Colleague buggering off home early. As their manager, would this bother you?

[Marie2022]

I have been in post for a few weeks and have had some problems with one of my direct reports. Nothing serious, mainly of the “Not my job” type of response from her, regarding things that very clearly are her job.

I sent her an email a few days ago at a time when she should have seen it. She didn’t reply. At which point someone said that she wasn’t actually there. The following day I asked her to confirm her hours, which she did.

I have just checked the CCTV for the past 2 weeks and she has been leaving 10-20 minutes early every single day.

Is this a big deal? As a manager, would this bother you? I just want to get some opinions before I do anything.

Many thanks.

the scenario whereby an employee engages in an illegal activity?

No I am comparing YOUR stance to BJ

ie if the employee doesn’t know about it - no problem.

You wait until page 13 after multiple posts you throw in you have have years of experience in “dispute resolution”

yes, sure you do 😂

I will bow out if we are getting in to fiction.

OP - aside from the legalities, it was a fundamentally unpleasant thing to do. I suggest you go on some management training re how to address staff you have concerns about. Good luck

Soup I bet your job is so interesting. TBH there are times when I think companies should be harder on their managers. Ive certainly advised companies I've worked for in scenarios where the managers are so blatantly unfair its shocking!!

Ive also seen employees being absolutely nightmares too so I suppose it works both ways.

Most employers I have dealt with though try to be fair - will accommodate time changes where possible etc. Then you get the lazy people who just take advantage which is shit for everyone, management and staff.

*ohthats" yep I do actually, but why should I have to announce it at the start of any post I write, anyone can post here. Im telling you what Ive experienced and how though tbh a teenager on work experience would tell you that your argument is nonsense! - its common sense. If you are paid to do x amount of hours between 9 - 5 then you must do x amount of hours between 9 and 5 or agree otherwise. its really not difficult and wouldnt require any sort of experience. I feel quite sorry for you as you honestly cant articulate anything without accusations.

Bow out by all means perhaps Marie will come back and comment if you do.

Ohthat still laughing at the Boris comments (as are my colleagues truth be told 😂 - - you know the imaginary ones you think I have - you have brightened up a really tough Thursday afternoon so thank you!) - though I would consider myself as having a better hair style than Boris 😉😂

I think it is a reach to imagine that the OP would have been marched out of the building for viewing CCTV

So do I, but never mind; the thought's a bit of excitement for those winding themselves up over the "incompetent" management who they don't actually know

'Twas ever thus on here - apparently the armchair lawyers can not only see what's in someone's mind, but through screens and walls too

@Ohthatsexciting the scenario of a manager being marched out the building for viewing the CCTV. Especially when they've done nothing with it. I've dealt with numerous cases involving CCTV footage where managers haven't followed procedures, never have they been marched out.

@Panamera22 my job is mental. But it sure gives me a laugh and the days when you make a big difference to someone when they are in crisis makes it all worth it, or when we win disputes (which is a lot less often than I'd like!)

puzzled totally agree - could you imagine trying to work with some of the posters on here ? I
just wouldn’t be able to - they would make the rest of the team miserable not to mention myself.

soup I’ve been in the otherside ie management side of disputes where your colleagues have been involved and they are awesome!! - I tried to poach one recently as I was so impressed by her!! . I’ve seen them get great outcomes -

Hey,

If you are new to the job is there a chance she applied to for the role and didn’t get it? Might explain the attitude.

I tend to agree that checking CCTV is a little extreme so wouldn’t mention it to her. As an experienced manager I’d keep a note of any performance issues and just generally ask colleagues for performance feedback for all direct reports.

Id also suggest a meeting to ‘review’ roles and responsibilities with everyone in that role (not just her) … be open to making changes and adapting to feedback. It might be that she has a legitimate reason why she doesn’t feel this task is her responsibility and that might be echoed by others.

Some right nasty comments on here, no need. Yes, the OP made a few mistakes but there's no need to put the boot in. Also, regarding the lazy receptionist, you all think it's OK to slope off early most days, without permission? That's just taking the mickey.

Not so much hide, @Ohthatsexciting as just not bring it up. Akin to discovering a bit of evidence that you decide not to use because it incriminates you as much as the other person…

If anyone in my workplace responded with 'not my job' to the boss asking her to do something, that 'discussion' would end with them being fired on the spot. But equally no one would be bothered about someone who was otherwise good at their job coming in a little late or leaving a little early.

As I said earlier, different workplaces take different behaviours more or less seriously, only the OP knows what is and is not acceptable in her own workplace.

What you allow now is the expectation you set as everyone’s manager! Just think on that… I am in the camp of the first person to comment.

Sit her down, clarify her job and the fact you exact all of the team to pull together and therefore a good attitude in regards working together and then ask why she is leaving 10-20 mins early…. If there is no good answer nip it in the bud and do it now!

@Panatone who Tom you it’s illegal to watch cctv… absolute rubbish. I run a HR sept and you are allowed to watch cctv within reason and this was clear reason… at no point has the OP mentioned they were checking up on cctv everyday or min… this would be classed as an issue. I hope you have no direct reports as clearly you would be in trouble for being a bully if someone dare say something you didn’t like…

Sorry typing while walking… *meant who told you and run HR dept😀

12sims when I read the sept part of your email I had a flash back to Game of Thrones - was well impressed ! 😃-totally agree with the rest of your post!

As an LM myself, I agree the cctv monitoring is not really appropriate and doesn't respect the privacy of that employee.
I would have an informal discussion with the employee first to find out if everything is OK. If this behaviour is recent, and not normal for that employee there could be something wrong that can be followed up and fixed. Indeed this could be related to a personal issue not relevant to work but is affecting behaviour in the workplace.
I wouldn't assume that it's piss-taking before finding out why though🤔

You need to check with her. I’m supposed to work until 3pm, but I leave work at 2:30pm every day so I can pick up my son from school as his school is out in the boonies.

However, I also do not take a lunch break, so from my perspective I’m taking a late lunch. My line manager is aware, but to anyone else who checked, they might think I’m skivving.

I think you need to have a meeting, possibly involving HR to clarify job expectations including hours. If they are working 08:30 to 17:00 and need to be at reception at these times, then it needs to be made clear that they can't leave at 16:45. If they are coming in at 08:00, you need to explain that you need certain hours covered so can't be flexible with hours, unfortunately. It's not acceptable if they're leaving early but it could be that they've often left at 16:45. Do also check that it's not their prescribed hours, however stupid.

hate presentism. I am a manager. If staff want to flex or leave early I am generally ok with so long as I know. Nothing worse than getting a last minute request from the Seniors and staff showing on-line when they aren’t on-line.

@Marie2022 please don't feel disheartened. I'm sure you're amazing at what you do and I can see from your responses that you genuinely care about doing the right thing. Caring is the most important part of management!

There seem to be so many unnecessary, cruel, mean remarks on mumsnet. I suspect because people feel anonymous and that they can get away with it.

I genuinely feel like I want to leave the forum more often than not!

What happened to kindness?!

@12Sims no but she went back 2 weeks on CCTV to check her comings and goings for a fortnight. Its tantamount to stalking

People are being overly mean. I think it may have been wrong to view the cctv but you’ve learned so not a big issue.

If her work is getting done, shouldn’t matter what times she’s there. If she’s a receptionist though should 100% be there for hours reception is open, so not ok to leave early.

I would just say to her I’ve noticed you leave early, is there a reason and have you got someone to cover reception when you’re out. Then go from there.
managing is hard! Good luck!

for me depends on the role. Does your company operate a flexi arrangement, is there a previous agreement in place or is the role a shift role where it doesn’t matter if you decide to start early you need to be there the man a desk/phone etc.

the not my job bit is less of an issue you are just tying a few things together. That is part of your role as a manager to get the most out of your team, to get them pulling together in the right direction, to get the team culture in a good place.

if you are more focused on presenteeism the issue is probably you and not them.

having worked in some high performing teams in large companies the common element is that the manager has a hands off approach but is kept updated, people didn’t really know who was where at any point, and people in theory could be skiving off but no one cares because everyone was delivering over and above, so the leeway allowed them to balance things.

everyone knew their part and everyone was comfortable saying no, because as hoc request gets in the way of delivering the critical projects.

quickest way to destroy those team is to demand people be present; to micro manage and clock watch them. All you will do is drive your high performing team to go elsewhere.

as a manager you need to build trust with your team and it needs to work both ways, you should be fighting for the team and not being a mini dictator