Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
What would you do? An employee told me yesterday that she will NOT be coming to work, indefinitely, until the covid 19 crisis is over. Probably 3-4 weeks. Its put me in a real bind, as I am having to do the work now of 3 people. I told her we are taking every precaution against covid 19 and she could even come to work when nobody else is around to do paperwork. She choose not to. She is NOT going to leave home until covid- 19 is over. I cant force her to come to work.
Now I am trying to figure out how she can do remote work from home for a month, which is still way inferior to being here.
Today, I came across someone with experience at this kind of work who is looking for a job. I honestly think this new girl would be a better employee than the girl who is taking herself out of work because she is afraid of corona.(She shows up late to work every day)
But is it uncool of me to consider replacing this employee because she and her family dont think she should be working during covid 19?
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Im not even sure if this question is appropriate for me to be asking on here anymore , but I cant take this question to a public forum like FB because my employees will see it or hear about it.
Yes, I am probably wayyyy too laid back as a boss. Too easy going. I am NOT a hardass in any way shape or form. Working for me is damn fun 99% of the time. I want to be fair with this employee, but she wont even come in to do paperwork when nobody else is around. Im sure there are people who would call me a dick for considering replacing any employee during covid 19 but I got a business to run and right now things are hanging on the razors edge of danger. All of this would be just fine if she could come in just one day a week, but she said she wont do that. So what to do. Ya, this is the shit that keeps you awake at night. It sucks.
I talked to several people today who work for corporations. I asked them if they have the option of taking time off during covid 19. They all said if they dont go to work during covid 19, they will lose their job. They dont have a choice.
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
An employee has to follow the rules of the workplace. They do not make their own rules. She is being selfish.
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dzone
What would you do? An employee told me yesterday that she will NOT be coming to work, indefinitely, until the covid 19 crisis is over. Probably 3-4 weeks. Its put me in a real bind, as I am having to do the work now of 3 people. I told her we are taking every precaution against covid 19 and she could even come to work when nobody else is around to do paperwork. She choose not to. She is NOT going to leave home until covid- 19 is over. I cant force her to come to work.
Now I am trying to figure out how she can do remote work from home for a month, which is still way inferior to being here.
Today, I came across someone with experience at this kind of work who is looking for a job. I honestly think this new girl would be a better employee than the girl who is taking herself out of work because she is afraid of corona.(She shows up late to work every day)
But is it uncool of me to consider replacing this employee because she and her family dont think she should be working during covid 19?
Is she older. Does she have any immune or respiratory disorders?
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Yes, Dzone, that is a hard place for you to be in. She is doing what she feels she needs to do for herself, and you need to do the same. Is it possible to hire this new girl part time? Then maybe bring back the other girl part time also, at a later date? I'm just trying to help you with ideas... It sounds like you have given her options, but she is pretty strong on her stance right now?
A time like this calls for hard decisions that don't feel good . In an effort to stay present, you need to do what you have too so your business can run as efficiently as possible.
As the country changes, business needs will change.
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
macedog24
Is she older. Does she have any immune or respiratory disorders?
She is 34. Healthy. She has 2 daughters, 3 and 8. Her parents moved her out of her apartment and into their basement this week. Her parents are also totally freaked out about corona and think its going to wipe out half the population. This whole corona crisis is creating a whole new set of problems for employers. What do you do when you have employees who refuse to work?
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BABY1
Yes, Dzone, that is a hard place for you to be in. She is doing what she feels she needs to do for herself, and you need to do the same. Is it possible to hire this new girl part time? Then maybe bring back the other girl part time also, at a later date? I'm just trying to help you with ideas... It sounds like you have given her options, but she is pretty strong on her stance right now?
A time like this calls for hard decisions that don't feel good . In an effort to stay present, you need to do what you have too so your business can run as efficiently as possible.
As the country changes, business needs will change.
Thanks Baby1. Yes, it is a little bit awkward. It is a hard decision. I dont even think she considered the fact that she might get replaced. She does some things exceptionally well, but the other things like coming in to work late so often is getting old and I dont feel like I need to baby sit people and tell them obvious things like please be on time. That should be automatic.
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jipped genes
An employee has to follow the rules of the workplace. They do not make their own rules. She is being selfish.
I agree. Seems like this covid 19 thing is putting it in peoples heads that they no longer have to show up for work.
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
I could also see employers who fire employees for refusing to work during covid 19 as being somehow the bad guy. Like how many employers are going to be sued for firing people during this crisis? People feel they have the right to refuse to work and still keep their job
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dzone
I could also see employers who fire employees for refusing to work during covid 19 as being somehow the bad guy. Like how many employers are going to be sued for firing people during this crisis? People feel they have the right to refuse to work and still keep their job
The aftermath will definitely present problems, but it is now that you are concerned about. Is she your only employee?
Dzone, if you have someone thats willing to work now, I think I would hire her. Will she be able to start asap and jump right in without too much training required by you?
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BABY1
The aftermath will definitely present problems, but it is now that you are concerned about. Is she your only employee?
Dzone, if you have someone thats willing to work now, I think I would hire her. Will she be able to start asap and jump right in without too much training required by you?
I have 2 employees, the other one was part time and she just had cornea surgery and has been off work anyway, but my full time employee is the one who doesnt want to work now. The other girl who I heard about, has experience and could be able to start right away. Dang, what a mess. Or do I ride this out, since business is really really DOWN atm.
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Man that's a tough decision. In my opinion, business is business especially when it comes to owning your own business. I look at it this way, I know a lot of people that are now out of a job and in a panic about how they are going to make ends meet and would love for the opportunity to still be employed somewhere that would work with them around the Covid concerns. It sounds like you've presented her multiple options to work around her concerns by limiting her exposure to people and allowing her to work off hours. In doing that, if she still refuses to work I'd probably consider hiring the other person. None of us knows how long this is going to last (hopefully not long) and you certainly don't want to put yourself further in a bind stressing out about how you're going operate if she refuses to work for the next couple months.
There are probably going to be a lot of people that will make the employer the bad guy in this type of situation and I'm sure it's happening quite a bit as people's fear grows. I'm similar to you and not a hard ass at work to those who work for me. I like being a leader vs. a "boss". This is just what I would do... I'd approach her and be very up front. I'd let her know that I'm willing to make every effort for her safety and let her work around her concerns while limiting her exposure to people by coming in when no one is around. Sanitize and clean regularly to avoid any potential contact. I'd help her understand that she is a valuable asset to the company and I'd hate to see her go, but the business will not make it without employees. I'd let her know as a friend I completely understand and respect her concerns, but as a business owner I will have to back fill her position to keep things going. Could be on a temporary part time basis, or possibly permanent full time going forward.
That's just the approach I would probably take. I don't want you to take that advice and then regret it lol. It's definitely a really tough decision with what the world is going through. There really isn't a way not to look like the bad guy while doing what's best for the business in this current situation. If you do decide to go with someone else, I would certainly exhaust all avenues of legality to ensure she cannot come back and sue you later. This is an unprecedented event we're going through and while it sucks to have to think ahead like that, we unfortunately do.
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
^^^^Good advice , thanks Yohimbe. Dzone...we are all here for each other. Come on here with whatever . FG blows FB away and we have been we each here a loooong time
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BABY1
^^^^Good advice , thanks Yohimbe. Dzone...we are all here for each other. Come on here with whatever . FG blows FB away and we have been we each here a loooong time
Youre so right Baby1. Im grateful that we can bring issues like this up on the board and get some good perspectives on things. It helps to be able to collaborate with other minds. We have good people on here who have good insight into things. I guess now my manager is going to come in on Thursdays, when nobody is around, with gloves on etc and take care of all the paperwork. Who knows how long it is going to be until nobody is even allowed to go to work
Re: Advice please: When ur employee wont work during COVID-19
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yohimbe
Man that's a tough decision. In my opinion, business is business especially when it comes to owning your own business. I look at it this way, I know a lot of people that are now out of a job and in a panic about how they are going to make ends meet and would love for the opportunity to still be employed somewhere that would work with them around the Covid concerns. It sounds like you've presented her multiple options to work around her concerns by limiting her exposure to people and allowing her to work off hours. In doing that, if she still refuses to work I'd probably consider hiring the other person. None of us knows how long this is going to last (hopefully not long) and you certainly don't want to put yourself further in a bind stressing out about how you're going operate if she refuses to work for the next couple months.
There are probably going to be a lot of people that will make the employer the bad guy in this type of situation and I'm sure it's happening quite a bit as people's fear grows. I'm similar to you and not a hard ass at work to those who work for me. I like being a leader vs. a "boss". This is just what I would do... I'd approach her and be very up front. I'd let her know that I'm willing to make every effort for her safety and let her work around her concerns while limiting her exposure to people by coming in when no one is around. Sanitize and clean regularly to avoid any potential contact. I'd help her understand that she is a valuable asset to the company and I'd hate to see her go, but the business will not make it without employees. I'd let her know as a friend I completely understand and respect her concerns, but as a business owner I will have to back fill her position to keep things going. Could be on a temporary part time basis, or possibly permanent full time going forward.
That's just the approach I would probably take. I don't want you to take that advice and then regret it lol. It's definitely a really tough decision with what the world is going through. There really isn't a way not to look like the bad guy while doing what's best for the business in this current situation. If you do decide to go with someone else, I would certainly exhaust all avenues of legality to ensure she cannot come back and sue you later. This is an unprecedented event we're going through and while it sucks to have to think ahead like that, we unfortunately do.
Man I sure do appreciate your thoughts on this issue. Youre exactly right and that is what I have decided to do after being awake all night thinking about this. I am going to do what you said and just be upfront with her. Today when I asked her if she can come in one day a week she said "Ya, but we will have to play it by ear" So that is a big help, but still thinking bringing in the girl with experience and not all the drama of the other girl, I may have to consider replacing her. And instead of doing it secretly, without her knowing, I would much rather have her on my side, helping the new girl to learn her job. My employee is not hurting at all during this because she has moved back in with her 2 kids to her parents basement. Its not like she is ever going to be homeless or go hungry.