aibu....or am I the boss from hell?

[Emmon]

I run an office cleaning company and have been doing for 11 months. Obviously I am new to being an employer and will openly admit that I have a lot to learn when it comes to managing cleaners.

2 weeks ago one of my staff, who generally does an excellent job, had to put his dog to sleep for health problems. He asked for the day off which I gave him and went in myself to clean the site but as he had taken the key to the cleaning room home with him (where all the mops, vacuums etc are kept) I had to go home and leave the site not cleaned that day. I could have gone round to his house to get the key but decided to leave it as he was obviously having a dreadful day and did not want to add to his stress.

I raised a credit note to my client for work not done.

I also offered him three days PAID compassionate leave as I am a dog lover and know how horrible putting a pet to sleep is. He chose not to take me up on the offer of leave.

Today was payroll and I ask all my staff to get to me with a time sheet. On his time sheet he had claimed for every day and told me he did this as he had tagged 20 minutes extra cleaning on to make up his hours. He did not get my permission to do this.

I spoke to the client who said they were not prepared to pay for this unauthorized overtime as it did not get round the fact cleaning was not done for this day.

I contacted him and told him I would pay for these extra hours as he had done them in good faith but he could not do this again as the whole episode has now left me out of pocket. Legally I do not have to pay him for these extra hours.

He has now emailed his resignation and told me if I give him any more trouble he would not bother working his notice.

I am in shock... offering compassionate leave for a dog! Paying him for time the client will not refund me for. I feel that I have bent over backwards for him.

Is he out of order or am I?

[Uppermid]

He is, let him go

[CatsCantFlyFast]

He is. Sounds as though you've done everything you could to be more than fair, reasonable and kind. Unfortunately being an employer you get to realise not all people are as nice/reasonable/normal as they initially seem. These kind of situations will arise over and over again, don't sweat it

[nosleeps]

Assuming I have understood your post, take his resignation, in fact grab it with both hands. He sounds like he is taking the piss. There should be plenty of people happy to fill his shoes.

[StuntGirl]

He is beyond out of order and to be honest has taken advantage of your extreme generosity. Let him leave. He'll struggle to find another job with such flexibility!

PS - Can I come work for you? You sound lovely.

[gonerogue]

He is, you have been more than reasonable. If you kept him on there would be another issue in another few months. Save yourself the hassle and find someone who would be happy to be that lucky with an employer like you.

Compassionate leave for a pet... That's a new one on me. Certainly not paid, would have to be holidays if I took time for that.

[littlebitofthislittlebitofthat]

you went further than a lot of employers would... I used to work in hr so i know that you have been more than reasonable. show him the door...make sure he leaves his keys!

[SolomanDaisy]

He sounds like a fool! He's going to find it hard to find an employer as understanding as you. I would reply that you don't need him to work his notice. It's not like it's difficult to recruit people at the minute.

[OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly]

You're lucky to be rid of him, and can I come and work for you? 3 day's leave for a dog, wow! (and I am a dog lover too!)

Oh have just seen his last comment (charmer, that's practically a threat) - I'd take him up on the offer and give him his wages and not have him back - you never know what issues he could cause you on his last week in work.

[babanouche]

Sounds like he's not bothered about the job any more tbh.

[Icelollycraving]

He is,seeya!!

[Greydog]

he is way out of order. The big company I work for wouldn't have had the same compassion if it had been his mother.

[WorraLiberty]

He is out of order

But why in the world is there only one key to such an important cupboard?

[twentythirteen]

You don't want to keep him, this is your way out.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Wave him goodbye, he sounds very entitled. You, on the other hand, sound like a very decent employer.

[LovesBeingWokenEveryNight]

You have gone over and above what is expected and his actions are exactly why many people don't. He's trying it on!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

He is out of order. You are a very very nice boss and he thinks he can take advantage of this.

[TattyDevine]

Its the client's cupboard, by the sounds of it, so the key is down to them Worra, I think?

[WorraLiberty]

Oh I see Tatty, didn't think of that.

[bumperella]

I'd get the champagne out - he's resigned, he sounds like he'd be a PITA.
I think you were maybe being overly-generous in offering him 3 days paid compassionate leave; he maybe thought you were a soft touch and he could therefore take the p*ss.
Tell him if he doesn't work his notice then that would be reflected in any reference you gave him in future. Also point out that you have no desire to "make trouble for him", but to refer to his contract of employment or ask you for clarification over anything he is unsure of during his remaining employment with you.

[CloudsAndTrees]

He's taking the piss, but there is a chance he has seen you as a soft touch and is now just pissed off that he didn't get to take advantage as much as he'd wanted.

I think you need to toughen up a bit, you sound too nice!

[PetiteRaleuse]

YANBU, and I would start taking notes immediately of what has happened, what you ave given and his timekeeping etc until the end of his contractjust in case he starts planning trouble. Twat.

You sound lovely. When I had a miscarriage a few years ago I got one day off for the d&c which was on a Friday, and was told I was expected back at work on the Monday. My former boss was a twat though.

[GuffSmuggler]

That threat on the end of his resignation letter is absolutely disgusting, talk about a slap in the face for being so kind to him when his dog died (am wondering now if his dog did really die).

Agree with others, tell him you don't need him to work his notice and get rid asap. Who knows what sabotage mission he'll be on now!

PS Also be grateful he has resigned!! It is so hard to sack people these days.

[Emmon]

tbh I think I have gone WAY TOO FAR! I am a dog lover myself and have 3 rescue dogs (my display name Emmon is the name of our senior dog)

Sometimes people can mistake kindness for weakness and I am a big softy. I am hardening up but have a long way to go.

I am so glad you have all validated my opinion. I cannot let him go without the notice as I have another cleaner on annual leave so I am covering his site at the moment.

I intend to wait until his last day and turn up to make damn sure I get that key. As worra has quite rightly pointed out I need to get another key cut for that cupboard.

On the last day I will tell him to sling his hook, inform him I am declining to give him a reference and tell him I am deducting the 3 hours unauthorized overtime from his next pay packet. I have an overpayment clause in my contract so I am well within my rights to do this.

My husband says he sounds like a total tosser.

[FasterStronger]

He chose not to take me up on the offer of leave.

I think he is embarrassed which is why he is being so OTT.

[PureQuintessence]

I agree that you should tell him you dont need him to work his notice, but ensure you get the key back.

He sounds like an idiot.