Anyone here a part-time team manager?

[rainbowbadger]

Have been back a year and working in local government for 18 hours (spread over three days) and manage three full-timers. Everything is OK most of the time but have had some recent informal disciplinary issues with one persons timekeeping and poor work performance - the rub is this, its really difficult to have an overall vision of what goes on in the office when I am not there cos of course this is when most the issues occur. I don't want to have rely on other people in the office to fill me in all the time as this is unfair to make them 'grasses' when its not part of their jobs. This person is on two weekly supervisions where I monitor and set specific targets but this is taking up lots of my precious worktime. Anyone have similiar experiences or if indeed you've got it sussed I'd love to know your secrets cos at the mo I really feel like I'm failing at all of this!

Hi

I feel for you as I too am in local gov and manage 6 full timers and am part time. It is fine when team members play ball, bit is tricky when they don't.

I had issues with one member of the team and had to ask my manager to provide support/supervision for the days I was not there.

Re time keeping do you have a flex system, if so you shoud be abel to track things. If it is not electronic, perhaps you could ask your manager or the office manager to track the times for you? Poor performacne is always a tricy one, options are: setting very tight targets and relentlessly checking progress; training????

I agree it takes up a lot of time when you are part time and at some point you reallY may need to ask for suport to help this one along. I always hated asking for support as I din;t want to put rpessure on others, but then erliases I was being paid part time and others were full time, so thye could take some of the pressure too.

Good luck.

Am also local government.

WRT the poor timekeeping, I'm assuming that you've fully explored possible reasons for the lateness? Childcare, buses, that sort of thing?

The poor performance may not be cured simply by upping the amount of time set in "supervision." I hate that phrase by the way. Do you work in Social Services by any chance? Are you both clear about what the objectives are? Have you put together a development plan that sets out what your concerns are and how these might be addressed? Did you agree these together?

Local government can be very controlling and there is often a tendancy to micro manage when things go wrong. Could letting this person reign free a bit help?

I have managed people on a part time basis and it can be tough.

Thanks for understanding - how on earth could you tell I worked in SS!!! Yes we use Outlook and a timesheet on a shared drive but he was putting in times that were not true basically and was also disapearing on visits / meetings for time which weren't adding up - it does look like he might be having an affair outside of work. Its a difficult one on the micro-managing thing cos I feel that I have to show my boss that I am incontrol of things and have carefully set objectives etc and to be honest the person seems to enjoy the attention of having extra supervision. He has changed his ways in the past couple of weeks but on past performance I know that it won't be long until theres something else to worry about (his customer service skills stink too). Oh hum its the life of a manager I guess but I just feel there is so much more to prove and indeed do when you are part time. Thanks for making me feel as if I am on the right track and managing 6 full-times sounds damnright insane - well done!

I don't work in local government but I do manage 2 full timers - I do 3 days per week.

I've got no real problems with my girls, but i do use others managers to keep an eye on them when I'm not around.

I leave them detailed jobs lists sot hey know what they should be doing, and I cc these lists to my manager, who touches base with them when I'm not there.

I don't know if any of this is vaguely relevent to what you do, but I find that it is really helpful for staff to know that someone is keeping tabs on them in your absence!!