She could, however, have annual leave starting 1 April.
So she takes sick leave. Her doctor has given her all of this week off to be reviewed on Monday. She now tells me that her doctor thinks she needs another three weeks off. And so that she doesn't have to pay for any of this she's put in a workers compensation claim.
I can neither confirm or deny the rumour that I am extremely disappointed in the very gullible doctor.
I can count. She wanted four weeks leave. Now she wants four weeks sick leave, paid for by the company. Apparently the company has caused her stress. Apparently the error she made has nothing to do with it.
I'm being deliberately obtuse about the nature of the error but I will say that it was a calculation error and the fix for such an error is squarely within the expected skills of this employee's role. I understand the feeling of wanting to run from a mistake but actually doing so is a step too far.
In the meantime the rest of my team and I have been beavering away to fix this error, in addition to our normal tasks. It hasn't been easy for sure but do you know what - we've managed to turn a negative into a positive and if only my 'sick' employee had stuck with it she'd be sharing in the glow the whole team has post-fix.
Meanwhile I've turned to crochet-as-therapy to try to stave off the extreme feelings of disappointment I have in those who cannot accept responsibility for themselves and and need to look for someone or something to blame. No-one cared about the error but we all care that she dumped us with the error and ran.
I can count. She wanted four weeks leave. Now she wants four weeks sick leave, paid for by the company. Apparently the company has caused her stress. Apparently the error she made has nothing to do with it.
I'm being deliberately obtuse about the nature of the error but I will say that it was a calculation error and the fix for such an error is squarely within the expected skills of this employee's role. I understand the feeling of wanting to run from a mistake but actually doing so is a step too far.
In the meantime the rest of my team and I have been beavering away to fix this error, in addition to our normal tasks. It hasn't been easy for sure but do you know what - we've managed to turn a negative into a positive and if only my 'sick' employee had stuck with it she'd be sharing in the glow the whole team has post-fix.
Meanwhile I've turned to crochet-as-therapy to try to stave off the extreme feelings of disappointment I have in those who cannot accept responsibility for themselves and and need to look for someone or something to blame. No-one cared about the error but we all care that she dumped us with the error and ran.
9 comments:
Perhaps she needs therapy too - of course I mean of the crochet kind...
AND the other kind.
I always fantasise that when people work with adults (as opposed to teenagers) then harmony and logic will prevail.
Guess I'm wrong.
I'm guessing she won't be winning any most popular/valuable employee prizes this year.
This sort of behaviour is rife where I work and it shits me to tears. Grrrr.
True similar story - General Manager of recently acquired company tries to get the new board to sign a power of attorney empowering him to do to everything he likes (the POA is in Italian for the English speaking board). That doesn't work when the, not entirely stupid, board ask their Italian lawyers to review it before signing. Part of what he wanted to do was sell the company's best asset to his mates for peanuts. When his not very clever plan is immediately rumbled he takes 6 months sick leave for stress. In Italy you are allowed 6 months paid sick leave. On the 180th day he returns - for one morning before announcing he is stressed and starts another 6 month sick leave spell. This is also allowed in Italy. He was being paid the equivalent of $300k+ with 22% super all this time. The doctor's certificate was provided by his sister (also allowed in Italy). We only ended it when he was caught on sick leave attending at the oil ministry to to aquire exploration rights in his own name (not that bright this guy)alongside the company's best exploration ground. Even in Italy that gave a justified reason to fire him but not without a court case for unfair dismissal which is on-going 5 years later. There was a lot more but I won't bore you.
Lack of accountability is one thing that really annoys me, both in a professional and personal sense.
Okay, we all make mistakes, and good on her for owning up, but jeez, be accountable for fixing the error.
What are the odds she'll resign?
I hope when she comes back you tell her like you just told us. I think she needs to hear it.
Wow, some people never grow up.
I love the look of your crotchet, what are you making?
So will the firm get rid of her now she's shown her true colours?
Will it be able to?
I can't bear non-team players.
Lovely to see your crochet — more please!
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