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If someone is rude to you...

llama112

llama112

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
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Having a "debate" with my boyfriend.

I basically schedule this group of 20 employees at my work. I try to give them all a similar number of shifts based on how many they'd like to work. Ex. if Person A wants to work 20 shifts and Person B wants to work 10 shifts, I would give Person A 10 shifts and Person B 5 shifts so they'd each get 50% of the shifts that they signed up for. With a group of about 20 employees, it obviously gets to places where not everyone gets exactly 50% but people generally get 50-60% and I try to make things approximate.

This one employee was very rude and disrespectful for me. So next time I'm deciding who gets what shifts, I would give her a lower percentage and I'd give someone who was more polite and respectful a higher percentage of shifts.

I don't really have much of an interaction with these employees, it's just a small part of my job. But I do have to decide who gets a higher percentage of shifts and I do it based on things like that - how they communicate with me is one of the ways. There are also other ways I choose who gets what shifts ex. skill level, how long they've been with the company, if they call in sick much, etc. but those are all factors in my decision.

Would you consider this childish or vindictive?

I personally think that, if an employee is going to be unprofessional and rude for absolutely no reason (I was very polite in return btw even though I didn't want to be), then why should I try and give her more shifts? It just doesn't make sense.

My boyfriend is trying to tell me I'm being vindictive and childish - my coworkers agree with me though. They don't think this employee should have been rude to me. I don't care that much, I just figure I'll give her a lower percentage, she might miss out on like one shift every couple of months, it's not like it is a ton or anything because everyone is still approximate... she's just on the lower side (so at 50% instead of 60%).
 
If you are not in a management position, telling the girl's supervisor of the incident would seem the best course of action. She should have been reprimanded especially if there were other employees around and can back you up. In a way I would be tempted to mess with her shifts too, but that's not going to stop her from giving you more abuse in the future. She needs to be called out for acting inappropriately.
 
It was rude, I'm not her direct supervisor but I don't need to tell them about it. I'm not going to give her like zero shifts but I figure I can give her the lower amount. I know her direct supervisors don't like her too much either... eh I don't want to get her in trouble. It's just one of the factors when I decide who works when
 
that girl's an idiot for being rude to you. but you should not let it affect how many hours she gets. in the slightest.
 
If her own supervisors have reason to complain, she doesn't sound like an asset to the company. In the long run she could even be rude to clients, customers, whatever and be a cause for loss to the company. Your mild reprimand might set her off and her bosses might get rid of her. No loss, but possible gain.
 
Yes childish and very unprofessional. Do you honestly think that will improve your working relationship with her? Be the bigger person, unless your vindictive of course.
 
I would hesitate to do this, only because it could make her act more surly towards you. Plus other people at work know about it, and this could haunt you later on. Just wait for her to get mouthy with you again and put her in her place.
 
This one employee was very rude and disrespectful for me. So next time I'm deciding who gets what shifts, I would give her a lower percentage and I'd give someone who was more polite and respectful a higher percentage of shifts.
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Seems slightly passive/aggressive; this won't get the message across on its own.

ebola
 
The urge to do something vindictive would be very strong, in my case; I hold a mean grudge, and have always been fond of little acts of revenge. I'm no supervisor, though, and as you've mentioned, if you do what you're talking about everyone else will know, and I wouldn't count on the information not getting back to the perp, one way or another. More bad blood, and perhaps she'll go over your head to get back at you, or run a smear campaign, God knows what.

Stay cool, and save your venom for a fuck-up of hers that's worth it (for instance, something that actually costs business). In that case you'll be in the right w.r.t. to the company, your coworkers, and your actions.
 
She's being unprofessional. By reacting this way, you're echoing that same attitude.

Besides, how long would you keep cutting her shifts short? One scheduling cycle? Two? Indefinitely until she brings in baked goods?

If this is was an isolated incident, write it off it as someone just having a bad day at the office. If she's constantly being rude, bring it up with her in a mature, respectful, and (most importantly) direct way. You want to make sure your message gets across to her as clearly & succinctly as possible. Indirect communication only worked for Kierkegaard.
 
^ agreed.

What you're considering is an abuse of power for a personal gripe. Its low level power assertions and vindictiveness like this that make offices such unpleasant places to work. If you react the way you describe it creates a mistrustful atmosphere, and even the people agreeing with you won't trust you for fear of losing shifts.

Ask to speak to her about it instead and retain your integrity as an individual.
 
I agree with badandwicked. stay professional in situations like this. I am currently a supervisor, but I would never abuse my small amount of power (such as shift arranging) because someone was rude. If he/she keeps the attitude up then be assertive and bring it up to the said person. hopefully it can beresolved
 
I've learned that managing people means being able to rise above their inability to communicate their needs or desires in a civil way.

Unfortunately, some people think that they can intimidate others by manipulating them emotionally.

After all civil and professional options have been exhausted I have no problem with motivating them to improve by cutting their pay/hours.

It works more often than not. It is just the way life is in my experience.

I don't think I have enough information to comment on your particular situation.
 
bagochina said:
Yes childish and very unprofessional. Do you honestly think that will improve your working relationship with her? Be the bigger person, unless your vindictive of course.
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I disagree...

I've been in a management position as well, and, thankfully, I've never had to deal with something like this before; but, were I to find myself in the same position where I had to decide who gets more shifts and who gets less, well, the employee with a bad attitude -- and that's sort of what I'm gathering from all this -- would get fewer shifts. I don't see how this is childish or vindictive.

If the employee were truly good at his/her job, better than the other employees by some observable degree, and my only gripe about this employee was his attitude towards me and not anyone else, then it would be a different story and, indeed, I would consider giving that employee fewer shifts to be a bit childish and vindictive. I wouldn't do it; I might even give the employee more shifts, despite my not getting along with him.

But, again, it sounds to me like this individual just has an all-around bad attitude and is rude to others as well. That wouldn't entitle you to more shifts or even an equal number of shifts, not in my book and call it what you will.... sorry. (shrugs)
 
Just a thought, but is there any chance this person would tell on you for this since she will likely put 2 and 2 together, which could land you in trouble? I think the best thing to do is talk to her about it. Otherwise she'll probably be more bitchy with less hours, so you wouldn't really gain anything from it since at the end of the week the total amount of bitchiness would be about the same despite fewer shifts.

verso said:
I disagree...

I've been in a management position as well, and, thankfully, I've never had to deal with something like this before; but, were I to find myself in the same position where I had to decide who gets more shifts and who gets less, well, the employee with a bad attitude -- and that's sort of what I'm gathering from all this -- would get fewer shifts. I don't see how this is childish or vindictive.

If the employee were truly good at his/her job, better than the other employees by some observable degree, and my only gripe about this employee was his attitude towards me and not anyone else, then it would be a different story and, indeed, I would consider giving that employee fewer shifts to be a bit childish and vindictive. I wouldn't do it; I might even give the employee more shifts, despite my not getting along with him.

But, again, it sounds to me like this individual just has an all-around bad attitude and is rude to others as well. That wouldn't entitle you to more shifts or even an equal number of shifts, not in my book and call it what you will.... sorry. (shrugs)
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See I think read this as what you described in paragraph 2, so I don't think she should lower the persons number of shifts. Like maybe money is tight right now for her so she's stressed and happened to let is out on llama. Well, reducing her number of shifts would make money even tighter and not solve anything, and in fact make it worse.
 
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