I’m hoping that someone might have some good advice for me as I try to manage a difficult work situation.
I took on the role of manager at a family members small business in January, mostly as a favour to help out because performance was poor amongst the employees and family member was unwell. The family member is very soft, a great boss but has preferred to keep her head in the sand and the staff have run circles around her as a result.
A lot of the staff have been there for years and the previous manager had done very little in the way of managing them, she stepped down as manager some time ago but still works there and constantly tries to call the shots. The result is they basically do as they please, they take weeks of unpaid leave plus their holiday entitlement and in the past the attitude has been that as long as they cover for each other and the work gets done then it’s fine. There are definite cliques, newer members of staff are given the cold shoulder and offered less extra shifts etc. Ex manager tells them to run everything past her for approval and undermines me at every opportunity.
Before lockdown I tried to implement small changes but although they nod their heads in meetings, they just ignore me and go back to how they did things before.
Everyone is currently furloughed but due back soon and I’m dreading it. I’m not the most assertive person but I’m quite prepared to get stuck in and sort this out but I don’t know where to start.