What's the best way to deal with your first employee?

Question

What's the best way to deal with your first employee?

I have my first ever employee and she's done pretty well. I spend time training on her on things she's not familiar with and giving her pep talks, but really i just want her to take to the helm and do things. It's early still, but I am slightly frustrated at how long it takes her to do things that take me only a couple of minutes. I don't want to over work her but I need her performance to be improved. How do you deal with your employees or your first one? What was your experience?

Answer 1

lot of things come into play (so to speak) for instance, her age, her experience, whether she's done the work before, if this is her first job, if she's a relative, if she knows how much work you have for her and she's slow so that she will be able to keep busy to fill the hours you've hired her for, and how you hired her (if you told her the job was full time or part time), and what you plan to pay her (or have paid her, and if you've included any benefits) and how long she's been in your employ.

You shouldn't have to give her pep talks. Has she taken notes? To respond to your question, you either hire them temp to perm, or hire them to work within 3 months to prove themselves. Either way you have an out (to let them go if they don't perform). If you have someone who doesn't perform them you could keep their pay low till they perform Most companies do lose money because they have to keep training employees so that's why they have the temp agencies interview and test prospective employees, and then you do the next interview and determine if they are what you're looking for for that job.

Answer 2

You have to remember, you have done these tasks for a while. That is why you have them mastered. She is learning a whole new trade and it may take awhile for her to get as accurate as you are. Just think back on how long it took you to get there. Just be patient with her and answer her questions and continue the pep talks and at the end of the day, let her know how she is progressing.

If after a month or so, she still has not picked up maybe sit down with her and have a talk to find out why she think things havent picked up. If that doesnt help, then maybe you should start looking for someone else to replace her. But I do think it will work out. Remember she is learning a new trade and you are also learning how to teach it.