Managing difficult colleagues! Help!

[Absolutelynakered]

I hope this makes sense as I'm absoloutly at my wits end with this behaviour. Sorry, it's long.

I'm 30, been in the construction industry since I was 16. I was offered manager role this year and I was so happy after so long of working my way through the ranks.

Now, I have a team of 3 people in office and 27 out on the field.

The two females I have are late 30s and 50s. When I started, they had alot of complaints and I tried my best to listen and resolve, which I did. But they aint happy with anything. They comment on how I'm at this position when I'm only young. They moan about the system, if not that it's the phones or clients, emails or the fiel technicians. It's constant everyday! I'm having to train them correctly how to plan and time management, but they will not listen at all. If I raise an issue with them, they will go on a massive rant, cry or give me the silent treatment. It's bizarre! I've never know fully grown women to act this way. I've took the time to listen at one to one and their complaints are not to do with the job. It's because it's not how they want it. They want to do things in their own way. I've explained we have processes to follow which make sure work is done in a timely manner, but they don't like it. They complained their computers where slow, so I got them new ones and new screens, still complaining. I've got them new chairs, new phones, changed processes to make things quicker and easier, moved workloads around so its equal, again not satisfied. They bitch and call other staff to people out on the field over the phone. I've had field technicians complaining about them. It's mentally draining. Everyday I feel like I'm dealing with 12 year olds. Never mind the fact they've had so many sick days its unreal. I can't do this with then anymore.

I've spoken to my boss and he's happy to let both of them go as I have genuinly tried everything I can to make things better but I realised, they will never be satisfied.

Would it be so bad if I let them go? I hate putting people out of a job but this is genuinley a nightmare. It will put more pressure on the team but I'm willing to take on the extra load at home till we get new staff.

Has anyone ever had this issue? How did you deal with it?

To add, ones been here for 11 months and the other 7. They replaced 2 people who retired after being at the company over 10 years. They both shadowed a month with previous people before they retired.

Need to pay them notice though.

Definitely get rid. They sound horrendous. Since they've been there less than m2 years I would just dismiss the two of them. Much harder once they've been there for the 2 year point.

Your boss is right- they either need to start doing their job well, from now, with a positive attitude or they go. The messing about needs to stop.

Don't worry about their reaction, they should be worried about yours.

Yeah, that’s my point. Ask HR for advice to protect yourself.

I let them both go today. I explained after months of trying to turn things around and multiple attempts at making things better, their attitudes didn't improve. I had numerous complainta off clients and other colleagues regarding their attitudes. One kicked off a massive tantrum and stormed out and the other was upset but understood my reasons, apologised and went peacefully.

One of them told me they couldn't be arsed talking to me today and took no responsibility for her behaviour and blamed me, somehow it was my fault. So that was that really.

Tell you what, it was a nice peaceful day in the office today! No moaning and no complaining to deal with.

I've got 2 interviews coming up this week so I'm positive about those!!

Already had that covered. They was in full support and one sat with me during the dismissal.

Well done op. That can't have been easy regardless of how obnoxious they had been previously. Not an easy task to pull off. Glad to hear that the atmosphere improved immediately. Hopefully you will be able to replace them with decent normal friendly folk. Going on what you have said that shouldn't be too hard.

Ah well done OP, glad its now sorted, obviously its not nice dismissing people but the bad attitude certainly makes its easier ...... better than tears!

Good luck with the interviews.

Well done OP. Wish I had done the same a few years ago.

I felt bad going into them knowing that they won't have a job after it and obviously the difficulty people are facing right now but, I refuse to deal with that. Its not part of my job role and I deserve to be respected as a person. I've already had a huge long email sent to my boss complaining about me and wanting to take it further.
I'm absoloutly fine with it. Thankfully there is a camera in the boardroom so it can be seen I acted professionally even though she was screaming in my face.

I really wish we could give bad references because I feel sorry for the next people that will have to deal with their attitudes! I checked both their sickness records and one of them has had nearly a month in sick days, that's not counting the holidays we allowed them to use instead of sick!

If I have to ever deal with this again, I'll not let it drag on for this long and deal with it straight away. It was an experience though!

You can give bad references as long as they’re truthful and can be substantiated. Or an indifferent one And most potential employers will read between the lines and give you a call.