Managing the younger generation is a real challeng
 

Last week, I had an employee scheduled to be at work at 7:30 a.m. - didn’t hear a word from her. Finally, at 1:00 p.m. “her friend” called and said she was taken to the emergency room at 3:00 a.m. that morning with an allergic reaction.

I was a little taken back because her mom use to work here and I thought her mom would have for sure known to call us to let us know what was going on. (red flag)

The next day, she was at work. She told the ladies they didn’t know if it was a bug bite or something she had eaten, but at one point she couldn’t breath and had a big knot appear on her neck. Then later she told me that her whole neck was swollen and had fluid built up and they were going to have to slit her throat. (red flag)

Okay, by now my mom instincts were really kicking in and I’m thinking….WHAT? However, I’m trying to be open-minded and fair and give her the benefit of the doubt.

I met with her that afternoon and told her that what she did was considered a No Call/No Show and usually you are given a written warning. This time I was going to just go over the attendance rules with her to make sure she knew what was expected of her and then asked that she provide me with a copy of her discharge papers from the hospital for her file.

Next day, I received an email that she had looked high and low in her car and house and couldn’t find anything. She called the facility and asked them to fax her doctor the proper papers and she would get me a copy because when she called the hospital they said they could only fax to another doctor (red flag).

She wasn’t scheduled to work the next two days. (plenty of time to gather her documentation).

So, now it’s been a week and no word. I forwarded her the email where she said she would get the info to me and told her that I need the information by the close of business that day.

After lunch, I had a fax on my desk. The fax number from where it was faxed was crossed out (red flag), but it had the hospital logo and some information was there.

I decided to do a little investigating so I ran a report on the fax machine it came in on to see where the fax came from. At the time it was received there was only one transmission received and it was from MSD International which is a dept at our company two floors up. (red flag)

I ran the report on International’s fax to see if perhaps it was received on that one from the hospital. That fax had not received any transmissions that day. It did confirm that a two-page fax was transmitted from there to our fax machine. (BIG RED FLAG)

It was the end of that day, so I thought on it that night and came in the next day and decided to call the hospital to see if they would let me know if they had anyone come in (a week prior) by my employee’s name. Nope. I asked if I could fax the form to them to verify it was indeed their form.

They called back and said, it wasn’t their form, but there are several clinics in the area with that logo.

I called one of the clinics and she was very helpful. She said their computers were all linked so if she was at any of the clinics she would show up. They checked – NOPE. I asked if I could fax the form for her to verify.

They called back and the first thing the lady said was, “that’s a cut and paste job”!!!!! The logo is from our clinics and the rest of the form is from the hospital.

OH MY WORD!!!!!

I met with our HR Rep and she guided me how to proceed.

I met with the employee and told her that, “after taking into consideration the red flags and looking further into the form you submitted – it doesn’t appear to be authentic.” She had to the end of the day to make a choice:

1. Have the facility fax me directly the discharge form with her name, date and time.

OR

2. Accept a Written Warning – No Call/No Show

The color drained from her face and she said, “I’ll have to sign the warning”!

No joke?????

However, here’s the point of my HUGE post……..she showed absolutely NO REGRET!

I told her I was disappointed in her actions and all she STARTED to argue about was - - “it was personal”. I stopped her and said, I’m not asking you where you were or what happened – this is about you not calling and not showing up for work.

She offered - - No apology. No – I’m sorry I’ve let you down. No – I won’t do it again.

The rest of the afternoon she acted like nothing was wrong. Had that happened to me I would still had my tail tucked.

A real different generation entering the work force!!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Which is why I have always stressed the fact that I have almost never missed work (certainly never without communicating before) and am never late when applying for a job.

So are you a detective now too?

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

LOL....I'm thinking of taking that up as a side job! :ursofunny

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Good investigation on your part way to go...I have worked with a few that have done this same thing...LOL I guess it was how they were raised...I recommended someone for a job one time and then got promoted to Shop Manager and the guy I recommended for this job I had to fire him cause of how he performed in the field..LOL talk about funny situation

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

If anything gets under my skin it is a liar...I do not trust people that lie...for I have learned they keep on lying until to them is is no longer ever a lie...

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

My sister has a vey high job and she has often spoken to me about people who do certain things like Renda mentioned....what a shame and a greater shame when they are church people...

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

The last few months I have had to deal with people that lie...it really bothers me...

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Amazingly stupid!

She will probably have more up her sleeve, sounds like dishonesty is a way of life for her.

She probably wonders why things do not work out for her-duh!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

It's not just the younger generation, but it does seem to be getting worse. Some of my son's friends (ex-friends now!) were really bad. Lied all the time, to him, to me, to everyone. Crazy.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I know EXACTLY what you mean.

A little over a year ago I started a new job. There were 8 people total in my training class all of which were younger than me by 10 years or more.

At this time, only 3 of of the 8 remain, including myself. There were attendance issues mostly but also some productivity issues.

The most notable thing with each of them was their indifferent attitude towards warnings of impending termination if they didn't straighten up and fly right. They simply didn't care.

I have a great supervisor that will bend over backwards for anyone that is really trying. But she isn't going to put up with an "I don't care" attitude and I don't blame her. Instead of taking her instructions and trying to improve, or showing any regret or smidget of caring about their jobs, they just griped and complained about her and ultimately ended up fired.

Go figure!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I'm beginning to suspect she is a habitual liar - this is just the first real proof of it.

She tends to tell grandious stories that we've all questioned her on, but no proof.

She's 22. Whatever we discuss she is an expect on it.

She actually argued with me one time about the new cubicle walls in another building. Long story, but she said they went to the ceiling - - I said, no they are regular cubicle height. She basically stood in my face and said I didn't know what I was talking about.

I politely suggested that we walk over there together and I'll show her they are regular height. She said, no, I know what I saw.

Okay.....so when she went to sit at the receptionist desk it took her 15 minutes to get there -- we assumed she had walked over to the other building to look. Never heard another peep out of her.

I don't like liars and know-it-alls that know nothing!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Hey don't talk to me like that...Oh wait you said, "Liars" nevermind.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

These things are serious character flaws...I just dealt with some .......................... whatever took them all over them telling of their great call...spent money on them...only for them to return to the states and say GOD changed HIS MIND...
and believe it or not some pastors believe that! lol...

They need to be sat down and told GOD does not lie...and REAL mission work like about any other thing is NOT a FREE lunch...

In 40 plus years have seen that happen quite a few times...when people see work is work unless they are really called they are on the next plane home...

I guess I am getting old and cranky but I am tired of people coming to the field for a free lunch or to find a boyfriend or girlfriend...

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I agree with you 100 %...I hate lies...and know it alls...

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I know what you mean--I do not like liars either.

But at a place of employment where you want to build trust, she is only making it harder for self by developing a reputation as a liar.

It's one thing to make a mistake, but once you have a bad reputation no one trusts you.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I have seen people weep and put on a hollywood act that would fool about anyone...

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

a mistake is one thing but to lie and lie and lie is another thing...

Love you dear friend.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Wow seriously?!

What kind of a person goes on the mission field to find a boyfriend? Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

Although, I must say I just heard a story like this in Singapore- an American found an Asain young man to marry and there is a 20 yr gape in their ages. Seems a little strange to me.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

We had a young guy in the group that would argue and argue with our sup. She tolerated it well. I think the guy would have argued with a concrete wall.

He was a "know it all" type too.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

strange Know it all´s usually have nothing to show for their great knowledge...

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Appreciate all you go through Sister Alvear, missions is not a glory road it is a gory road.

I think it's pride that makes people lie and not tell the truth- you have to be a humble person to admit you were wrong and ask for help.

It seems easier to me to admit to wrong doing than it does to cover it up with lies, but people sometimes are too ignorant to see that.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Lol! That is so true!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Renda, none of your story surprises me - I could tell you some that would almost equal it. Somewhere a huge group of kids of this same generation were never taught ethics of any kind, and it's showing in our society. And nothing is EVER their fault, it's ALWAYS someone else's fault - ALWAYS! Very frustrating to deal with.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

We have elected someone like that, if it's a problem then George Bush did it.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Good detective work Renda. lol

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

You have to give the girl an A+ for creativity! :D

She went thru a lot of trouble to try and cover up everything.

Great detective work, Renda!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I vote to elect Renda the detective of the year!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Just think how successful she could be if she'd put that much effort into her job.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I think that people like that, who have no moral character or integrity, in fact have an innate sense of entitlement.

Why would they feel guilt or remorse, when they feel that the world / company / everyone else owes them something?

Managing them might be extremely frustrating, but I think that working for such a person might be just as bad!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Who me? :ursofunny

No, I know you mean her - - or I hope you did!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Lol!! :ursofunny


Yeah, I meant her. :D

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Yes, they are real big on our CORE Behaviors in HR - - she's failed about half of them - - candor - trust/respect - accountability and I mentioned all that in my little speech.

I also have learned to type out what I'm going to say and give her a copy and not to veer too far off the written words because she will "misunderstand" what I said or say I never said that. She can't argue with the written words especially when she's given a copy.

Entitlement is a big issue with her for sure!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Uh, the only difference here is that your statement is actually true.

:)

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Renda,

At this point, I would have been more inclined to just fire her for lying. At the bare minimum, she would have lost hours (suspension, forced vacation, etc.)



Did I meet this employee?

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I couldn't fire her - - all the red tape - - you have to really have a case. However, with the written warning, the next incident she will be out of there.

No, you didn't met her. She job shares with an older lady and I remember Bonnie was there that day because she told Angela (the cute one) that you were really cute!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I think there are people like that in all generations. It sounds like you handled it real well though.

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

My parents always taught me that you need to build a reputation of being an honest, trustworthy person.

I have always said that if anyone would LIE to you, they would STEAL from you. Renda, you might want to check for missing office supplies. LOL

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

I once worked for a short time for a man (as a bookkeeper) who wanted me to employ some..ahhh..."creative" methods. I don't think he ever understood that if I was willing to cheat someone else for him, then I was the last person he should be trusting to do his books!

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

Yeah,
I wish Angela was Apostolic and in Orlando!!!! :)

Re: Managing the younger generation is a real chal
 

She is Apostolic (COGIC) - just not in Orlando!