Should this person be fired?

[Red State Rebel]

My husband are in slight disagreement on how to handle this...I don't think hubby doesn't agree what happened was wrong, but he doesn't want to have to fire anyone.

We have an employee who has been marginal at best, works very slow, delivers pizza on a few nights and weekends so he won't take a service call after 3 on these days. Has been known to just turn off his cell phone so he can't be dispatched to any other calls if he's ready to go home in the afternoon.

We have a heating and air conditioning business and prompt service calls are something I really strive for. I hate being made wait by a late service technician or not being told if there is going to be told of any delay.

We had a service call for noon. The customer called shortly after that and asked when our tech would be there. Greg told him in 15 or 20 minutes. He then dispatched the call to the errant service tech. 10 minutes later, the tech comes into the office and is messing around at the front desk - I saw him, gave him the address for the call and told him we needed to get there. He messed around a bit more and left. 15 minutes later, the customer calls again. He couldn't wait and had to leave - we will have to reschedule. I called the tech to cancel the call and it was obvious he wasn't in his truck. I told him the call was cancelled and asked him where he was - he said he was on his way to the job. When Greg got back in the office 10 minutes later, I told him what happened - he drove by the techs house and sure enough, our company truck was sitting in his driveway. To my knowledge, an hour later now, the guy is still there. We haven't heard from him.

What would you do???

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Talk to him...

Tell him the situation and let him know that he has one more chance.

Brief conversation, don't even listen to his excuse.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. Welcome him to the Bush Economy

[radwriter0555]

3. You know the answer. You have to let him go, he is making YOU

look bad.

Not acceptable.

You could put a warning in writing and give him one chance to clear things up, but even that's being extraordinarily generous.

[TXlib]

7. Agreed.

He is costing you future business.

Ask youself if the people to whom he responds would repeat thei rbusiness with you.

You can offer him one last chance, if you like, and give him a written list of expectations he must fulfill to remain employed by you, if you like, and make him sign it.

Or you could just give him the boot.

[Fleshdancer]

44. radwriter is right.

this employee is bad for business. Two million Americans lost their jobs in 2003...there are dedicated, strong working and ethical people out there who NEED a job...this person obviously isn't one of them.

[Turbineguy]

4. Suggest everyone might be happier

if he started working to re-(s)elect Bush and write a nice letter to the RNC on his behalf.

On edit: Sorry flippant answer.

He needs to go elsewhere.

[RebelOne]

5. Well, to put it bluntly, I would fire his ass.

This employee could cost you loss of customers.

[daveskilt]

6. I related this to my class right now

Im sitting in a service operations class. They think if you have enough previous documentation on the guy and can replace him you should fire him post haste. Thus sayeth the graduating MBA class at UGA

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

41. Which begs the question,

what the hell are you doing reading webboards in class?

[daveskilt]

46. I never said I was a GOOD student

just a student.

[adriennel]

8. it sounds like...

you are working around his schedule, instead of the other way around. If this was my business, I'd be pissed at his leisurely attitude. His actions indicate he values neither his employer's time or his customer's time. This does not send a good message to anyone.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. First off, Frankly...

You need to assert yourself a little more. If there is a customer waiting on a service tech and he's fiddle farting around in the office, go to him and let him know that if he doesn't do his job, he will lose it. Honestly you've probably let it go too far and now he feels that no matter what he does, it's ok, because no one has ever said anything about it before. Rather than going in and saying, You need to do this...go in and say, "Johnny, listen, we have a client waiting and they've gotta go back to work. If you can't get this done, we'll find someone who can because you're losing us money."

Frankly, this makes your company look bad. If you want to be prompt, hire someone who knows you're the boss and also has the same goal of being prompt and professional. I get really pissed off if a company says they'll be at my house at noon but doesn't show up until 1 or 1:30. It's unprofessional, and lateless is one of my pet peeves. It looks like that unless this idiot really likes his job, that you need to replace him PDQ...

And I'm sorry if I sounded a little harsh. That kind of laziness pisses me off. And I feel sorry for bosses who feel like they have no control. Sweetie, it's truly your business, so run it like you want. And if that means laying into someone because you're sick of them being lazy, then so be it. If he doesn't like it, he can be replaced.
Duckie

[MSgt213]

10. Fire the guy right now don't wait. He's wasting your time and costing you

money. He in my opinion is showing you he does'nt want to work there and does respect you. You don't have to put up with because there are plenty of people who would be thankful for the job.

[muffin_man]

11. Do you have obligations to fill?

Will his laziness cost you customers and loss wages paying him for nothing? I can understand being tardy or missing a day here or there but this sounds like he just does not respect his job or your company. If he is not working for you he is working against you. If you like him personally I agree with the prev post saying to give him one more chance and don't even listen to the excuse. Unfortunately this "type" of worker rarely improves and at most can be mediocre. I can't stand people taking advantage of a good job as I'm sure he has "working" for you guys!:)

[DulceDecorum]

12. Have hubby check this out

it is a link describing an episode of King of the Hill.
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-250/epid-4241/

[MissMillie]

13. Above all, document the incident

I would give him one more chance, but I would have him read your version of the events and sign a copy for his personnel file.

Always always always document anything you do.

[madrchsod]

14. hire me!!!!

no, to far to drive.. tell him he isn`t working out and fire him. tell him you`ll give him a "recommendation" if another employer calls for referral. i`m sure you`ll find a good employee.

[muffin_man]

15. Quick vote count

Hes OUTTA THERE!!

[Career Prole]

16. One thing I haven't seen mentioned...

...but you've probably thought of already...you should cut the customer a deal to make amends for the no-show. Very important to head off the negative word-of-mouth with summer upon us.

[khashka]

17. Fire his ass

You have a business to run - you need people who will do their jobs well and make you look good. Ideally, you want customers who will recommend you to their friends and family. That doesn't happen that often. What does happen is people griping about what bad service they got from your company. Good work won't necessarily get you good word of mouth, but bad service will almost always get you bad word of mouth.

Also, if he's so negligent and has such a "so what?" attitude to you and your husband (who are paying his wages), imagine how he must act with your customers!

So fire his ass. With the Bu$h economy, there are competent, able people out there to replace him. People who will take the job seriously and do it to the best of their ability - which is what your company needs.

Khash.

[Mr.Green93]

18. delivers pizza? when he could be doing side jobs.

too bad this guy doesn't appreciate what a good opportunity HVAC can be. Get rid of him.

[MsFlorida]

19. Make sure you can do without

HVAC is in very HIGH demand. He will simply go somewhere else. Also, to avoid a lawsuit, its a very good idea to not provide a "bad" reference but only dates of employment.

Good luck.

[zebrathirtythree]

20. What would you do???

Outsource his job to a better employee.

[donco6]

21. In this economy, there's no reason to keep him.

He's hurting your business and costing you money. He's toast.

[daveskilt]

24. wow who says democrats aren't capitalists?

no one even asked if he had a family to support etc. just "axe the lazy bastard"

on edit: oops meant to reply to first post - whole thread not just this one post

[TXlib]

25. Why should that be a concern?

You're in business to make money -- not to support mooches.

[daveskilt]

28. hey im not disagreeing

the socialist model though is each according to his need. of course this guy isnt really fulfilling the first part about each according to his ability. dont have to convince me about the value of capitalism as I finish up my MBA its all Ive talked about for 2 years.

I am just surprised not to see a single post asking the questions the freepers would scream about us being the ones to ask. I mean go to freeper land post the same thing and they will all say the same thing as everyone here - can the guy (as I also said earlier) then ask what they think we would say - they will go on and on about bleeding heart liberals keeping the guy on so he can support his family and calling him disabled because he is clinically lazy etc.

I just thought it was interesting that no one posting on this is really all that far left.

[BiggJawn]

33. Hey, he can just ratchet up the pizza running...

He won't starve....Maybe.

That's the thing about "The Great American Business Dream", if you don't work, you don't eat. I act like this guy, I get warned once. I continue to fuck-off, I join the ranks fighting for hours at Walmmart.

[democracyindanger]

26. They're not running a charity n/t

[daveskilt]

30. oh i agree - see my other post fire him and the horse he rode in on

[rock]

22. You explained it well to us

Now explain it well to him, with your husband present (show them your post). Perhaps you will all come to the same conclusion about what to do.

[lojasmo]

23. Give him a warning

document 2 blatant infractions, and fire his A$$

[Mrs. Venation]

27. I Would Talk To Him

Maybe the problem isn't laziness at all. I suffer from clinical depression, and there are times when I simply cannot function. Ask him if there is anything he's dealing with that is causing his performance to be unacceptable. Be honest about your requirements and expectations; I think it's a good idea to have a written statement to review with him and then have him sign if he agrees to your terms of employment.

If he's simply a lazy, disrespectful, insolent jerk, be firm and tell him he has one more screw-up and he's gone.

[Bonhomme Richard]

29. I'd replace him because he obviously doesn't .............

care about your organization or customer service. Either way it's a loser for you.
Sometimes it just isn't worth spending any time trying to change people and he is probably in the wrong line of work.

[Nlighten1]

31. Write him up.

Document the problems before you fire him.

[Skittles]

32. His behavior is unacceptable

I really believe in giving people second chances. Document said warning and fire him if his behavior does not change.

[BiggJawn]

34. What IS it about part-time pizza drivers?

I've worked with 2 guys in my career who worked Pizza part-time in addition to their "Day Job". you'd think a guy working 2 jobs would be a real "go-getter", right?

Wrong. Screw-offs, both of them.

[Donkeyboy75]

43. Maybe these guys

are hedging their bets.

[baldguy]

35. Lying, Malingering. Incompetence.

Three strikes.

[geniph]

36. Time for a meeting with him

<shudder> I hate those kinds of meetings worse than poison, but it's time to sit him down and lay it on the line. "Look, you cost us a good customer here. I don't know what's going on with you, but I have to be able to rely on you to be at a customer's site when you say you'll be there, and not be at your house. We saw the truck in your driveway, okay? so we know you were at home when you said you were on your way. If you can't be relied on, I can't afford to keep you, so please don't let this happen again."

Document the meeting, keep it in your files, and if it happens again, document the circumstances and let him go.

[cath]

37. Fire the bum

now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Red State Rebel]

38. Thank you all for your confirmation - we agree, he has to go..

Now is a slower time for us - a lot of techs are usually laid off this time of year, but we have managed to stay just busy enough to keep everyone on.

This will give us time to find a replacement before the hot weather hits and things get crazy.

[Whitacre D_WI]

39. Make sure to read MissMillie's post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x953795#953862

DOCUMENT. He could sue (not that he has grounds, but stranger things have happened) if he is dismissed outright. Put a formal warning in his personnel file; and then, if he fails to DO HIS JOB again -- fire his lazy ass. In this economy, there are PLENTY of hard-working people who would love to take his place.

[name not needed]

40. Show him Republican Job Growth

Direct him to the nearest unemployment office. Then take away the unemployment office.

[rucky]

42. Fire his ass

I didn't read the story, but if you have to ask I know the answer.

there's too many people who want to work. even skilled like HVAC.

[Mr.Green93]

45. http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/index.php