Work Thoughts
I sent cool kid home today almost 2 hours early cause he wasn’t feeling well. That coupled with beanie’s rather excessive cat-like behavior last week made me realize something a lot of you have been probably shouting at me internally for a while. I’m too averse to confrontation. Maybe it’s cause I don’t like having to be prepared to replace someone.
What I do know is that when I don’t confront them, the behavior gets worse. So maybe I just need to be prepared to be the “bad guy.”
Work Thoughts
@KoBunny This is pretty much what I've been trying to say about Cool Kid, yes. I think he's actively taking advantage of your conflict aversion. I don't think he's doing it maliciously, but I do think it's happening.
Work Thoughts
@literorrery so then the question becomes - given this knowledge how do I confront either/both of them without feeling like the energy I have to put into the encounter vastly exceeds the reward (good behavior) that I get from it.
I don’t have a good answer, and I’m not expecting anyone to magically find a way to solve this riddle either. I think I know one or two of the answers already, I just don’t like them.
Work Thoughts
@KoBunny @literorrery I have some suggestions on this front, but to summarize: establish firm boundaries around your workplace requirements and make sure your employees know when they've crossed them.
The way you're talking about this implies you've been letting your boundaries get trampled when good excuses are provided- but boundaries aren't circumstantial.
Confrontation isn't the only way to establish and maintain boundaries, but it's the most effective.
@literorrery @KoBunny
I'd be happy to talk more about this in person if you'd find that helpful. ♥️
Work Thoughts
@mawr @KoBunny I feel like the boundaries /have/ been set but continue to be ignored.
I don't think either or them are doing it intently or maliciously, but more that they just don't take the job very seriously.
My thoughts here are heavily biased, though, and I'm not perfect in behaviors either. It's probably a good thing that I'm not in charge, and I'm sorry, Ko, that you're having to be in this situation.
Work Thoughts
@KoBunny I don't think any good manager likes them. *pettin's* I have a lot of thoughts about this, but I've never _been_ in this position, so all of my ideas are theoretical at best. Regardless, I support you whatever path you take.