Difficult team member

[Changednameforthis1000]

Have nc as don't like posting work related under my usual username.

I took on a team member late last year who was a recent graduate. Their work is good and they are getting on well in the role.

However they are starting to demand unrealistic things from the role, the company and for their level of experience.

Examples would be- asking to work flexible hours that just don't fit with the role (not for family reasons- more to fit with social life and gym etc)

Getting annoyed that they don't get to do "more exciting" projects that other (senior) people do- I do offer them parts of these type of projects, but they've actually gone to senior management when I did this saying that i was palming "donkey work" off on then.

Constantly asking what work I am doing and why can't they do it.

I have sat down with this person to discuss their aspirations and how they see the role developing and then assigning ownership or part ownership of areas that meet this, but again it seems that they'd then want to "cherry pick" the fun bits but not do he less "fun stuff".

I'm feeling pretty fed up as there is a bit of a foot stamping attitude to go along with it- and sometimes a comment of "well my tutor said xxx, do you aren't doing x right".

So, Aibu to ask if you've had a similar experience and how did you cope (btw have managed around 100 staff and never had quite this issue to this degree before).

[RandomMess]

Changed - I think that is a great idea, send them on a volunteer role for a couple of weeks, particularly somewhere with a uniform and set breaks...

[Changednameforthis1000]

@tinkiev I think that's exactly it- I actually wondered if I could send them to do a few weeks in a less permissive company to see what it really can be like!

[Changednameforthis1000]

@potato I don't hold asking for flexible hours against them at all- it's more the sulking when they were turned down- and they were not in any way workable for the role sadly. We did offer to look at a possible job share, bit that didn't work financially for them. Again there was a typical argument of why does x get to work flexi hours (they actually work part time).

[tinkiiev]

Not sure what you can do. She basically needs to quit, work somewhere else, realise how good she had it, grow up, then come back.

I have a policy of only hiring people who've had at least one fairly crap job (e.g. Waitress while at uni; temp after graduating, etc).

sympathy!

[fiorentina]

I think you need to manage their expectations better, do they have a detailed job description and objectives and targets? That way you can ensure they are working on those objectives first and then if they have achieved their regular role that they can then get involved in other projects.

I have a couple of graduates who I involve in lots but make it very clear they still need to do the less exciting work too.

[ShowMePotatoSalad]

Just to point out, anyone can request to work flexible hours now, and by law employers have to consider the request. It's not unreasonable to request flexible working, you shouldn't demonise someone for doing it. If you have good reasons for not agreeing to the request then that's fine, but I take issue with you holding it against this person.

[Changednameforthis1000]

Salad - we do a lot of research on gen y- and I hate to say it, but I think doing this day in and day out fuels the fires of the behaviour- if you can imagine that you see every possible theory on how to incentivise the generation and then assume that every employer will do every incentive- it becomes assumed that my company will offer all of these things if that makes sense.

[SaladDressing]

Google 'managing Gen Y employees' - there is loads of information out there and lots of different approaches you can take.

Gen Y is a known "thing" - a different generation with very different demands!

[RandomMess]

Have you tried laughing at them and saying "are you on glue?"

Sorry I don't have any proper advice, they sound incredibly immature and entitled!