New employee demands

[CountryMumof3]

I've been mulling this over all day and wanted other perspectives in case I'm, incorrectly, feeling a bit p-ed off.

I run an office team and we've been really short staffed of late, so we've had a recruitment drive and managed to find four new starters. It's going to take the pressure off our team, which will be fantastic - they all work incredibly hard, despite this last year being incredibly difficult. Of the four, I really took to three, but the other (although well suited to the job on paper) was harder to warm to. They've all confirmed they're happy to start so we're getting things in place at the moment. The one I didn't warm to has apparently issued all sorts of demands, including changes to their work patterns, start dates, wages etc. This is all being looked after by HR and senior management, and they may well get some of it. I'm all for knowing your worth, but isn't this bad form for when you've already accepted a job under certain terms? AIBU to already be dreading working with them, or do you think I'm right to be concerned that there could be further issues down the line?

As you'll probably be able to tell, I'm building up my management experience, so don't have any past experiences to go on!

You’ll probably find that one turns out to be your best worker. Pay peanuts get monkeys comes to mind.

Well this is possibly true. It's a fairly well paid role anyway. I guess if you don't ask, you don't get! I'll go into it with an open mind anyway.

If you're not actually working with them yet, try and reserve your judgement till you've met them. Alot of job sites recommend being offered the job and then negotiating. Starting a new role is often the only time to get more money or better terms. Once you've started that's it. I don't think this person has to be grateful for what they're offered, and it doesn't mean they're difficult just because they want to get the best deal they can.

Do you not get a say?

As a manager the decision who i employee along with any demands are mine to make.

Can you speak to your senior?

Is it stuff like reasonable adjustments? If so the company should accommodate. If it’s salary increases etc, it’s always worth trying to negotiate as a new employee! Is it possible the fact you haven’t warmed to them personally is affecting your view?

I agree

I think its off putting. People should mention these things beforehand but so many people now, and MN, all consider it fine to do this after they've been offered. To be fair, if you've been offered 2 jobs, 1 with better hours, better pay etc etc, then you stand to lose nothing by asking the other company to match if they are going to lose you anyway. So, I've even just talked myself around in this message 🤣

Wait until they actually start. The hardest workers on my team are the ones who have flexible working arrangements.

I've met them three times now, but not for hugely long periods of time. I guess that's true about negotiating terms - harder to do when you're already in the job. Food for thought - thank you.

Sounds like it's someone who knows their value and/or wants to make sure that expectations re: working practices etc are sorted before signing a contract. What's wrong with that?

I have a certain amount of sway, particularly with working patterns. I certainly wouldn't want anyone to lose out - but equally I'd find it hard knowing that someone new with the same or less experience than others on my team was earning more - it doesn't sit right.

Sounds like they are going to be a massive pain in your arse.

Can you speak to HR about not just caving in, as once they are in post it is harder to get rid. Sometimes it is best to cut your losses and don't waste time training them in the first place.

@Sparklesocks Well, it could partly be that, if we're being honest - I think I'll just have to keep an open mind. They might be absolutely fantastic:-)

Experience has taught me that people who are demanding at work just continue to be demanding once they have their initial requests met.

During the interview are hours, working patterns and wages all discussed? If this is on record, and they have accepted the job on these terms, then I'd encourage HR to push back on some of these demands.

How long is the probation period? If they're a pain in the arse then get rid of them while you can.

We’ve got someone a bit like this- six months on she’s still a pain in the ass.

@AlisonDonut That's my fear, in all honesty. We'll have to see - they won't get everything they've asked for as it isn't workable. That one itself might put them off. If it doesn't, then hopefully it's just a case of giving it a whirl asking for x, y and z, but acceptimg that it's not possible.

I’ll be honest I have very 50/50 experiences of this…

some have been pain in the arses during hiring and then total star performers….others have been conceited and/or useless
a lot have a L’Oréal! Because I think I’m worth it!!! vibe going on….

one bloke whose face/name escapes me sealed his own fate after he tipped me over the edge one day (tea related)…
He was simply stunned when I fired him 8 weeks in … this was despite the fact I was his line manager 🤨 he somehow thought my male boss was his real boss which was maybe why he was such an uncooperative dickhead with me 🤷🏻‍♀️

The offer of a job is the start of negotiations.

When I interview for a job, I’m interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing me (I’m freelance so I interview a lot). If they won’t discuss and come to a mutually beneficial contract , I walk away - it’s an indication of a strident and dogmatic employer.

Your new employee is a good ‘un who knows how to negotiate. Good for business.

I always think it is better to ask at the beginning for what you want - once things tick along for a while it is harder to make changes. So, I would not see this as particularly worrisome.

@CryptoFascist Yes, all discussed during the interview processed and agreed to at the time of job off/acceptance.

3-6 months probation, sometimes extended when needed, so I guess there's scope for addressing it further down the line.

Accepting the offer and then whingeing and trying to get things changed is not the sign of a good un.

I may have read it incorrectly, but my take was the job has been offered and things are being put in place - contracts still to be signed. That is exactly the time to negotiate.

@SkulkHollow That's definitely the line I'm doing my best to take. I'm all for knowing your own worth etc. I think I'm just surprised it's come after the contract has been signed and everything was supposedly sorted.

@NahHumBrag Sorry, I should have worded it better, perhaps. Contracts are already signed. Just getting everything ready for them in terms of equipment etc. now.

I wonder if they have been let down by a previous employer and don't want the same thing to happen again.