What would you do?

[Deleted]

If your job was on the line, would you still be able to go on vacation with your wife?

A co-worker just had a bad review and there are only 3 options that will come out of it in the following weeks:
a) demoted
b) fired
c) given another chance and be put on an action plan.

Either way his job is on the line... yet the guy still took off yesterday (after the bad review) to go on a ski trip with his wife. He will not be back till next week.

I get it, it was paid for or as he said he needs to clear his head and come back a new man, etc. But I don't see myself doing it... to me it's time for him to either put up or shut up, this is not his first bad review or first time he was put on an action plan.

Some people feel that he should have been
a) demoted or
b) fired
a long time ago. Knowing that I know for sure I would be calling my wife to tell her to cancel the ski trip because I got to save my job.

But I hope I never find myself in that situation. What would you do?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Depends. I've been in a situation where I knew no matter what I did the outcome was going to be the same, so I probably would have taken the ski trip and just been done with it.

If there was a chance of saving my job I would cancel it and just eat the money.

[Deleted]

Jan 5, 2011 14:05:23 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Depends. I've been in a situation where I knew no matter what I did the outcome was going to be the same, so I probably would have taken the ski trip and just been done with it.

Yes, if no matter what he would have lost his job I say go enjoy the ski trip since it is already paid for

If there was a chance of saving my job I would cancel it and just eat the money.

But this.... I feel he has a chance to save it; even more so now that I was assigned as of this morning to help him out.

[Deleted]

Heck, I'd worry that my desk would get sold while I was on the slopes! ;D

[Urban Chicago]

Well, if he's that bad, he'd just as likely screw things up in the next week as save himself:)

[michelyn8]

I'm assuming this wasn't a last minute trip so the time off was put in for ahead of time and approve by management. I see no reason why he should have cancelled it.

You said he was put on an action plan - how are you privy to this information? Are you his manager? If not, the fact that you know how his review went speaks volumes about your company. Even if his performance has an effect on your work, you should not have any knowledge of what was involved in his review, any reprimand or the action plan - past or present.

If you're his manager - then it sounds like you're just looking for things to hold against him and his not putting the company above all else is unfairly being held against him.

The attitude many managers have these days of their employees should be grateful for their jobs and put the company first is going to come back to bite them one day. A lot of folks are putting up with it because they need that paycheck but these same people (many excellent workers) are going to have no problem telling their manager to stick it when a better opportunity comes along.

[bobbysgirl]

Jan 5, 2011 14:31:52 GMT -5 @missrigby said:

Heck, I'd worry that my desk would get sold while I was on the slopes! ;D

Always the smart asp LOL

[bobbysgirl]

Jan 5, 2011 14:34:10 GMT -5 michelyn8 said:

I'm assuming this wasn't a last minute trip so the time off was put in for ahead of time and approve by management. I see no reason why he should have cancelled it.

You said he was put on an action plan - how are you privy to this information? Are you his manager? If not, the fact that you know how his review went speaks volumes about your company. Even if his performance has an effect on your work, you should not have any knowledge of what was involved in his review, any reprimand or the action plan - past or present.

If you're his manager - then it sounds like you're just looking for things to hold against him and his not putting the company above all else is unfairly being held against him.

The attitude many managers have these days of their employees should be grateful for their jobs and put the company first is going to come back to bite them one day. A lot of folks are putting up with it because they need that paycheck but these same people (many excellent workers) are going to have no problem telling their manager to stick it when a better opportunity comes along.

Well said

[thyme4change]

If they want me gone that bad, I, most likely, will be gone - so I might as well go skiing while I still have the chance.

[The J]

You also don't necessarily know what's going on in his personal life -- this trip could be important to his marriage, which would be more important to me than a job that I probably wouldn't be able to keep long term anyway.

[Max]

From what you said, it sounds like the manager procrastinated until the last possible moment to have The Talk. If the manager wanted your co-worker to cancel his vacation, the manager should have spoken up earlier. Also, if his manager is as wimpy as you imply, his manager is probably happy to have your co-worker gone for a few days.

Besides, something seems wrong to me with punishing the wife by canceling her vacation. (It will be punishment enough for her when he inevitably gets fired.) Even if this particular worker is a major problem, to disrespect his family would send a unsettling message to everybody else on the team.

[dancinmama]

Jan 5, 2011 16:06:56 GMT -5 Max said:

From what you said, it sounds like the manager procrastinated until the last possible moment to have The Talk.

I was thinking the same thing. Usually you schedule vacation in advance. It seems to me that it was the manager that CHOSE to talk to him right before he had scheduled time off.

I might be a little perturbed by the timing of it all. The manager could have waited to drop the turd in his punchbowl until AFTER his vacation so it wouldn't be ruined. On the other hand, maybe the guy is the kind who won't let it bother him.

[so1970]

go on vacation

[thyme4change]

Actually, one time I had to have one of these talks and HR told me to do it right before an upcoming long weekend. They said that even though it would likely ruin the weekend - it gives people time to get over the sting of the talk and be prepared to deal with the heart of the matter and what needs to be done. I got the same advice from several experienced people.

[dancinmama]

Jan 5, 2011 16:48:23 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Actually, one time I had to have one of these talks and HR told me to do it right before an upcoming long weekend. They said that even though it would likely ruin the weekend - it gives people time to get over the sting of the talk and be prepared to deal with the heart of the matter and what needs to be done. I got the same advice from several experienced people.

Ya, it's the best thing for the company and maybe the employee in the long run, but makes for a crappy vacation.

[thyme4change]

True - but if this was the first time this guy got the message, things are very wrong - with both the boss and the employee!

Somewhere, deep down inside, this guy knew he was in trouble. Now that it is all out in the open, he can start formulating a plan.

I do recall my employee saying something like "I have a vacation day scheduled for 3 weeks from now, will that effect your opinion of me." I answered that he wasn't being judged on hours spent in the office, but the quality of the work produced, and I would not hold a valid vacation day that was scheduled appropriately against him. He was so worried that the next week he came in deathly sick, and refused to go home. I had HR escort him out when I heard him throwing up in his trash can.

[The Captain]

i'd take the vacation. From the sound of it it won't make much difference for this guy

[Deleted]

Jan 5, 2011 16:51:22 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Jan 5, 2011 16:48:23 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Actually, one time I had to have one of these talks and HR told me to do it right before an upcoming long weekend. They said that even though it would likely ruin the weekend - it gives people time to get over the sting of the talk and be prepared to deal with the heart of the matter and what needs to be done. I got the same advice from several experienced people.

Ya, it's the best thing for the company and maybe the employee in the long run, but makes for a crappy vacation.

I believe you guys are up to something... they new before hand he would have a crappy review and they could have told him before hand.

But they did not go thru the review with him till 4 and he was leaving work at 5. Hope he does enjoy his skii trip and come back on a new man... he got his work cut out for him.

[Clifford]

I am going to Breckenridge later this month. If I had that talk with my boss today, I would sooo still go. My entire family has been looking forward to it for 6 months.