debate in the office?

Question

I am a senior member of staff and when the manager has left the office, I am in charge.

Everyone decided to take their lunch leaving the phones unmanned!

I then called everyone back in the office and called a meeting. I said that everyone is big enough to use their common sense to negotiate with team members when to go on their lunch and await other staff members to come back.

The youngest age of the staff here is 25 and the eldest is 27.. so they should have common sense!

I then said that I DO not want to hen peck them, they are not children...

one of them took offence to that!

This same person seems to think that she can call the shots and give orders etc

I have told them that I will 'switch' on them because I was quite lenient, but if I have to be the sort of person that people will dread at work, then so be it!

What do you think?

this person who took offence is meant to be my maid of honour.

So I have told her I dont want her at my wedding

I have addressed it with the managers.. they said she is too sensitive and highly strung and see that she is after my job. They said she was out of order/

Answer 1

get the crabby one fired, she is a trouble maker

Answer 2

I managed offices with up to 18 members before I retired.. The basis to all this is the relationship you have with the staff before any problems arise.. Support them, praise them , guide them , nagging and bossing doesn't get you anywhere.... They always pulled out all the stops when needed...This question of lunches, just say that obviously the office cannot be empty , so ask them to make arrangements between themselves.. It might be that just a couple might be needed for phones at this time,, The main thing is to give your staff respect and they will normally return this...

Answer 3

People don't like being lectured at. There are other ways of getting staff to do what you want.

If you have to call a meeting, the best thing is to have a debate. Present the problem and ask for suggestions how to resolve it.

Prepare a new timetable, and just explain to people why you have done it. In 25 years of management I've always tried to avoid any kind of confrontation or accusation, it's just self-defeating.

Answer 4

Frankly, they had every right to take offence. You were supposed to manage them, but you didn't, and then you scolded them for not managing themselves!
You said you didn't want to hen peck them, they are not children - but that's exactly what you were doing and how you were treating them.
You are the manager now, so you need to act like one. You need to make sure the phones are covered and that people are staggering their lunches. Don't leave it up to them do this - organize it yourself, because, ultimately, it's your responsibility, not theirs.

You should thank the person who is trying to "call the shots" - she's stepping up and taking charge, trying to do what you've neglected to do. She's focusing on the goal, not the blame, and maybe you should too.

Answer 5

Sounds like you work for an agressive firm. Maybe Staffing, Be cool, it happens sometimes. Just remind them nicely that you all can't be gone at once. Let Managment know because it is their place to handle this. Not really yours.

Answer 6

Interesting. Have you ever thought about approaching HR with this subject? Or the manager? It's obvious that the staff does not respect your authority, you need to do something to change that.

Answer 7

I can see why people don't respect you or your authority. If you had any leadership you wouldn't be on Yahoo asking us how to fix your problem. You need to take command or tell your boss to appoint someone that can do the job.

Answer 8

Rule the office with an iron fist, start handing out warnings for any insubordination...

Answer 9

Stick to your guns. If you're the boss then you have to act like the boss. Good luck!

Answer 10

as you said YOUR IN CHARGE, report the cow to the boss tomorrow! x