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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be getting increasingly irritated and frustrated with new work colleague!.

37 replies

Lj8893 · 09/08/2013 20:55

We have had a new girl start at work, she has been with us about 2 weeks. We work in a clothing and homewear brand store.

She's young (about 19) and quite shy and introverted, which is not a problem but she's still struggling with talking to customers properly! Which is the main part of her job.

She doesn't seem to listen to anything she's told, training wise and I find myself repeating everything I say over and over.

Yesterday she was about 10 minutes late for her shift (not an issue, traffic happens and we were quiet) but she didn't come in and apologise or explain, just walked in as usual. She then decided 10 minutes before her shift was due to finish, that she needed the toilet. So she went up to the toilet and spent the entire 10 minutes up there before leaving work dead on time.

There are many many examples of her not listening, or not understanding what she is being asked to do, I can't go into them all!

At the end of trade today, a couple minutes before she was due to finish she started to walk off the shop floor, I called her back and asked her to quickly take the hangers out, we have 2 boxes for hangers behind the till that we empty end of day.
I would have done it myself but was busy beginning cash up.
She took one box, and when she came back I realised the other box was full up so I said
"Thanks, but there's still some hangers in that box too"
She said oh right, and just walked off the floor to finish her shift.

AIBU in thinking that espessially when your new in a job role, you should be doing it properly and listening to your colleagues, particularly those senior to you?

I'm really laid back about most things, in fact I'm renowned for being laid back and calm at work. But this girl is really starting to frustrate me, any advice?

Sorry for the huge essay!!

OP posts:
Juniperdewdropofbrandy · 09/08/2013 20:57

I'd be frustrated too. Did you interview her for this job?

There's so many keen young people out there looking for work. It's a shame you didn't get one of those.

Juniperdewdropofbrandy · 09/08/2013 20:58

Sorry you asked for advice. You can talk to management about your concerns. Do you run the shop? If so maybe have a chat with her privately?

Original poster
Lj8893 · 09/08/2013 21:00

No i didn't. My store manager did. I'm baffled as to how she got the job to be honest! She must have been a different person in the interview.

Unfortunately when she started my manager was on holiday so hasent actually had a proper chance to work with her yet to see what I am seeing!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lj8893 · 09/08/2013 21:01

Sorry, I'm a supervisor.
I have briefly discussed it with my manager but untill she works with her I don't think there's much she will do.

My managers lovely but a bit relaxed when it comes to staff coaching/disapline!

OP posts:
MariaLuna · 09/08/2013 21:02

Yes, I don't blame you for getting irate.

Most youngsters - I have one! - think they are owed a living these days.

and lots of them looking for any kind of job!

Hopefully they have the same labour laws in UK as where I live cos in the first month you can terminate a contract any day.

Veryhungrycaterpilla · 09/08/2013 21:03

Does she have previous retail experience? If this is her first proper job, maybe she doesn't understand timekeeping, punctuality etc. I agree it's annoying though. Maybe you could talk to her before she starts a shift and explain what you want from her on the shop floor?

bimbabirba · 09/08/2013 21:04

She sounds rubbish but if I try to put myself in her shoes perhaps she's very insecure and gets intimidated easily. She must be struggling and perhaps that's why she can't wait to go home. Perhaps give her a bit longer to settle in?

guiltyconscience · 09/08/2013 21:06

Give her a chance she may be much better after a couple more weeks it's still early days yet. I know it's very irritating for you and I would feel the same but we all have to learn and unfortunately not all ppl learn as quick as others. She doesn't sound as if she is enjoying the job I feel a little sorry for her prapps she is struggling with talking to you as well not just the customers.Bite your tongue and see if she improves,Good luck with the tongue biting op lol!

mrspaddy · 09/08/2013 21:10

This is very annoying. I don't work in retail but do have to oversee staff and I know about the going to the toilet issue!!! Any difficult situation in my role results in a particular person going to the toilet. Is the girl temporary/permanent.
My suggestion is to write down (in private) dates/times of particular issues arising - ie. not engaging with customers etc.
I think it is obvious she is not interested in the job but she needs a little more time.

I would be kind but quite firm - if she notices you are laid back at all she will take the you know what. So if, for example, she was to take the box of hangers but not the second box- I would firmly say - Excuse me (girls name) you have not completed that job - you need to make sure all you work is done before leaving for the day. Then at the end of the day/when she looks enthusiastic - compliment her.

Maybe, before you start your next shift together, say to her how important it is that she engages with customers, ensures sizes right etc. I think you are just going to have to spell everything out.

beals692 · 09/08/2013 21:19

When you say she doesn't seem to listen and you have to keep repeating yourself, do you mean that she doesn't seem to get what you are asking her to do - or that she does it the one time but then the next time she has forgotten/has to be told again?

Do you get a sense that she either has hearing problems or difficulty understanding things? Or do you think she just doesn't seem to care about doing the job? Or is she just not used to what is expected in the world of work?

ilovesooty · 09/08/2013 21:23

Do you have a formal induction programme for new employees?

ProphetOfDoom · 09/08/2013 21:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaptainSweatPants · 09/08/2013 21:33

Is it BHS?!

She must be on probation so presumably her contract won't be made permanent if she carries on like that

Original poster
Lj8893 · 09/08/2013 23:12

Thanks for all your comments, advice etc.

I think a mixture of tongue biting and calmly spelling things out is going to be the best route!

I know she is young, but to be honest I'm not much older and when I look back to myself at her age, we were worlds apart! I think that's part of the frustration!

Hopefully my manager will take on board what i (and others) have said and will look into it herself.

Thanks again all!

OP posts:
NeedSomeSun142 · 09/08/2013 23:27

I worked with a girl like this, she won't change, get rid!! although it's almost imppossible to sack people these days.

K8Middleton · 09/08/2013 23:37

Just talk to her and tell her! Do it at the time but in private. So if she strolls in 10 minutes late you need to say "X I need to speak to you. It is not acceptable to arrive 10 minutes late for work. Do not let it happen again please." If you expect her to make up the time tell her when you expect her to do this but don't presume because she's young she doesn't have caring responsibilities or child care issues you should be sensitive to (ie she may not be able to stay late at short notice so could possibly take a shorter lunch).

My advice would be the same whether she was 19 or 49 with 20 years retail experience. You are the supervisor, so supervise her.

K8Middleton · 09/08/2013 23:38

Oh and yabu to be annoyed by a situation you could easily influence.

Original poster
Lj8893 · 09/08/2013 23:50

K8, I have done all that. I asked her to make the time up, she said she couldn't as it would mean missing her last bus, I accepted that and just said that perhaps if her bus is regularly stuck in traffic she ought to think about getting an earlier bus.

I am telling her and coaching her with everything, but its like its going in one ear and out the other, hence my frustration!

OP posts:
blueshoes · 10/08/2013 00:15

Check the probationary period and use it, if necessary.

You don't owe her a living. I don't know how you change someone's attitude. They have to change it themselves but chances they won't do it without a serious kick to the behind. Leave that to her next employer.

Original poster
Lj8893 · 10/08/2013 00:21

Unfortunately hiring and firing isn't part of my job description and so looking into her probationary period etc isn't going to help me in this situation.

OP posts:
K8Middleton · 10/08/2013 00:30

Then i agree to telling your boss and let them deal with it. Yanbu to be irritated if you've said something and she still does it.

I bet she doesn't last long if she ignores you.

LapsedPacifist · 10/08/2013 00:42

YABU - she's a teenager and only been there 2 weeks!

Tell her what's she's doing wrong - every time.

You need to spell out exactly what she needs to do. Tell her to explain herself if she's a few minutes late - it's not acceptable behaviour - and that she's only allowed to go to the loo at certain times etc.

She sounds a bit thick TBH - or else she has some learning difficulties. Either way, that's no reason at all to sack her. You just need to train her properly.

FeetUpUntilChristmas · 10/08/2013 05:02

I too feel this is a training issue, not that you ave done anything wrong OP but just that the new employee is not understanding what is acceptable. This might be her first job, you haven't interviewed her so I am assuming you don't know her background.

Are you directly responsible for her and is training her your sole responsibility or have you taken her under your wing as supervisor and really training etc is up to your manager? One of you needs to address the situation.

Everything you have said such as catching an earlier bus is the type of advice I would be giving any new employee. She needs IMO a review meeting of what has gone well and what needs to change or improve. I would be sticking to the main points and making sure she gets them in writing so she understands, then weekly meetings.

Justforlaughs · 10/08/2013 05:11

She needs a good shake tbh! not physically obviously I've known lots of staff like this and unless it is spelled out to them, right in the beginning that they are on a temporary contract that can be terminated at any time, if they don't show there capabilities then you are on a hiding to nothing, frankly. YANBU to be frustrated and need to spell it out to your manager/ employer/ whoever employed her, exactly what your concerns are and put them in writing, and make it clear (not in writing so much) that you won't be doing her job for her, as you have enough to do with your own. Eg. I would not have been taking the second box of hangers out the back myself. I would have left them where they were and made her do it first thing when she arrived the next day. Good luck.

luxemburgerli · 10/08/2013 05:28

YANBU. And being young is no excuse (she isn't even that young anyway!!). When i was 17 i worked in a job where people kept making excuses for a 20 year old colleague, saying he was young so didn't know better. Made me want to scream that people had such low and insulting expectations.

She needs telling. Not meanly but not all gently, gently either. You'd be doing her a favour if you're in a position to do it, before the manager returns.