The Cheek Of Some People..Why Isn't This Guy Sacked?!
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
August 13, 2010 10:06am CST
We all know so-called "workers" who shirk their responsibilities and get away with it. One such person is a guy called Stephen (or Graduate Boy as I call him) at my husband's work.
Now, this bloke is only 23 and just out of University. For some reason he is still in "University mode" and comes in late, takes a full hour for lunch and goes home earlier than everyone else. The thing is, when I think about it long and hard he's not actually doing anything wrong. Granted, being late first thing in the morning isn't good..but it's only by a couple of minutes, not half an hour or anything. As for the lunch-break, he is actually ENTITLED to a full hour, it's just that everyone else takes half an hour and gets paid the second half because they choose to work. From what hubby tells me this is NOT compulsory so maybe they all should take an hour for lunch. The thing is the pay is so poor that Stephen is the only one who takes a full hour. Obviously, he doesn't need the money. The guy leaving at 4.30pm way before everyone else isn't wrong either. What he is doing is working the bare minimum hours for peanuts whereas everyone else has a mortgage, etc, to pay so have to work their b*llocks off in order to achieve this.
By the way, Graduate Boy will have taken all his holiday entitlement by December so rumours are rife that he won't be back in the New Year..unless he stays off sick of course! He is on a year's probation but that doesn't seem to bother him either.
When Stephen was confronted by the "Big Boss" yesterday about his long lunch-break his reaction was, "You're lucky, if I'd still been at Uni I'd be on flexi-time and wouldn't be back until at least 3 o'clock!" Apparently, he strolled in just after 2pm (over an hour for lunch) with the bosses wondering where he'd got to.
I would like to know everyone's thoughts on this guy. Is he just trying to be clever by exploiting loop-holes in the system or should management say "enough is enough" and sack him because he is doing just one job a day instead of half a dozen?
Personally, I would sack him because he's not working to the same level as his workmates, therefore all the jobs aren't being done. However, he could argue that he is doing nothing wrong (see above) as the overtime thing isn't compulsory.
I would like to know everyone's thoughts on this guy. Is he just trying to be clever by exploiting loop-holes in the system or should management say "enough is enough" and sack him because he is doing just one job a day instead of half a dozen?
Personally, I would sack him because he's not working to the same level as his workmates, therefore all the jobs aren't being done. However, he could argue that he is doing nothing wrong (see above) as the overtime thing isn't compulsory.2 people like this
7 responses
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
13 Aug 10
Ive learned over the years to not bother what other people do at work. Ive seen it all, some spending whole days sitting at their desks and doing absolutely nothing. Ive been one to come in late sometimes or leave early but my work was always done.
I think kids today are this way and it might change the work environment for everybody else IF they join in that is.
We have companies here who make sure they have fresh fruits laid out in the morning for their young staff. They have flexible hours and as long as the work is done, the bosses arent complaining. They can dress the way they want, take as many breaks as they want......as long as the work is done.
We have to get "with it" and do as they do. The work force is changing and I think its about time. We need to relax and enjoy the work we do.
So I wouldnt sack him. If I worked there, Id try to do as he does and get everybody else to do the same.......time for change!!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Aug 10
Hi Magical Bubbles! The problem is MANAGEMENT which is the same everywhere. They will not say "no" to any job that comes along as they have night shift workers on the print machines that management are paranoid about. They are obsessed about having enough work for them to do as they have "visions" of them sitting around doing nothing. To me, this is a really stupid attitude. For starters, this firm has no competitors as the main one closed down (where hubby used to work for 21 years with no stress) and I really wish they were more like them as they aren't going to shut down anytime soon. When my husband works late I feel for him as he has to drive back half asleep. He flops down onto the couch after tea and I can't really talk to him as he's too tired to have a "proper" conversation. It was so different at his other place. If he had to do overtime he could bring the Mac home and sit behind me whilst I was on my computer. He can't do that now; has to stay at work no matter what.
Stephen is a pain in the backside being a lazy git but you are right..everyone else should be more relaxed like he so clearly is.
Stephen is a pain in the backside being a lazy git but you are right..everyone else should be more relaxed like he so clearly is.
@Ceekay1989 (323)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Well put, i have to say that I agree, and feel the same way. I've seen this often too, and htats the route our world has taken. its nice that its so lax.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
20 Aug 10
If the work isn't getting done, I'd sack him. If he's managing to work faster than everybody else, maybe not. I might just sack him for the attitude though.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Aug 10
Apparently, he's going to Manchester tomorrow (how convenient) so he won't be in work for the morning. John is going in so when we get to the football later on in the day he'll be practically falling asleep.
I hate it when he has to go in but Stephen seems to stay away. Why can't the rest of them?
@GardenGerty (160612)
• United States
13 Aug 10
If it was the US, I would say he is just doing the minimum so that he could get let go and then find a way to draw unemployment. He may be an example of the new "work ethic" of only do the minimum.There are always some people who push just as far as they can.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Aug 10
That's definitely what Stephen is doing, in my opinion. The thing is no-one else dares to follow his example because of their responsibilities. It wouldn't surprise me if Stephen is still at home with his parents. Having said that, Duncan (workaholic) still lives with his parents aged 40-ish but he's always at work and wonders why he has no "social life."
They are all in a union too but are scared to ask about pay as it's one of the weakest in the country for sticking up for their workforce, unfortunately.
It's a shame John's not a train driver or something...he'd be paid LOADS as their union has always stuck up for its workers!
They are all in a union too but are scared to ask about pay as it's one of the weakest in the country for sticking up for their workforce, unfortunately.
It's a shame John's not a train driver or something...he'd be paid LOADS as their union has always stuck up for its workers!
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
13 Aug 10
possibly, the reason is that since he IS on a year's probation, he won't get hired permanently and they can say they gave him a year to shape up - here if he doesn't get hired, because he failed to make the cut - the job doesn't have to pay unemployment
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Aug 10
What is ironic about all this is that they reluctantly agreed to take this guy on because they were "desperate" for someone qualified and it's all gone a bit pear-shaped. It will be interesting to see what happens in the New Year.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
16 Aug 10
sounds like he doesn't really need the job..
he's lucky he doesn't work here..you're intitled to certain amount of lunch break,but
it comes with the strong suggestion of working through lunch,with the thinly veiled "or else"..hell illegal,but they'll find a way to can you if you don't.
just mouthing back at the boss i'm surprised they didn't fire him.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Aug 10
That's a very good point you make about him not really needed the job. I've said that many times when hubby has gone on about his latest exploits.
However, he has been hauled into the office for a good "talking to" today and was still in the office at 5.30pm (he usually goes at 4.30) so we shall see if this grilling has a permanent effect or if he will revert to type and be a git lol.
@zralte (4178)
• India
13 Aug 10
True he does not do anything wrong, technically. But if I am his boss, I would fire his sorry a**. Partly because I can't stand him (from the way you described him). And mainly because he could be pulling the working morale down. One rotten apple spoils the whole bunch - and all that.
Answering his boss that way....had that been me, I would be really livid.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Aug 10
I asked my husband what his boss did when Stephen spoke to him like that and he said that he just turned his back on him and walked away.
I think I'd do a lot more than that..like humiliate him in front of all the people he's been leaving in the lurch for weeks on end..by sacking him..LOUDLY!
I think I'd do a lot more than that..like humiliate him in front of all the people he's been leaving in the lurch for weeks on end..by sacking him..LOUDLY!
@StephanieAnnC (4274)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I don't see a peoblem as long as he follows the rules and does his work. I mean, yes, he takes an hour for lunch and leaves 'early' but those are the rules. His comment to the boss was definitely not a good one though. His boss could have fired him right there. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, follows the rules and does his job, I don't see a means for dismissal. He might not be staying late and shortening his lunch, but he's doing the work that is asked of him.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Aug 10
That's the way I am beginning to look at it. At first, I thought he was well out of order but when you consider the low wages the workers are on...if the pay was good then the overtime wouldn't have to be AS necessary and I could see my husband more (selfish I know but he does look very tired all the time). I bet Stephen doesn't even get tired so who's the mug? I've advised John to go into the boss's office with his pals and his pals and demand a pay rise. They are told repeatedly that they are "doing a great job" but not being financially rewarded for their efforts..and this is from a firm that makes at least £5 million a year...probably more now that they have taken the work my husband used to do at a firm he got made redundant from.
They are told repeatedly that they are "doing a great job" but not being financially rewarded for their efforts..and this is from a firm that makes at least £5 million a year...probably more now that they have taken the work my husband used to do at a firm he got made redundant from.