To have found this bloody attention seeking?

[QuestionableMouse]

Have a new starter at work on a trial. She's a very hippy type and has been training with me all shift.

Asked her to do a simple job and she took ages doing it. It literally takes two minutes to do generally (open box of sauces, empty into tub, put box with remaining sauces away). I asked what was taking so long and she replied 'I have CDO. That's OCD to you but the letters are alphabetical order,.like they should be.'

Ugh. Is it just me or is that the most attention seeking thing ever?

She didn't include anything about OCD on her application which makes me think it hasn't been formally diagnosed. (Have a friend with actual OCD who has rituals he needs to do so I'm familiar with it.)

What a rude comment @Rachel. Just be grateful people take on these jobs you see as below yourself.

I don't see jobs like that as beneath me, not at all. I'm extremely clumsy and would probably drop things all over the floor. The firm would probably pay me not to come back!

Really Rachelover so why the sarcasm about the job being a really fulfilling one that will stretch her abilities?

From what you say, this is her first shift with you and the only thing so far she hasn't done in the expected way, so I think it is a bit soon to write her off as lazy or a whinger.

She might genuinely have OCD and feel self-conscious about it, so uses joking responses to disguise this.

I think you should reserve judgement until you have worked together for longer.

I would never mention mental heath issues on an application form, I know things are getting better and your work place sounds lovely but most people actually want the job they are applying for. Simply ask her if she is diagnosed and that she needs to speed up, maybe she was trying to do the job well

To be honest I am more amused at some of the names of you lot (love them, well most of them!) than the actual thread itself.

If this lady actually said she has CDO then I admire her pluck and her sense of humour. A great wit and shows her intelligence.

I think the perfect job for someone with OCD is a shelf stacker in a supermarket. Hey ho.

The OCD might work in your favour, OP, if you can harness it. My ds(18) works in a fast food restaurant and his OCD traits mean he's the only staff member who puts things in the right places when deliveries arrive, and one of the very few teens who does a decent clean when it falls in their shift. Apparently they all love him as he keeps everywhere clean and tidy 😂. He's no slacker, either.

If you can get your hippy girl to speed up a bit, she might be v useful.

I wasn't really judging her, more finding it attention seeking with the way she said it. It rules my friend's life which is potentially why I'm more sensitive.

She's about half way through a month's trial so not brand new.

Referring to someone you consider lazy as a ‘hippy type’ makes you sound like a miserly middle aged person in the 1960s.

Two weeks into a job is brand new.

I've seen the CDO thing going round facebook as a supposedly funny meme.

It sounds like she realised she had taken too long, aimed her response for "lighthearted and cutesy" but hit "not remotely funny and causing awkward silence" instead.

I think most people have been there with an ill judged blurt, I certainly have.

Give her a chance, she has only started.
Her comeback was a little cheeky, though it sounds like you were hovering, give her a month if she is still to slow have a chat then.

If you don't declare your medical/MH conditions on your application form then don't 'expect' your employer to make 'accommodations' for you.

She sounds like she's just taking the piss OP - and trying to be clever at it.
I'd just tell her that the job requires working quickly and efficiently and time targets need to be adhered to.
If for ANY reason she can't manage that then she needs to declare it officially so you can find her a job that's more suitable for her.

In my opinion you sound like a typical “team leader” at a takeaway joint. A bit power hungry, takes the most minor things so seriously, basically damn annoying.

No but she should once she has a job offer in order to make sure that she gets the support she needs.

Maybe she doesn’t think she needs any.

f you don't declare your medical/MH conditions on your application form then don't 'expect' your employer to make 'accommodations' for you.

Or, declare it and ensure you never get an interview.

@SuzieQQQ I'm not a shift manager. My official role is customer experience leader but I do everything.

Quite frankly I don't want to be a shift manager. I'm not power hungry but it's a fast paced environment and you just don't have time to faff around. We have 120 seconds per order which isn't long.

I called her a hippy type because she is a hippy type. It wasn't a judgement but and insight into her personality.

I called her a hippy type because she is a hippy type. It wasn't a judgement but and insight into her personality

What is a 'hippy type?'

Of course you've judged her. You've called her a 'hippy type' and decided that's an insight into her personality .

I've known a few people who might fit the stereotype of being 'hippies.' They all look different, have very different jobs/lifestyles and unsurprisingly, have very different personalities.

I particularly enjoyed your double standards that this woman shouldn't be making light of OCD, but you think someone with downs syndrome can't work in a kitchen...

Not me who made the judgement about who's suitable to work in kitchen. That come down from up high 🤷‍♀️

Maybe she was trying to be funny. Give her another chance.
It sounds like you have judged her immediately and her comment confirmed that she isn’t worthy to work in such a stressful environment.

Can you also describe hippie type please?

It's not a double standard to say someone shouldn't make light of a serious condition and saying someone else's condition means that certain environments would not be suitable. Saying working in a kitchen would not be fair to him (or her higher ups ruling that) doesn't mean she means that for all people with the same condition.

I've heard that OCD joke for years now. I'm not sure I'd say it was attention-seeking, but it does seem more a bad excuse for doing her job poorly. As you know OP, compulsive rituals aren't about how things "should be", but about bringing relief.

My kneejerk reaction is to bring it to higher ups, but I know I'm more sensitive to these sorts of remarks so I asked my DH as he works in a similar sounding hospitality job. He said that he would ignore it the first time as banter, even if said seriously, but if they don't improve and try that again to bring it up to higher ups in a "they are having issues and said XYZ, does this need real support or..." sort of way.

The OCD joke could be a coping mechanism. There's such a stigma around mental health and making light of your condition can be a method of bringing it to your attention, without the usual embarrassment. If she mentions it again, ask her about how her condition affects her. She'll either tell you more, or she'll admit it was a joke.

It's a joke I imagine. My friend bought has this make up bag that she bought as she found it funny.

I think you mean airy fairy not hippy op 😂