[G Griffin]

I had a boss, once, that grabbed hold of me and threw me around a bit. It's not nice and I'm not ashamed to say I cried for days, after.
I went to the police but I didn't take it further but believe me, she didn't do it again.
It made her realise that you can't go round putting your hands on people, even if I was a friend of her grandson. 

[CLEANCARE WC]

I had a boss, once, that grabbed hold of me and threw me around a bit. It's not nice and I'm not ashamed to say I cried for days, after.
I went to the police but I didn't take it further but believe me, she didn't do it again.
It made her realise that you can't go round putting your hands on people, even if I was a friend of her grandson. 

 

[Danny Guest]

Rich
As a leader you don't seem to have controlled this guy. It may be a weakness on your behalf as he's a friend but it detrimental to the business.

Once one takes the p it sets the precident for the rest. You should come down hard on this guy and make an example for the rest of your staff. Don't try to balance friendship and business. I employ family and I have to in a way set myself away from the pack. It's sometimes lonely but effective.

Danny

everyones going on as if i cant control him etc hes under control but what im guessing is coz hes skint and lives day by day getting by i think some days where there getting thru the work quickly and possibly getting a few not todays by customers etc and theyre hitting 250s only for days total that he saying lets sit around and go bk so theyre still getting full days pay they all know who the boss is etc but he can be like a disease and breathes negativity on to others

having spoken to our circle of friends etc from when we used to drink in the pub together a lot of them have laughed about it and said he is a proper tool and prob deserved it coz he is a strange character they all aid its why he doesnt socialise and have friends coz no one can put up with him he a bit of a loner coz of his personality

I wouldn't take it as criticism just opinion. It's tough to think you've wasted time or given someone a chance or help and it wasn't the right choice.

I'm wary when employing. I understand you've had employment issues in the past but defiantly only employ on merit in the future. That's what it all about adapting your approach. If you do it right from the start you'll save yourself the pain further down the line. Get rid and don't be pressured into employing anyone

Get the right guy, train him properly and get the benefits

Good luck

[windowcleaninginessex.co.uk]

You man management skills are zero, you deserve all you get, you are lucky he didn't lump you.
What I don't understand is,  there was 2 guys in van, why pick and threaten only 1 of them, surely they were both sitting around

He's probably smaller than the other one.

We need a like button

[Danny Guest]

just been canvassing today with the other two lads othe idiot didnt wana come out but we got 13 jobs on in total today in a new area for us where they havent heard of us yet so im happy its water under the bridge now weve spoken about it and he understand why i over reacted im trying to help them out nd get them earning a bit extra money instead of sending them home when works complete and basically he thought he would cheat me and skive

ive learnt  valuable lesson and will be thinking very carefully in future when looking out for the others instead of putting myself first they will have to work hard now and prove to me that they all deserve extra hours to earn more money

Ive just read this post and thought of a time I tried the same thing

To earn extra cash I asked a lad to canvas and it went well for 2 weeks then he turned up late. Then he's figures came down.

I spoke to him and realised he wanted a job that finished at 5pm and he didn't have the drive or desire to push on canvassing. It made sense as if he had the same drive as me he would own his own business instead of wasting his time working for me.

Don't expect people to have the same qualities or drive as you. That's your job as a manager to see this and delegate to each persons strengths. Maybe this guy just wants to clean windows as its more structured. I know canvassers who hate their job because its uncertain. That's why some people are self employed and some need a guaranteed wage.

Speak to him not his friends and ask him what he wants. I would defiantly find out if he plans to work for you long term before canvassing more work and training him further

[gewindows]

I think that's a good point actually. Some won't see extra hours as being something they deserve. Some will see them as aright royal pain in the arriss, which is why they aren't self-employed.

Dont credit them with the same qualities or values as yourself Richy.

[keyser soze]

I don't think the main issue is that Richy's employee was skiving and lying; heck, we've all skived and lied at some stage or other; well okay, I can't speak for you lot, but I can for myself.  Richy's employee deserves action taken against him for doing what he did.

The problem was that Richy 'threw his employee about'.  If we harm someone out of anger, we may feel some superficial satisfaction, but deep down we know it was wrong. The result is that our confidence will be undermined. How?  Well, if we can't control ourselves, what can we control?

And the situation was the result of fear.  Richy makes himself sound like the 'hard man', but he did what he did because he was frightened.  He was frightened that that his employee was taking the mick out of him, he was frightened because of what others thought of him.  He was frightened that he's 'not man enough' to control his employees.  That's what really annoyed Rich, IMO, and that's why he got aggressive.

Rich is pushed around by his fear - he has little control of himself; hence he did what he did.

Well, those are my thoughts; I'm not a mind reader, but I think I've got a fairly good grasp on human nature.

sorry mate but thats rubbish... he was annoyed like i would have been .

[Deangsi]

I don't think the main issue is that Richy's employee was skiving and lying; heck, we've all skived and lied at some stage or other; well okay, I can't speak for you lot, but I can for myself.  Richy's employee deserves action taken against him for doing what he did.

The problem was that Richy 'threw his employee about'.  If we harm someone out of anger, we may feel some superficial satisfaction, but deep down we know it was wrong. The result is that our confidence will be undermined. How?  Well, if we can't control ourselves, what can we control?

And the situation was the result of fear.  Richy makes himself sound like the 'hard man', but he did what he did because he was frightened.  He was frightened that that his employee was taking the mick out of him, he was frightened because of what others thought of him.  He was frightened that he's 'not man enough' to control his employees.  That's what really annoyed Rich, IMO, and that's why he got aggressive.

Rich is pushed around by his fear - he has little control of himself; hence he did what he did.

Well, those are my thoughts; I'm not a mind reader, but I think I've got a fairly good grasp on human nature.

sorry mate but thats rubbish... he was annoyed like i would have been .

Aymen

[richywilts]

I don't think the main issue is that Richy's employee was skiving and lying; heck, we've all skived and lied at some stage or other; well okay, I can't speak for you lot, but I can for myself.  Richy's employee deserves action taken against him for doing what he did.

The problem was that Richy 'threw his employee about'.  If we harm someone out of anger, we may feel some superficial satisfaction, but deep down we know it was wrong. The result is that our confidence will be undermined. How?  Well, if we can't control ourselves, what can we control?

And the situation was the result of fear.  Richy makes himself sound like the 'hard man', but he did what he did because he was frightened.  He was frightened that that his employee was taking the mick out of him, he was frightened because of what others thought of him.  He was frightened that he's 'not man enough' to control his employees.  That's what really annoyed Rich, IMO, and that's why he got aggressive.

Rich is pushed around by his fear - he has little control of himself; hence he did what he did.

Well, those are my thoughts; I'm not a mind reader, but I think I've got a fairly good grasp on human nature.

why have i tried to make out im a hard man tosh? i stated in OP that this is really out of character for me im one of the most laid back people you could meet which is prob my downfall when being a manager

[gary999]

I had a boss, once, that grabbed hold of me and threw me around a bit. It's not nice and I'm not ashamed to say I cried for days, after.
I went to the police but I didn't take it further but believe me, she didn't do it again.
It made her realise that you can't go round putting your hands on people, even if I was a friend of her grandson. 

mr alderton you are star

[richywilts]

sorry not the original post second post i made

[Tom White]

why have i tried to make out im a hard man tosh? i stated in OP that this is really out of character for me im one of the most laid back people you could meet which is prob my downfall when being a manager

Okay, I inferred you were making yourself out a 'hard man' from posts like this:

coz i will flip if they put a foot wrong n take me for a mug

he best not ever try and take me for a pr**k again

But I don't know you and I always reserve the right to be wrong.

Apologies.

[richywilts]

why have i tried to make out im a hard man tosh? i stated in OP that this is really out of character for me im one of the most laid back people you could meet which is prob my downfall when being a manager

Okay, I inferred you were making yourself out a 'hard man' from posts like this:

coz i will flip if they put a foot wrong n take me for a mug

he best not ever try and take me for a pr**k again

But I don't know you and I always reserve the right to be wrong.

Apologies.

i wasnt implying i would use violence again or that im hard i was hoping that now the others and the employee i attacked will now think again before deciding to try and mug me off and that i will stand up for myself when backed into a corner where i have to make a stance i was worried that this was maybe a habit they were carrying out daily the two in question have only been working for me since about november

[Tom White]

Fair one, mate.  Look, for what it's worth, I've always found that a level headed, cold clear explanation of what a problem is and what I exactly require to rectify the situation, works better than any emotional temper tantrum.

If you find you have to keep repeating yourself, put them on a 1/2/3 month written warning (your choice) with weekly interviews to give them constructive feedback.

If that doesn't work, sack 'em.  It's a simple procedure; just document it as you go through it and get your employee to sign your interview notes to ensure that you have your umbrella in place in case he should take legal action against you. 

At no stage should we lose our temper.  I've managed many soldiers and only one window cleaner (who didn't last long before I sacked him - he was constantly late), but soldiers and window cleaners are still human beings; the same principles apply.

[richywilts]

Fair one, mate.  Look, for what it's worth, I've always found that a level headed, cold clear explanation of what a problem is and what I exactly require to rectify the situation, works better than any emotional temper tantrum.

If you find you have to keep repeating yourself, put them on a 1/2/3 month written warning (your choice) with weekly interviews to give them constructive feedback.

If that doesn't work, sack 'em.  It's a simple procedure; just document it as you go through it and get your employee to sign your interview notes to ensure that you have your umbrella in place in case he should take legal action against you. 

At no stage should we lose our temper.  I've managed many soldiers and only one window cleaner (who didn't last long before I sacked him - he was constantly late), but soldiers and window cleaners are still human beings; the same principles apply.

i do give written warning etc and sit down with staff but this past year ive had a high turnover of staff and to be honest ive not been getting the chance to give three month periods etc where they must improve so prob felt like i had to make a bit of an impact and statement to them

having a meeting tmoz am and will be addressing the issue and apologising to not just the employee but all staff

[Tom White]

having a meeting tmoz am and will be addressing the issue and apologising to not just the employee but all staff

I think that will gain you more respect than anything else you could do.

[rosskesava]

Richy, reading this thread and trying to make sense of it is like trying to grab hold of water.

You claim to be so laid back. I'm not laid back at all and I've never done that to an employee so I would suggest from that and other things you wrote, you are not 'laid back'. You wrote above about being 'mugged off' yet you don't see your part in allowing that to happen. You say you are the boss yet your employees seem to have the upper hand.

There's been some very good advice given in these 8 pages yet you seem to reject it all and carry on with the same attitude that seems to have led to the problem to start with and not once have you acknowledged that any of it may be of use or worth heeding.

You won't even admit what you did was wrong even if it is to a degree understandable. You wrote that you weren't implying you'd use violence again yet you used that once already. You wrote that you, as the boss, will stand up for yourself when backed into a corner? How will you do that?

It is blindingly obvious to me that you need firstly to admit you need outside help on how to manage and secondly, you would be well advised to listen to the advice of those who have already been the boss and have already employed people.

There really are some excellent management courses and there are also some incredibly good courses about dealing with conflict in the workplace as that type of problem you had is very common. Otherwise, carry on as you are and carry on having these types of problems.

Also, about the employee concerned, you wrote he is a loner yet you want him to go canvasing? Maybe canvasing is just too far outside his comfort zone hence the unwillingness, yes?

[richywilts]

ive agreed i would benefit from going on a course and ive acknowledged on the thread that I disagreeertiveness prob boils down to my lack of confidence and depression etc last year and whole host of problem i had to deal with ive not be really managing the business more surviving and getting by, but  2013 has began and ive really made an effort with it being new year etc im feeling best ive felt in ages prob coz im getting up off my arse doing things now like canvassing which last year i found i real task due to feeling low etc and im actually loving it

i will certainly look into courses etc its obv having some sort of effect because in just over a week we have pulled in 44 new jobs

i dont really see how i can be too blame for them skiving tho, when u hire someone u put your trust in the especially wen there mates

[rosskesava]

i dont really see how i can be too blame for them skiving tho, when u hire someone u put your trust in the especially wen there mates

Yeah, depression and lack of confidence doesn't help things.

It is important to accept that you are responsible for what your employees do or don't do.

Employing mates? I'd be a bit uneasy about doing that because they will have a preconception about you.

Skiving is normal and not unusual. It's how much skiving they do and how much they think they can get away with. It's up to you as the boss to make make sure they do a level of work that is acceptable to you and not them. That where going on good courses comes in because their are some simple techniques to help with that.

Get in contact with your local business enterprise board or agency. Your local council should be able to help to point you in the right direction as well. That's a good place to start to find out what to do and where to go for advice, courses, etc.

[dave0123]

Richy with all the canvasing you do have u ever been threatened yet? or any other window cleaners come up do you give u cr**P! .. Ive had quite a bit of it when cleaning usually idiots with dirty rags and bangers of cars.

Just wondered if u have had the same problem? ive not heard u mention it at all.


Sorry to change subject just curious really