Problematic employee

[somenonsense]

I am a manager of 10 people.

One employee takes up most of my time. She is emotionally immature and very entitled, despite being in her late 30s.

She was in charge of choosing her own workload, but ended up working extra hours and complained until HR agreed to extend her contract to full time pay over 4 long days. She is meant to work 8-6:30 every day.

She is meant to work 60% in the office, she comes in maybe once a month- always some excuse why she can't come in. "Headache" "repairman coming" "period pain" "child sick". She is 90% WFH.

She does however love to travel for conferences and events. She is the first to put her hand up for that and argues fiercely when it comes to say it's someone else's turn.

I could go on.

Anyway, my issue. I've managed her for three years. Every Ramadan she WFH, of course. But she gets fuck all done. She logs off by mid afternoon to start cooking a feast for her extended family. She is unproductive when she is online. She spends meetings complaining about how hungry she is, and throws a sulk if the team goes to lunch. She is always invited, but sits there with a face like a slapped arse and complains about how hungry she is.

She is not devout in any other way that I can see, beyond observing Ramadan. She drinks a lot etc.

This year I want to get ahead of it, and ask her to adjust her hours or take leave over Ramadan. I think she is taking the absolute piss getting paid full time pay while producing a few hours worth of work.

AIBU? Or racist? Do I need to accommodate this?

I feel like if she was less of a pain in the arse in general I would let it slide more, but I've had it and she needs some boundaries.

Give an example of the tantrum you expect?

If she's working 4 days. Ask her which days she can be in the office each week. If she cannot make the day agree explain she'll have to come in another day or if she's sick be off sick.

Stand your ground but be consistent and fair and treat her the same as everyone else.

Ignore it and crack on

like you’d do with a toddler

@somenonsense A tantrum at work is not acceptable. You don’t have to accept this behaviour. When you say HR are useless, have you actually spoken to them? You really do need to stand up to her because you have other people in the team who are working to cover for her absence and lack of productivity. You must consider them.

So tell her to compose herself and you won’t be shouted at. Say you will talk to her when she’s calm. Say that her contract must be honoured. If she has a tantrum tell HR and insist there’s a disciplinary hearing. You do need to face this down. Usually insubordination when asked to work in line with your contract is a disciplinary matter. Read your discipline policy.

‘Would you prefer to work your hours over 5 days during Ramadan so you’re able to finish earlier in the evening at 5?’

It sounds like she's got a job for life!

Put a meeting in your LM's diary, and invite an HR member of staff.

You know exactly what to say, cos you've articulated it perfectly!

I think she should be entitled to leave for Ramadan. Who cares if she’s devout? Plenty of non devout people celebrate Christmas and expect time off for it.

The other stuff all sounds like a nightmare and that’s what you need to address with her. Speak to HR for advice on how to approach her improving her performance.

Your job.

You manage her.

This is what you are paid for.

You have created a monster and now that her behaviour is impacting you, you expect everyone else to fix the problem you’ve created.

I had one of these. Consistency is key. Let her throw her toys out of the pram. Tell her what you need to see, it up in writing and keep on it
Best outcome is she leaves. 2nd best outcome is improved performance.

You clearly need training in management and she is taking the p, and being allowed so far.

Also I do think your remark was racist, as I'm sure that given what you say (and after 3 years) you have plenty of other examples.

Two days at Christmas are holidays that most get or take off in lieu at another time. Ramadan is not a national holiday here, hence time off is by negotiation. This employee doesn’t have a policy tailored to her. The company should have a Ramadan policy and the OP implements it.

I'm happy for her to take religious or cultural leave. We have leave for this purpose.

The problem is she doesn't take it for Ramadan. She "works" from home but logs on late, does little and then logs off early to cook.

She saves the religious leave for other times or tacks it onto her holiday leave.

This is a good idea