One of my workers said that he was he was unhappy with his pay. I said he was free to leave and he did. Wrong?

Question

Basically he was complaining about his paycheck and said he was under the impression he was being paid more. I said no and asked where he heard that. He said that the other boss of our department said it (he and I have a similar job). He is on vacation, but I'm 99% sure this guy isn't supposed to be paid more. I told him he would have to wait until I got ahold of my coworker. He said he can't wait any longer because he has bills to pay and that he thought this company was "professional."

I told him he was free to leave at anytime and that people are pretty much lined up to get his job and that we won't miss a beat without him.

So he quit. Who's fault is this?

Answer 1

Nobody's fault because there is no problem here. He went to find a better job, and you've got replacements on the hook already. Everything worked out.

Answer 2

I think the fact that you are asking the question indicates that you are not comfortable with the way you handled this matter. What do you know that you haven't told us?

Were you this man's supervisor or was the "other boss" his supervisor (and maybe yours, too)? If you're his supervisor why are you only "99%" sure about his rate of pay? Is there a possibility that there was an error in the computation of this man's pay? Do you really have people "lined up to get his job"? Is it true that you "won't miss a beat without him"?

The bottom line is that you made it abundantly clear that you did not value him as an employee. Personally, I think your response was unprofessional.

Answer 3

Why do you feel compelled to assign "fault" to this situation? He thought he had a higher salary. You said that you didn't think so but that you'd have to check it out. He said he couldn't wait.

So far, these are all statements of fact.

Then you told him that you can easily fill his job and that he wouldn't be missed. If it's true, and he left, then so be it. It could be that your comment pushed him over the edge, kind of a "maybe I should find a place where I'm am valued then" attitude. But, again, I don't see that it's right to say one or the other of you is "at fault."

But if it's not true what you said and his quitting will cause difficulty, no matter how slight, then I'd suggest that your last statement could have been more tactful or not even necessary -- you'd already stated the situation and explained what you would do for him.

Answer 4

DEAD WRONG!!! What a terrible thing to say to someone with a simple pay dispute! Perhaps if you had acted in a reasonable and professional manner you wouldn't have lost a worker. One telephone call could have most likely straightened it out but you had to take it upon yourself to set up an unconscionable argument with a worker who believed he was being short-changed!

The fact of the matter is that 99% is just not good enough when it comes to money! You obviously didn't hire him so you don't really know what the exect deal was. You had no right whatsoever to say what you did to him. I'm glad that he walked out of the door...no one needs abuse like that!

Answer 5

you are. thats pretty unprofessional. dont you have a payrol department???? dont employees get in writing what there pay is????? you didnt hire him and obvisouly you are not is normal boss. instead of trying to work out the problem you demeend him. if you were 1 of my supervisors i would have fired you on the spot. your human resource department or possibly payroll should have his rate of pay and a signed offer of this on file all you had to do was to go up and check on it. and if there is still confusion you should have told him the trueth theres nothing you can do about it he will have to wait for "the real boss" to get back from vaction. better cross your fingers he doesnt file a greivance
they key thing is YOU did not hire him and you have no idea what he was hired at. and if he was hired for a set amount and was not being paid that. he can file unemployment
you should go to some management classes and seminars.

Answer 6

no one's I haven't been in the work force very long but my parents (and the professors of the career I want to go in) has taught me that this is the way things work....if you don't like a job and don't want to be there then get out of there cause there's lots more people that would like to work and be there employers don't have the time to deal with the bs of people who don't want to be there. I hope this guy of yours was smart and had another job lined up before he left...cause if he didn't those bills are gonna pile up.

Answer 7

I don't think the issue is who is at fault. Every body is responsible only for their own actions. He decided to leave and he did.

However, I think you should have just stopped with I'll have to wait until I get ahold of my co-worker and just left at that or offered to make an extra effort at getting ahold of the co-worker.

Answer 8

Well, I don't really see any fault here...on either side. He didn't get what he expected. You told him he was free to leave whenever, and he did. So, if you truly do have people lined up for his job, then you're in no worse position than before.

Answer 9

It seems like if the guy had bills to pay than he wouldn't just walk off the job like that, but wait untl he finds another job that pays more. It's his fault because he is the one who left- you didn't tell him to leave or anything, you just gave him the option.

Answer 10

you're not responsible for what an adult does so don't feel like you are. i think that people that bring negativity in the workplace should be removed because they are like venom to the environment. take it as a blessing. someone should throw you a party.