If you were a leader/supervisor, what would you do...?

Question

The situation is that one employee has been caught sleeping with his co-workers wife and now the problem has entered the office. How should this be handled from a management perspective?

Be detailed and specific

I suppose by fighting, not physical or anything, but basically they are just trying to get the office on their side; both of them. And office productivity has slowed down because of this distraction

Answer 1

Delicate situation to be sure. OK, so if you have a HR Manager - get him/her involved immediately. If you have legal dept, notify them immediately. If it is you, going it alone...this is what I would do...

1. Meet with each of the individuals one-on-one and discuss the nature of the office setting and how personal issues need to be handled away from the office.

2. Inform each party that if the situation affects their job, effects anyone else at the job, or involves the other person at the job, that termination could result from the situation. A professional atmosphere must be maintained

3. Steer claer of passing any judgement on either party - there is no law being broken, so it only involves you as far as the job is affected

4. If your company has it available, suggest the company sponsored counseling to both parties. These are confidential forums

5. Directly ask each person (individually) if they can continue in their positions without bringing in the outside issues? Try to avoid having to terminate anyone from this incident, only react to the actions taken as they affect job performance of them and of others. try to preserve a conducive workplace for both.

6. Steer clear of bringing the two together at your request. Attempt to allow them to perform their jobs with as little interaction with one another as possible, and make sure that any changes are not perceived as punishments for their actions outside of the office.

7. Make sure that others in the office are not discussing any of the issues within the office.

8. Make sure that company policies are clear and easily available to all employees. Make sure you make yourself available to either individual as a confidant and advocate for the quality of their work and the behaviors they exhibit at the workplace.

Answer 2

Call them both in your office, together, for a "come to Jesus" talk.

Tell them that their personal business has become a huge drain on your, and the companies, money and time.

Then tell them that if it doesn't stop immediately, and they can not get back to the business of making the company money, they can both go.

Then stick to it. Any argument or pleading just stop it and tell them that you do not care what happened, or who said what, you only care about the office and it's continued success.

They can get back to being profitable, or they can get out.

And that as of that minute, they were not to EVER mention the other one's name to fellow employees, unless it is directly work related.

I had an office romance go bad and did just this. It stopped the bulk of the talking and posturing, and within a month or so, one of them quit and peace ensued.

This happens all the time, all over the world, yet people continue to put their jobs at risk because of their personal lives, go figure.

Answer 3

As with most company policies (check your own as well) personal problems are not to be brought into work. If they are, it is a violation of company policy and yes management should then handle it. I don't know anything about your company or your employees, but either suspend them both for a like period of time, or let go the employee who's work is being affected the most.

If you are not in a position to fire or suspend, follow your procedures as a leader / supervisor and refer them to higher management and have it resolved there.

Answer 4

You cannot get involved with their personal affairs. Co-workers are allowed to have relations, and you are not allowed to tell them how to be ethical outside of work. Instead, you need to focus on the ways that this problem is affecting their work. Make a list if it helps. Sit them down individually and go over what problems you have. You can tell them taht you disapprove of the whole situation if you wish, but that isn't the point here. The point is that their personal life is interfering with their jobs, and make sure they know that you will take actions against whomever continues to bring their personal life into the work place.

Professionalism is key. Hope that helps.

~Bob

Answer 5

i think if i was a supervisor i would deal with the situation at the office. for example: if the men are causing a rucus on the job then i would give them a warning that its to stop. if its not stopped, i would start the disciplinary process by writing up, etc. you can only go so far. after a write up i would terminate the man who is sleeping with his co workers wife because he started it.

Answer 6

In order to answer that you would need to eloborate on just how it's "entered the office". Rumours, fighting, what? There really are many ways this can be handled... depending on what is really going on at the workplace.

Be detailed and specific

Answer 7

Bring the involved parties to your office for a meeting and discuss with them the issue. Be firm and specify that you do not want domestic disputes to disrupt the flow of business. If they do not comply, consider letting them go. These are disputes for personal time, not work time. If you need to, and are able to, separate their job responsibilities so that they do not contact each other through the work day. Best of luck!

Answer 8

I would suggest sitting them down and talking to them together.

Tell them that whatever happened to leave it out of the office. They are paid to work and talk to eachother in a professional manner in order to get the job done right.

If anymore insubordination occurs tell them that they will be put on supension without pay/ then if it still persists fire them both.

Be firm with them. You are not paying them to bicker at work. Tell them to leave that for home.

Answer 9

I would reccomend professional spiritual and phsycological aid to the two worker´s and their wives.

I would definitely fire the one that slept with the wife from the other.

Though situation anyway. Be very very careful and discrete.

Answer 10

i ought to provide this crew chief 10.50-11.00 in holding with hour. No offense meant, yet this job sound like some crap retail/promotion job the position your in effortless words qualification to oversee those whom you do is six months extra journey than they have. i'd be incorrect, yet i imagine the corporate way of existence has led you to believe that you've some iron-fist authority yet is in effortless words paying you at a "assistant evening manager" factor. that is nice for them yet undesirable for you. i'm confident there's a extreme turnover fee at your workplace. again... i'd be incorrect.