Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Sept 27, 2016 10:23:24 GMT -5
Wasn't it stated that the baby was a screamer? How is she going to get any work done at home with a screaming baby?
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Sept 27, 2016 11:10:15 GMT -5
There was no "pregnancy brain" regarding the email she sent. It was a thought out and manipulative idea in hopes to get to work from home. But the employee has already been working from home. If you read the posting carefully, the employee requests that she continue to work at home. Why would she ask to continue a particular thing if it hasn't started yet? That doesn't make sense. When I want to watch a movie with DH that we haven't started.. I don't say "I would like to continue watching the movie." I only say "Let's continue watching the movie" when we've actually started it. So. I'm going to assume that the employee has enough faculties to understand whether or not she is working at home. I'm going to assume Janee has already granted her permission to WAH while on leave, and that indeed, the employee is logging in work hours inbetween tending to the baby. Did Janee insist on childcare while her employee was WAH on leave? Or was that never discussed? What about the sub par employee issue? Was that discussed prior to her WAH? If Janee did not strictly communicate the terms of her employee working at home..well, now Jane has some culpability in the matter. From the exchange I'm guessing not. The employee did not say "I understand that I was allowed to work at home until October 3. Would you consider extending that date? The employee did not say "I know I haven't been performing up to your standards. If I make drastic improvement between now, and October 15, would you consider letting me continue to work at home." As an employee, I would be upset if my boss came in and told me that my behaviors that were perfectly acceptable 3 weeks ago are no longer acceptable. I would be upset if my boss came implied that I was working well enough 2-3 weeks ago, but now, suddenly I'm a sub par worker. I'd be like...where the heck did that come from. And I would be confused and upset. I think Janee has been too nice in the whole process. I think the employee is trying to take advantage of Janee's nice-ness. I don't know how shocked I would be though, about the employee. There's no such thing as employee loyalty anymore. We tell people that all the time here..that employees don't owe their companies anything. So..why now, are we mad at the employee for trying to make a situation work for her?
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janee
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Post by janee on Sept 27, 2016 11:11:49 GMT -5
Hi All, I will fill in some of the gaps. The job is selling a software product we own. It's targeted to a particular market across the United States. We develop leads through trade shows (targeted to that market), email marketing, and cold calling (again to target market where we are somewhat known). We divide leads based on geographic territory. They are very fair territories. When we get a lead, we often demo the product using a Webex where the prospect is looking at my screen while we talk on the phone. The demos take 1-2 hours, depending on questions and prospect needs.
This employee is very nice. When I was hiring in the late winter/early spring I got less then half the responses to the job opening than I had just 2 years earlier. Our state is pretty much at full employment.
I thought this employee was wonderful. She met everyone in the company and we all felt she would fit in and be able to do the job. In a small company, fit is very important!
So she started, went through training, etc. At the same time her life starts falling apart and I'm learning things in bits and pieces. She is pregnant and separating from her husband. They are now planning on divorcing. I'm sorry for the upheaval in her life and I know from past employees that even the best hit a rough patch when separating. (Luckily I've been married 30 years so not something I've experienced myself). Just as she's hitting productivity working the territory, she has fluid buildup and the doctor gives her a note that she has to work from home. She's worried because she lost a pregnancy the previous year. This is about 5-6 weeks before due date. That time at home is not productive.
Her day care plan is a lady from church who loves infants. When she was at my house for the lunch and "hold the baby" session, she mentioned she hadn't heard back from the day care lady when she called her a few days earlier. I had jokingly asked if the day care lady liked the "screamer". He really is a cute baby, but the little I've seen of him, he's demanding.
There is no way I think it will be good for her to work from home. When she returns, we will make a plan for sales that she will have to hit. I hope she can do it. I will help her in any way I can, but it will be up her to make this work.
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janee
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Post by janee on Sept 27, 2016 11:27:27 GMT -5
Got a chance to read some of the comments--this employee definitely knows the goals and the activities that will support making the goals.
I think I've had to be accommodating while she's been going through the pregnancy issues. I am a nice person and I would rather err a little on giving more time than maybe someone else would, but believe me I'm not a pushover. I'll work with her but ultimately she has to make sales happen. I love sales--it's so black and white. You either are making it or not. There really isn't much of a gray area.
While we all work from home occasionally, it's perk not a normal thing. Especially a newer employee, I believe they absorb a lot just be hearing what's going on in the office. When she was hired, she knew we would be flexible, but it wasn't a normal, every week thing.
If she meets all sales goals, I would consider it, but not until the start of next year.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Sept 27, 2016 11:37:42 GMT -5
Janee - I think while it may feel easier for the employee to work from, I'm guessing there will be a big benefit to her mentally to get out of the house based on the situation described. I think if you want to be flexible/understanding on her coming in late leaving on time to pick up the baby, that would benefit her more than working from home. She may see oh I don't have to commute, but the lack of human contact besides her kids may be an issue. JMO
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Sept 27, 2016 11:37:57 GMT -5
Got a chance to read some of the comments--this employee definitely knows the goals and the activities that will support making the goals.
I think I've had to be accommodating while she's been going through the pregnancy issues. I am a nice person and I would rather err a little on giving more time than maybe someone else would, but believe me I'm not a pushover. I'll work with her but ultimately she has to make sales happen. I love sales--it's so black and white. You either are making it or not. There really isn't much of a gray area.
While we all work from home occasionally, it's perk not a normal thing. Especially a newer employee, I believe they absorb a lot just be hearing what's going on in the office. When she was hired, she knew we would be flexible, but it wasn't a normal, every week thing.
If she meets all sales goals, I would consider it, but not until the start of next year.
There's your answer; just share it with the employee. It is fair, reasonable and clear. You sound like a very good manager.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Sept 27, 2016 11:38:45 GMT -5
I truly believe in giving people benefit of the doubt and I would be all in favor of helping someone who was going through some hard times. You don't choose the timing and it just sucks that her hard times happen while at a brand new job. But her original email would irk the crap out of me and would put me in a lot less "helpful" mood. You sound like a great boss janee, I hope she does right by you.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Sept 27, 2016 13:30:15 GMT -5
I truly believe in giving people benefit of the doubt and I would be all in favor of helping someone who was going through some hard times. You don't choose the timing and it just sucks that her hard times happen while at a brand new job. But her original email would irk the crap out of me and would put me in a lot less "helpful" mood. You sound like a great boss janee , I hope she does right by you.
I was put off by her not disclosing her pregnancy and then by the email she sent (to me, it comes across as very manipulative). Toss in the fact that she wasn't productive working from home when given the chance and I would probably not be will to allow it when she has a screaming baby at home. I believe in working with people but I have already formed an impression of this person and she is not someone I want on my team. But I'm probably not as nice as Janee!
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janee
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Post by janee on Sept 27, 2016 14:24:40 GMT -5
Janee - I think while it may feel easier for the employee to work from, I'm guessing there will be a big benefit to her mentally to get out of the house based on the situation described. I think if you want to be flexible/understanding on her coming in late leaving on time to pick up the baby, that would benefit her more than working from home. She may see oh I don't have to commute, but the lack of human contact besides her kids may be an issue. JMO I couldn't agree more.
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naughtybear
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Post by naughtybear on Sept 27, 2016 14:33:48 GMT -5
That sentence is a bit strangely worded but it can be construed another way. It could also mean she may have been able to work at home the last weeks of the pregnancy.
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justme
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Post by justme on Sept 27, 2016 15:10:51 GMT -5
Sounds like she was put on bed rest before kid was born, so she worked from home. Then had kid and took however many weeks unpaid. Now those unpaid weeks are almost over and she wants to work from home to save on gas, maybe childcare, and be more comfortable pumping. Yet is under performing to goals.
Pretty brazen if she knows her goals and knows she's missing them.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Sept 27, 2016 17:46:01 GMT -5
So Janee, this is my opinion on how i would handle it. I would probably go over your employee's option for comfortably pumping in the office. Curtain across cubical, switching offices during pumping time with shades on the office door (roller shades at JCP are really cheap). If the bathroom is large (and clean, pumping at my old office was no big deal to me), a chair in there might work. Others have pumped in the car. Nothing is ideal, but just throw out as many options as would feasibly work. Then I would state that until she meets her sales goals for X months (6, 12 etc), that she needs to work in the team environment of the office. JMO.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Sept 27, 2016 18:10:30 GMT -5
Wait so accommodating pumping means letting someone work from home? Damn I handled that all wrong!
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emma1420
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Post by emma1420 on Sept 27, 2016 20:15:23 GMT -5
Janee you sound like a great boss.
However, if you don't allow your entire staff (who could do their job from home) to work from home, then there shouldn't be an exception for this one employee. Because allowing one employee, especially when they are not a top performer, to have a perk that isn't given to other employees will create resentment.
As for the rest of it, I think she is being manipulative. It may be unconscious on her part, but it's manipulation none the less. And I do think now is time to set the tone. You've been very accommodating to the crisis period of her life, but that is coming to a close and so it's now time that she works on stepping up to the plate. You like her you want her to be successful, and in order for that to happen she needs to start being the worker you need. If she can't manage that then this isn't the right job for her, and she's not the right employee for you.
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gs11rmb
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Post by gs11rmb on Sept 28, 2016 11:25:54 GMT -5
I think Janee is being incredibly nice and tolerant during this situation. I do want to say that I don't see the employee as being particularly manipulative. I remember how vulnerable and fragile I was when going back to work after my first child. It didn't feel like the right thing to do and I desperately missed my baby even though she was at the childcare center where I worked and I visited her 3 times a day! I really feel for this woman to have to go through the normal adjustments of returning to work while her marriage has ended and there is no emotional support.
I agree that coming back into the office is probably best for this woman and I like the compassion that Janee has shown.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Sept 28, 2016 22:29:31 GMT -5
Saw this on Facebook.
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atlantapenny
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Post by atlantapenny on Oct 11, 2016 18:09:29 GMT -5
I'm curious as to how this worked out?
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janee
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Post by janee on Oct 12, 2016 9:05:55 GMT -5
Today is the first day back. We moved her to the farthest cubicle from the other employee, blocked out the windows into the lawyers' office, and she brought in a tension rod and curtain to block off the cubicle entrance. The tension rod is too short so I'm going to shoot over to Bed Bath & Beyond and pick up a longer one tonight. Today she said she will pump in the car. So far so good! She seems to be in good spirits. I think it will work out.
I'll post again in a week or so and let you know.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 12, 2016 20:11:25 GMT -5
Today is the first day back. We moved her to the farthest cubicle from the other employee, blocked out the windows into the lawyers' office, and she brought in a tension rod and curtain to block off the cubicle entrance. The tension rod is too short so I'm going to shoot over to Bed Bath & Beyond and pick up a longer one tonight. Today she said she will pump in the car. So far so good! She seems to be in good spirits. I think it will work out.
I'll post again in a week or so and let you know. Seriously! You are the best boss ever and I've had some pretty good ones to compared it to. Again, I hope she does right by you and your company!
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