WWYD: Team member accidently sent me a...mail

[Junestepe]

WWYD: Employee accidently sent me voice note via TEAMs outlining how they were hungover in work today. They were supposedly WFH and didnt attend team meetings were uncontactable for large parts of the day, they provided excuses BUT they just accidently sent me a voice note meant for a friend detailing their hangover and elaborate cover story for not attending meetings/not working today!!!

Employee is senior, established team member who can go rouge from time time but over all is a solid performer.

WWYD: How do I handle this? Person works full time remote. I don't want to fire them...don't want to involve HR..but I want deal with this appropriately and send the correct message so the incident is never repeated. I'm a new manager so your advice appreciated! Thank you

Yet if your child's teachers, doctors turned up for work in that state no doubt you would be here demanding blood!

It's not being a jobsworth to expect people to do the job they're actually paid to do. I wouldn't be impressed if I felt unwell but still worked while a pisshead thought it was okay to toss it off all day.
I'm quite shocked by how many pp think it's okay to do this. It's really not

For all you know, it wasn't a mistake at all that you got the message. Maybe he gets a kick out of seeing what he can get away with.

Hahahahaha, fucking hell. Mumsnet is insane sometimes.

She decided not to come back - which makes me think the whole thing was an attempt to generate some anti-WFH material for the Mail or the Express.

Assume this wasn't meant for me however I will speak to HR and put you down for a days holiday.

Totally agree.

Op, if you like just a conversation with him that he should not do this regularly. But no need to involve HR if he is good otherwise

This

The op has gone rouge, just like her staff member!

Hi "name" I just thought you should know that you sent this to me, & that you should take into consideration that you are getting paid whilst pretending to work is breach of conduct. So I while I consider my next action, going up the ladder, deducting a day's holiday. (whatever) I thought I'd suggest you fess up to save any more embarrassment.
& in future do your benders on the w/e

It would be instant dismissal in my place of work

Acknowledge the voicemail. Tell him that you appreciate his work so on this occasion you'll allow him to take the day as annual leave (or a personal/duvet day if your company does them), but not to lie to you again.

Lets all be glad we don't work there then.

Really? How is it gross misconduct? The most it would incur is a written warning, surely?

We're not in some back wards country like the USA, where you can lose your job without notice in the whim of your manager...

How embarrassing 😂

Good idea. It reinforces "Don't make a habit of this but I'm not taking it further"

I think I'd opt for this response OP, especially if he's normally a reliable, pleasant employee. It lets him know you know but are asking him not to do it again. I think that's assertive and generous. If he does do it again, you can act with more certainty because you initially gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Effectively he had a duvet day as he felt too awful to focus. It was his own fault of course, but that is a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

However, only you know if this is becoming a pattern and whether you feel comfortable with this.

Another “manager” happy to take the pay to manage people but not wanting to actually do any management. <sigh>

who can go rogue from time time

What do you mean by this? Have there been other issues in the past?

If so, you might want to have a think about how this may be affecting the morale of other staff members, if he keeps getting let off for things.

@BrightonFrock@maudelovesharold I genuinely find this a very baffling feature of Mumsnet. People on here don't seem to understand the concept of working/being busy; sadly I can only conclude that it's genuinely a societal thing where Mums have no lives or careers to speak of. In NO other forum do you get that.

Btw yes I have lots of free (or rather unwisely used) time now as a self employed freelancer :-) in my career heyday I might not have had time to pop onto Mumsnet and sift through replies in half a day (it's only afternoon and OP last posted last night), or even 2-3 days or weeks at times. That's just life for everyone surely?!

Only rogues go rouge! 😁

This is what I'd do. Or suggest he call in sick if he's not ok to work. Don't understand why he didn't tbh.
It's affected his performance today, it's unprofessional and sets a bad example. But in the grand scheme of things it's not that big a deal if it isn't habitual. A little reminder not to take the pee is in order though. Sounds like he might have got a bit complacent.

Jeezo, lighten up.

Poor management to completely ignore, raise in a 1-2-1. You can’t ignore that kind of thing or you’ll have zero control of your team. Even if it’s to say it wasn’t appropriate

This is the time to prove what sort of Manager you are going to be ! A “jobsworth” micro manager or someone who can look at the bigger picture? Reply saying “ do you need an ambulance or shall we see you bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow? “ or something similar! The key thing is this is a good performer who you don’t want to loose! You also want them to know you are not a push over , you can laugh about this once.

Working from Home?????????????
This sums up my thoughts on why it is an utter P* take