How would you deal with this employee???

[runninghot]

Runninghot I agree with what you said, except for the line about the employee being new and in a training state. Its one thing for one of your veterans to show disrespect but a New Guy Telling the boss to F*** Off??? I agree that requires a different approach.......let him walk home instead of driving him back to the base. I also think ground guys deserve a bid of respect because of their job description, but telling an elder, and someone above you at the company to F off is just plain out of line.

Yes, it does cross a certain line when it gets to the point of telling the boss off by a younger guy. Self control is important, and the guy would be better off in just about everything he does for having it. MB, the days are long gone when tree workers had to carry a six shooter.....sadly.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Haha. Don't I know it!

 

[runninghot]

Emotional outbursts..it brings to mind a person I used to work with. He was a fine tree worker who could very well operate a crane, and also the best cable rigging idea person to call on for a tricky job. Unfortunately, he had a stroke and lost the use of one hand, and was slightly handicapped in the same side leg. When he was able to work again, he had become a very short tempered and irritable s.o.b. Everyone cut him a lot of slack, felt sorry and could understand his frustration, his having been so competent before his illness. I finally had to tell him not to call me anymore to work with him, as I thought his outbursts were jeopradizing safety, and consequently we are no longer friends. I always feel bad about it. He is a good guy, was always fun after work, but his illness tore him up. He couldn't change despite a number of discussions about it, and knowing himself that he had become a problem. Sometimes I miss the friendship and think that I should have continued to put up with his stress. Que sera sera I guess.....

 

[diltree]

As Master Blaster made clear earlier, guys in the tree care industry are in many cases the same guys who use vulgarity as common diction. So a "shut the ???? up", especially by a 20 year old kid, choosing to be a tree guy, can be expected. I don't think id ever go to the extent of firing a kid over one incident. The question is: do i let It go and attribute the comment as a result of a young guys first hard day of work, or sit him down and have a talk with him; is a talk really necessary??? I have been a foreman for seven years and this is the first tantrum I have experienced on a Job i was running. The situation knocked me back, maybe a few years ago i would have been very confrontational with the kid, but i have learned to let the little things ride as I take on more responsibility in life. Its not easy managing people you like, being the bad guy can be tough, as well as necessary. Just as well, leniency can be an effective way to manage in some instances.

 

[Ax-man]

Sounds like this guy needs a little more than a cooling off period. If it keeps up he needs to see a counciler and how to deal with that pent up anger and how to manage it.

Larry

 

[a_lopa]

hes 20 yrs old i would laugh it off in front of him,if he cant see the funny side to it exit stage left.so what he had a bad day get over it,its not going to run thru your crew like the plague.

 

[diltree]

Lopa...thats what I did, a laughed at him, and told him not to be the only baby on the crew. I just wanted to see how others would deal with this type of a situation. I'm leaning toward your sediments

 

[NeTree]

I think it would definitely drop my perception of the company a notch; seeing someone who's supposed to be a professional in that situation losing their cool.

 

[diltree]

Greg, You should read the post a bit closer, The Job was on the side of rt. 9, you know where that is, being from Shrewsbury. No houses or Home owners and he said to shut the ???? up, when i interrupted his thorn bush induced temper tantrum. I agree acting that way on a private job is completely unacceptable. We only have seasoned veterans on our private work crew, honestly i don't think we have one guy with less then five years experience, when working for a homeowner. So your hypothetical situation is a bit unfathomable for my company. Still thank you for sharing your wisdom

 

[a_lopa]

your generalising, if it was me sitting inside watching that it would be free entertainment springer style

 

[diltree]

The post was not unfathomable, nor is the idea. In fact i agree with you. We are in the habit of starting our rookies on hourly contract Jobs; Jobs that are less fast paced, where they can learn the basics. The private work( especially tree removal), requires a crew with a lot of experience, because we work at a fast pace and don't have time for on the job training, the groundman must be able to anticipate the Foreman's next move. We wouldn't have a greenhorn like this kid on a crew performing private work. No need to apologize gregory

 

[NeTree]

So... when we gonna have a Massachusetts Tree Guy's BBQ?

 

[diltree]

Sounds like a great idea.....BBQ...BEER...and CLIMBING GEAR

 

[diltree]

I dont smoke, but if an employee wants to, what the hell we are not in doors, im not inhailing it, just not on the homeowners property. I prefer Company apparel, but understand if mom didnt get to the laundry this week. Shorts at your own risk, I prefer shorts in the summer pants in the winter.

 

[NeTree]

Company apparel is more professional-looking.

 

[diltree]

Its great to look like a professional, better to be a professional, but best to achieve the reputation as a professional. Company apparel can never hurt in any facet

 

[NeTree]

Its great to look like a professional, better to be a professional, but best to achieve the reputation as a professional. Company apparel can never hurt in any facet

 

[diltree]

Actually my B.A. was in English,and Business management. Still i am well versed in the teachings of Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Shigo

 

[MasterBlaster]

Well, slap me around and call me Susan!

 

[diltree]

Let it go.....he's still a kid....another tantrum will require a talk. i think if he was older id expect more out of him, and would let him go, but i realize he has a long way to go, and maybe his employment with us can be a positive growing experience..................... Ahh maybe i should just go with NE and can his ass for being a baby. Maybe he can find employment at New England Tree