Time Thievery!

[Karshe]

My company policy specifically details smoke breaks (3 total, 10 minutes each), am I to assume by your dilemma that yours does not?

Is that in addition to normal breaks every four hours?

[Seraph]

Did I mention he also sings It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood when he walks in here at 6:30 in the morning. For that alone I should fire him.

Only if he doesn't take off his shoes and put on sneakers while he does it.

[Seraph]

Actually, at first, I sort of felt bad for the guy. He he has performed the same boring/difficult job for 25 years, maybe he needs that many cigs to get through the day. However, it does seem like he is quite the dick, which would definately change my opinion about the matter.

[Dimmauk]

The official HR stance is working a full eight hour day you are entitled to a 30 minute lunch break and two 10 minute breaks throughout the day. So in the policy stance, he has no legs to stand on. Did I mention he also sings It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood when he walks in here at 6:30 in the morning. For that alone I should fire him.

In the end I can attempt to enforce policy but I really believe that when push comes to shove the people higher up will rescind whatever decision I come to.

You dont want to single him out either, so you should speak to upper management about your concern with stealing time. Have them call an employee meeting with HR in attendance, and discuss the break policy and how smoking cigs should be done on their time, not company time. The meeting will target the employees and not single him out. If he gets pissed, then let him get mad at the management and HR.

[Brill Weave]

In his defense I don't think he's intentionally being a dick. This is just the way he's always been and nobody in the past his had issues with it. I however, do. If you want to smoke, that's fine. But that is your break etc. Don't take more than the ten minutes and don't do it more than twice a day.

[Seraph]

Obviously get management to approve handing out nicotine gum each morning or something. Or mix it in with the food. Mmm Mmm Good.

[Dimmauk]

In his defense I don't think he's intentionally being a dick. This is just the way he's always been and nobody in the past his had issues with it. I however, do. If you want to smoke, that's fine. But that is your break etc. Don't take more than the ten minutes and don't do it more than twice a day.

Read what I posted. I have dealt with this issue before. Ultimately, you are the manager, he could be testing you to see if you have the balls to stand up to him.

Also, its not your problem or fault that the smoking policy was never enforced. You want to enforce it now, as the manager you can.

[Tekki]

Unfortunately we have no cameras. We're also in the part of the call center that doesn't record it's phonecalls or require employees to log into the phone etc. Docking his pay isn't feasible with how our payroll is set up. He also has a very specialized job with a much different skillset than the other people under me. So if I were to hire someone from off the street it would probably take 8-12 months to get this person up to speed to the point where he/she could operate independently and do it efficiently. In essence I'm kind of stuck with him.

With this statement you've already conceded to you losing this battle.

Your options are to sit on your hands and do nothing and put up with it.

Approach him and open up a discussion with him about the issue.

Take the time and energy to take the smart route and start replacing him.

As a manager I never hold my breath for anyone, no matter how good they are at their job. There are a few things I've learned in the past few years. One, everyone is replaceable. Yes it requires more energy and time, but you can get someone up to speed and feel more satisfied in the long run. Ya, you wish you didn't have to do this part of the job, but your going to have to suck it up and do it sooner or later.

I'm not just saying this either. I've straightened out or replaced performers that gave me outstanding numbers but sucked operationally. I just don't put up with it anymore. Theres no reason to get stressed out over someone when you have it within your capacity to fix it.

I've also learned that these types of situations don't go away. Its better that you develop people management skills now rather then later.

One other thing I mentioned that might surprise you is approaching him with an open discussion. I've learned as well that you can get surprising results when you approach someone and try and take a constructive attitude. You can learn one of two things. Either they welcome the discussion and want to resolve the issues with you. Or they don't welcome the discussion and it sounds like its time for you to check out other options.

[Penthesilea]

Is his work being affected?

I know that at my job (lab work) I'll often have periods of time where it's feast or famine. during those lulls I sit around twidling my thumbs.

Then again, you're on BG making posts, so what's the difference between his breaks and yours?

[Dimmauk]

Is his work being affected?

I know that at my job (lab work) I'll often have periods of time where it's feast or famine. during those lulls I sit around twidling my thumbs.

Then again, you're on BG making posts, so what's the difference between his breaks and yours?

He is the Boss. He can do whatever the fuck he wants. If you have a problem with it, then there's the door! LOL

[Mizango]

Like a boss.

[Howard Roark]

Unfortunately we have no cameras. We're also in the part of the call center that doesn't record it's phonecalls or require employees to log into the phone etc. Docking his pay isn't feasible with how our payroll is set up. He also has a very specialized job with a much different skillset than the other people under me. So if I were to hire someone from off the street it would probably take 8-12 months to get this person up to speed to the point where he/she could operate independently and do it efficiently. In essence I'm kind of stuck with him.

if you can't dock his pay, document his excessive time-theft and use it as grounds for denial of future raises and increase in vacation time (if this even happens at your work)

there's got to be ways to creatively induce him to cut down -- or go with him, and set a stop watch while wearing a shit-eating grin

[Seraph]

Get the company to ban smoking on all company property. Force him to walk to the end of the parking lot. Then spray him with a water bottle full of diluted lemon juice and scream 'Bad Kitty! No! No!'

If you have talked to him about it, and he doesn't listen, I don't think there is really anything you can do to get him to change. Old Dog, New Tricks.

[Jakson]

I've been with the same company for 7.5 years and I don't give a fuck what people think of me. I know how to not get fired, I know what's needed to get a raise, and I know what not to do in front of the boss. Personally, I don't feel bad for any company getting screwed out of a couple hours a week, especially when the guy has had to deal with the retards of the general public for 25 years. I only work with the public for maybe 2-3 hours a day, and it's rare that I don't want to smash their idiot faces in after 15 minutes. I don't think an extra few minutes to smoke a cigarette is too much to ask in exchange for whatever sanity the guy has left.

[Ramor]

On the other side of that argument (@above), it's kind of fucking unfair to everyone else who works with the guy that he may possibly dump his workload on them and get an extra 30-60 everyday simply because he has an addiction to smoking versus the people who don't, I don't smoke but when my coworkers (I work a shitty deli in a supermarket, so when one person leaves you feel the extra amount of work that's not being handled, and the bosses tend to yell at me because I'm the only one that knows how to do half of the things and when they don't get done it's my fault apparently) gets to take an extra 30 minutes everyday because she's a smoker it's total bullshit.

[Dimmauk]

I've been with the same company for 7.5 years and I don't give a fuck what people think of me. I know how to not get fired, I know what's needed to get a raise, and I know what not to do in front of the boss. Personally, I don't feel bad for any company getting screwed out of a couple hours a week, especially when the guy has had to deal with the retards of the general public for 25 years. I only work with the public for maybe 2-3 hours a day, and it's rare that I don't want to smash their idiot faces in after 15 minutes. I don't think an extra few minutes to smoke a cigarette is too much to ask in exchange for whatever sanity the guy has left.

7.5 years and still not in Management? I wonder why?

[Brill Weave]

Ultimately, you are the manager, he could be testing you to see if you have the balls to stand up to him.

I've written him up multiple times regarding operational fubars. So he knows that he doesn't bother me in the least. Truth be told I would like him gone because the vast majority of the people I watch take care of are older. I would love to get some younger people in here that aren't set in their ways because they've been here since 1942.

The good thing is that while he's gone, his workload will remain untouched until he returns. The problem is that while he does do his job, he has literally, no sense of urgency. And when you're in a call center, that's the worst thing you can think.

As to affecting his raises due to excessive break times, it wouldn't really dent it much. Because he's been here so long, he's almost reached the cap for how much we pay. His last raise was .04 cents. So he's not going to break down into tears when it comes to raises. His vacation time is also capped, so he gets five weeks of time.

I could, in theory, deduct time from his vacation days as the amount compiles. But the problem is that I'm usually fairly busy(don't let the BG posting fool you) so i can't monitor the exact time he leaves and the exact time he comes back. The only way I'm able to get a rough idea of how long he's been gone is if his screen saver kicks on which is set for 17 minutes.

[Dmitry]

What kind of a skill set are you looking for?

[Dimmauk]

Why is this guy so special? Fire him like you did Micheal and Samir.

[Brill Weave]

In depth geographical knowledge of multiple rural and city locations. Towing restrictions, procedures, and risks involved with towing any particular vehicle. Knowledge of up to the minute traffic delays and construction closures/lane restrictions. Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Lotus Notes, Campana, Mapping software, and Call Reasoning knowledge. Ability to multitask effectively.

That's just some of the crap I would need his replacement to know before I would feel comfortable with them being on their own.