[Mrs Nicholls]

i have received info back from the centre manager, and the staff covering this contract.

we have decided that mopping is done earlier so floor is dry before patients arrive - and hopefully dont slip.

and he is worried that the yellow signs pose a trip hazard! so has asked for them to be placed on a chair in the cleaning area so it is clearly visable.

He has also changed the floor cleaner, its was the usual flash floor cleaner, but now its a product called Carefree Stride 1000 neutral ph apparently, and im wondering if this is causing the slips if the cleaners arent diluting it correctly.
Anyone used this product or know anything about it on certain floor types?
The persons slipping (apparently there were 2 separate incidents) were not injured. (thankfully)

Thanks
Lisa

[Bertie Boo]

Hi Lisa

What makes you wonder if the cleaners were not diluting it correctly......?

Stephen

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi

The centre manager says he has provided appropriate measuring equipment to dilute the product properly, and i was thinking if they arent using it as they should ( i know they are a pain and just do what they want most the time), they might have too much product in the water and its leaving a slippy film on the floor.

i'm going to the premises next week, suprise visit..... i want to see if everything is getting done by the book.
If i do everthing i can and look proactive we might just keep this contract after the trial ends in november.

[Bertie Boo]

 i know they are a pain and just do what they want most the time, they might have too much product in the water and its leaving a slippy film on the floor.

Hi Lisa

Oh dear, this is what i hoped you wouldnt say.......

Stephen

[Mrs Nicholls]

oh dear.

well you know the saying, cant teach an old dog new tricks, these cleaners of ours are older than us and think they know it all, even after giving training on slips trips, product knowledge (except that new product), and all that they still do it their own way. More supervision is required i think.

What can you do, after you have repeated yourself over and over, i know written warning time that should pull a few socks up

[Bertie Boo]

Hi lisa

I'm not critisising you or your methods, i know you know that, but i am wondering if you issue a written warning for it whether the staff will just leave?

An old lady who i clean for -who herself was a cleaner all her life (she has me to help as she is very frail now) said that her boss used to ration all the materials in order that tehy were not wasted. Products were signed out, detergents were given in measured doses etc. I dont know if you could apply this ?

Cheers

Stephen

[Mrs Nicholls]

We do this already with kit bag items (used for domestic cleans) everything has to go through me, i started doing this a month ago, as certain people (as in pain in the bottom already mentioned) liked to ask for a lot of things saying she was running low, but had half a bottle left kind of thing, dont know what she was doing with it, probably drinking it  , but now that she has to sign for it she doesnt ask very often,

i also check kit bags on a monthly basis 'my stock check', so i know and they know im checking the usage. i try to get them to use portion control, and they are trained in all this during induction,

 its nowing coming up to 6 months, so a review is in order, and practical test, observation, and theory. Im awful i know but it helps keep track of whats needed in training and development terms.

The thing with this contract is we dont supply anything, so i cant really ration anything out. Not even sure if the med centre manager explained the usage, or just left the measure in with the bottle. i wasnt informed of this until after the incidents, COSHH details are with it.

I think i need to invest my time, or even the supervisor (biz partner) to ensure everyone is trained to standards, as things may have slipped. 

[Bertie Boo]

Lisa

I think you need to ditch the biz partner like you talked about before and then get a grip on this succesful business of yours to make sure it doesnt go   ti ts up.

I dont think you are awful, i think you are correct (indeed to be commended) for wanting to inspect and examine the working methods of your staff.

This is the sort of thing that was in my decision to work alone - i worried that staff would not take the job as seriously as me and in such circumstances i knew i would not have the skills to deal with it. I admire you. Its been suggested that i am unambitious, 'boring', and taking the easy option by doing what i do, its all true of course, but its the only way i can operate without being stressed. I dont like stress 

Good luck girl 

Stephen

[dhnjj]

well you know the saying, cant teach an old dog new tricks, these cleaners of ours are older than us and think they know it all, even after giving training on slips trips, product knowledge (except that new product), and all that they still do it their own way. More supervision is required i think.

What can you do, after you have repeated yourself over and over, i know written warning time that should pull a few socks up

Hi Lisa

I went into management at a young age where most of the staff were alot older and/or had been in the profession alot longer, they tried this dominance thing with me and I soon learnt I had to toughen up which I did. They eventually realised it was my way or the highway!
It is difficult because you dont want to offend them and If your like me, its bred into you to respect your elders but this is a business, your business. All it takes is some assertiveness with these pair. They will soon come to accept you as the person in authority if the want to keep their jobs.

Regards

Dave

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi Stephen

Thanks for your kind words, its really good to get all this out in the open, and its even better when people understand your situation, so thank you for your thoughts and opinions, really appreciated.

just one thing, if you had a businss partner, would u discipline them for a wrong doing, or do you think this would cause a bad atmos?

another story from this med centre, she walked into a nurses room where a lady was having her smear taken! when the nurse shouted not to come in when she knocked the door, but she barged in anyway ! biz partner didnt tell me, centre manager did 3 days after it happen! i was furious. If this was a cleaner, i would have dragged them into the office and issued a written warning there and then.

its laughable, when i confronted her she just shrugged her shoulders and pulled a face, to say oh well, wasnt my fault, who cares, couldnt do anything about it.

Hi Dave, Perhaps i would benefit from an assertiveness class, i do like to stamp my feet though, but i dont like to upset people as it upsets me, i need to get back to the b i tch i was in my teens, i didnt take any sh it back then lol

[mark dew]

Lisa, it sounds like the lunatics have taken over the asylum.
Get rid of your partner (if you can) and then you can concentrate on bringing your nutters into line.
Don't let the tail wag the dog. It doesn't need to be that stressful.
Not if you don't want it to be??
Good luck.

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi Mark

your post made me laugh, thanks.

i think it is true, they have taken over. i finally managed to get biz partner to sign partnership agreement today which says i can go through a discipline procedure, i just dont want to cause bad atmos between us as we are good friends. Also she can drag me through the same procedure if she feels i need pulling into line.

i need to have a drinky and chill. Current problem, a key has gone walk about and no-one knows where......hay ho!

you gotta laugh i spose

[dhnjj]

Hi Lisa

yes, be assertive and always be able to justify what you say to them and you shouldnt have a problem.

Sorry to read you lost a key, could you not set up a key holder system, designating named staff as key holders, pay them alittle more for the responsibility. dot them around the map so that your cleaners can go to them to collect the keys. The key holders could collect them the night before. Cleaners would be happier cause their keyholder would be closer to them. Keyholders would be happy cause they recieve alittle more in their wage packet. Just a thought 

As for the business partner, it sounds to me as if she's just a partner on paper, but that might not be because she's useless, it could be that she see's you as more experienced or you deal with things better or that you may unknowingly overshadow her. I would say sit down at the local coffee shop, discuss each of your roles and responsibilities in the business, set yourselves targets, aims, goals, whether they be personal goals like, "Lisa to be more assertive" or business goals like "other partner to organise designated key holders" Set timescales/deadlines for these and record them down in the form of an action plan. A month later go back to the coffee shop, discuss the previous meeting, tick off what you have done and set some new goals. This should keep communication open with you and your business partner and may help you both to see your responsibilities clearly. Then if after several meetings she hasnt improved consider the other options. plus you'll have all the evidence you need on your action plan 

Regards

Dave

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi
Thsnks for your input, that sounds like a plan i would stick to but not her, shes a yeah yeah whatever u say person. But syill as u say, it will set goals, might make her realise what her responsibilities are and mine also.

i didnt lose a key i just thought i did, seems like ive been a head less chicken lol the customer hadnt even given us a key yet!! saved.