So I ask this in the video, AND I sincerely would love to know: what's the weirdest, craziest excuse an employee has ever given you for being late or not meeting a deadline? I'd love to know!
Oo ive got one. I delegate tasks to her that i know she is capable of (i wouldnt ask the wrong person to do the wrong thing if they dont know how to do it). When I follow up on things a week later its always “oh i didnt know how!” “Oh i never got shown!” “I dont know where we keep this/that” theres always an excuse acting dumb when she fully knows and is actually a very smart individual, using that fact to her advantage manipulating colleagues with “fake stupidity”
That would be called passive-aggressive, for sure. Here's my suggestion: when you delegate, ask her "What do you need in order to complete this? Okay, do you have everything you need?" Also, make sure you give her a DUE DATE: the date by which you expect her to have completed the task. If she still doesn't do what you expect, you probably need to have the performance improvement conversation. Check out the link in the video description for the performance improvement plan checklist I offer on my website.
Hmmm. That's hard to debate. Here's the thing: Is he getting his work done on time, and with appropriate quality? If so ... let it go. If not, address the timeliness, completeness, and quality, *not* the arrival time.
My neighbor put a refrigerator on top of my car. Even crazier was that the neighbor did, in fact put a frdge on the employee car and the employee had to get help to get it removed. She truly was a great employee. Just had a random neighbor
We have a remote hybrid arrangement at our office (2 days in office. 3 days wfh). On top of that, there are allowances for working from home in cases of illness if you might get others in the office sick, family emrgencies, etc. There are a few certain individuals however that routinely take advantage of the wth policy, and will have reasons why they need to stay home on their office days. One of these individuals on Monday morning informed me that their spouse hurt their toe over the weekend, and needed to take them to the doctor that day, so couldn't come into the office. Okay... I suppose that's plausible that the doctors appointment would be so disruptive to the days schedule that you cant make it in. I rolled with it. Then comes Wednesday, this individuals next scheduled office day. I get another WFH request because their spouse has "officially" sprained their toe, and its "swollen", and they need to "rest" their foot. That's your reason? I'm sure that that is true that they need to rest their foot, but how does that preclude YOU from coming into the office? I think that was the strangest excuse I've been given.
Well. Yes, I would definitely agree there's some advantage being taken here, and some rather stretchy sorts of reasons. What was your response? I'd say this individual needs a little coaching on what is, and isn't, acceptable as a staying-home reason.
@@GraceJudson response was that I accepted the wfh request. But followed up with a team wide reminder the day after (since this was not the only individual taking seemingly advantage of this) that folks need to be in the office on their scheduled days, as it was starting to become a topic among management and that ultimately wfh is a privilege that may not be permanent if those who make that type of decision no longer see the benefit.
@@ajhil5653 Makes sense, and I hope it has the intended effect. You *may* find that you need to address the issue privately with some who might continue taking advantage. And issuing a team-wide reminder that this isn't a good path to go down is a good first step.
Well. Wow. That IS strange, and in fact, it's SO strange I kinda think I believe it (depending, of course, on other knowledge I'd have about the person in question). Love it. Thank you for sharing!
I have a personal appointment and then I have to go home to have a washing machine delivered. I said ok but show up at work the rest of the week. And she is in a cruise all next week. She’s lazy. This happens on Mondays and Thursday afternoons We don’t work on Friday. If I give her help I will encourage her laziness
My employee is telling me the truth ! He said (I didn’t sleep early) (I’m not in the mood) (I can’t focus on this task) and if he did a part of the task he said (at least I did it) ! I found it very strange
That's good, right? Do you feel like you're making progress? If you're her supervisor - it sounds like you are - having a forthright, honest conversation with her about what's happening is important. If the behavior continues, then you can put her on a performance plan. Dealing with people who aren't performing to expectations is HARD and uncomfortable, but it's also a part a being a manager and leader - and in a situation where one person isn't holding up their end of the workload, it's even more important because the other team members will get resentful and also start doing less - even the good ones.
So I ask this in the video, AND I sincerely would love to know: what's the weirdest, craziest excuse an employee has ever given you for being late or not meeting a deadline? I'd love to know!
Oo ive got one.
I delegate tasks to her that i know she is capable of (i wouldnt ask the wrong person to do the wrong thing if they dont know how to do it).
When I follow up on things a week later its always “oh i didnt know how!” “Oh i never got shown!” “I dont know where we keep this/that” theres always an excuse acting dumb when she fully knows and is actually a very smart individual, using that fact to her advantage manipulating colleagues with “fake stupidity”
That would be called passive-aggressive, for sure.
Here's my suggestion: when you delegate, ask her "What do you need in order to complete this? Okay, do you have everything you need?"
Also, make sure you give her a DUE DATE: the date by which you expect her to have completed the task.
If she still doesn't do what you expect, you probably need to have the performance improvement conversation. Check out the link in the video description for the performance improvement plan checklist I offer on my website.
Grown man said he had to poop everyday when he needed to leave the house.. always late
Hmmm.
That's hard to debate.
Here's the thing: Is he getting his work done on time, and with appropriate quality?
If so ... let it go. If not, address the timeliness, completeness, and quality, *not* the arrival time.
My neighbor put a refrigerator on top of my car. Even crazier was that the neighbor did, in fact put a frdge on the employee car and the employee had to get help to get it removed. She truly was a great employee. Just had a random neighbor
That is well beyond bizarre! (And I can relate to the random-neighbor thing, though I can't say it's ever involved things happening to my car!)
We have a remote hybrid arrangement at our office (2 days in office. 3 days wfh). On top of that, there are allowances for working from home in cases of illness if you might get others in the office sick, family emrgencies, etc. There are a few certain individuals however that routinely take advantage of the wth policy, and will have reasons why they need to stay home on their office days.
One of these individuals on Monday morning informed me that their spouse hurt their toe over the weekend, and needed to take them to the doctor that day, so couldn't come into the office. Okay... I suppose that's plausible that the doctors appointment would be so disruptive to the days schedule that you cant make it in. I rolled with it.
Then comes Wednesday, this individuals next scheduled office day. I get another WFH request because their spouse has "officially" sprained their toe, and its "swollen", and they need to "rest" their foot.
That's your reason?
I'm sure that that is true that they need to rest their foot, but how does that preclude YOU from coming into the office?
I think that was the strangest excuse I've been given.
Well. Yes, I would definitely agree there's some advantage being taken here, and some rather stretchy sorts of reasons.
What was your response?
I'd say this individual needs a little coaching on what is, and isn't, acceptable as a staying-home reason.
@@GraceJudson response was that I accepted the wfh request. But followed up with a team wide reminder the day after (since this was not the only individual taking seemingly advantage of this) that folks need to be in the office on their scheduled days, as it was starting to become a topic among management and that ultimately wfh is a privilege that may not be permanent if those who make that type of decision no longer see the benefit.
@@ajhil5653 Makes sense, and I hope it has the intended effect.
You *may* find that you need to address the issue privately with some who might continue taking advantage. And issuing a team-wide reminder that this isn't a good path to go down is a good first step.
Strangest excuse I've heard: a live squirrel was stuck in my car's engine
3 hours late.
Well. Wow. That IS strange, and in fact, it's SO strange I kinda think I believe it (depending, of course, on other knowledge I'd have about the person in question).
Love it. Thank you for sharing!
Mine says this all the time
I have a personal appointment and then I have to go home to have a washing machine delivered. I said ok but show up at work the rest of the week. And she is in a cruise all next week. She’s lazy. This happens on Mondays and Thursday afternoons We don’t work on Friday. If I give her help I will encourage her laziness
My employee is telling me the truth !
He said (I didn’t sleep early) (I’m not in the mood) (I can’t focus on this task) and if he did a part of the task he said (at least I did it) !
I found it very strange
It sounds like a lot of excuses for why he's not doing his job! What was your response?
My car caught on fire. 😱 🔥
Well, that's a new one on me...
I sounded doubtful so she came around with her own solution to be at work longer today
That's good, right? Do you feel like you're making progress?
If you're her supervisor - it sounds like you are - having a forthright, honest conversation with her about what's happening is important. If the behavior continues, then you can put her on a performance plan.
Dealing with people who aren't performing to expectations is HARD and uncomfortable, but it's also a part a being a manager and leader - and in a situation where one person isn't holding up their end of the workload, it's even more important because the other team members will get resentful and also start doing less - even the good ones.