Kevin
Some really good points -
I must admit - from what I hear of the history of this employee he is a
"rouge" moonlighting on company time, lazy attitude, beer cans in his van
-the list goes on and as you can imagine a manager left to 'manage ' such an
employee you can empathise to a degree with how this manager was driven to
"let rip" . Obviously all these issues are not OH issue and should have
been managed effectively a long time before this case ever ended up in the
OH lap !! I have tried to remain impartial and objective and listen to both
sides as I do feel that it sometimes takes two to tango!!
Now the frustration is, that as such a large company - we have to be
extremely careful how we manage - not seen to be doubting his claims of
anxiety and depression especially as it is backed by the GP - leaves myself
and my colleagues in HR and management feeling as if we are constantly
trying to manage the workforce effectively with our hands behind our backs
treading on egg shells and as you point out Kevin we end up needing
counselling too.
As a general note with regard poor performers -
We are all victims of the "rat race" my company set extremely high
objectives for their employees to achieve (WHICH SOME FLOURISH ON WHILST
OTHERS BUCKLE UNDER THE STRAIN I.E THE POOR PERFORMERS) and this is
ultimately driven by the customers - you, me, everyone who has central
heating and when it breaks down wants in fixed ASAP - we have all become too
used to our creature comforts and I feel as long as I am one of this "clan"
demanding high standards the companies that provide us with this service
will continue to push and put pressure on their employees to deliver that
service - viscous circle.
I am sure many of you are reading this thinking about the times you have
waited in impatiently for the repair man to arrive and fix your heating -
but really I can assure you the company push extremely hard for delivery of
a service - the end result is many OH referrals-
A close follow up to musculo skeletal disorder is stress/depression etc and
how many of those musculo skeletal disorders are in fact hidden stress?? all
too easy for a gas man to have 2 weeks off with a dodgy knee or low back
pain just to have a breather from the pressure to perform - again all driven
by the customer - US !!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Regards
Sarah
-----Original Message-----
From: Maguire, Kevin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 06 December 2002 09:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Advice RE:-conflicting reports
Wonderful discussion going on here. The list was designed for such sharing.
I offer the following view. The originating email from Sarah and one of
Diane Woodward's emails make reference to the trigger: the 'blow-up between
the manager and the operative outside (and presumably within earshot) of a
client's premise. Perhaps the bulk of the work on this problem has to be
done there: two people and their dynamic(s).
We have an operative who is on his territory, his place of practice, the
place where he performs (or perhaps attempts to perform) his 'art'. If he
is an illusionist, some-one has pointed out where he hides the rabbit: he
has been caught out in a very public place. If he was simply doing a job to
the best of his ability (especially if his 'best' was 'poor'), he might well
feel that he is a victim (victimised?). The manager came out to the
premises. Do we know what led up to this? Does he often go out? What was
going on in his mind (Diane has, I believe, already hinted at the pressure
that he might well be under) and why did he feel permitted to 'let rip' so
publicly and with this person? What 'buttons' of his were pressed?
Perhaps he too needs counselling. Is there a culture of bullying? Don't be
too quick to say No.
Being world-wearied, I can't see an organisation resourcing a proper
resolution. I am sure that there will be a fudge that will suffice until it
blows up elsewhere, perhaps in a different organisation.
I have assumed that the operative's black marks for technical practice. Were
they? Who gave the black marks?
Merry Christmas to you all and keep up your high standard of debate.
Kevin
Kevin MAGUIRE BSc BA MSc CPsychol MCIEH, Senior Lecturer, Division of
Environmental Health and Safety, The Nottingham Trent University, Burton
Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, United Kingdom. Telephone +44 (0)115 848 2603
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