March 1, 2011
The survey that reveals that UK managers are poor at dealing with underperformance should really come as no shock to anyone working anywhere at all.
Apparently managers 'lack confidence' about dealing with poor performers, and, surprise surprise, the main issue is dealing with staff who 'throw sickies' - to use a common, and frankly quite base description of workplace absence.
Guru suggests some of this confusion must be down to the fact that people don't go off sick at all any more, but are 'not fit for purpose' on account of their being given a 'fit note' by their doctor.
And yet there is a nagging suspicion that the very people who find it hardest to deal with the issue are the problem themselves. If they, the managers, were taken out of the equation and piled on a heap, then would anything really grind to a halt - despite the swathes of so-called workers being unavailable for toil? The answer, is obviously no. Directors around the country ought to take note.
And talking of notes, sick ones and fit ones, it seems we're not all 'singing from the same hymn sheet' when it comes to managing absence across the country.
After all, phoning in to say "sorry, I can't come in to work today I'm not fit enough" might pose a few problems oop north - as in Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool - where Yours Truly understands the term 'fit' applies to looks alone.
Based on his own experience of visiting these secondary cities, he can confirm that while former Spice Girl Mel B (pictured)may never have taken a day off, more than half the population would have to make the 'unfit' declaration every day - although, unpleasant as turning up may make the view for everyone else, he's not sure being ugly is a reason to take a day off.
Apparently managers 'lack confidence' about dealing with poor performers, and, surprise surprise, the main issue is dealing with staff who 'throw sickies' - to use a common, and frankly quite base description of workplace absence.
Guru suggests some of this confusion must be down to the fact that people don't go off sick at all any more, but are 'not fit for purpose' on account of their being given a 'fit note' by their doctor.
And yet there is a nagging suspicion that the very people who find it hardest to deal with the issue are the problem themselves. If they, the managers, were taken out of the equation and piled on a heap, then would anything really grind to a halt - despite the swathes of so-called workers being unavailable for toil? The answer, is obviously no. Directors around the country ought to take note.
And talking of notes, sick ones and fit ones, it seems we're not all 'singing from the same hymn sheet' when it comes to managing absence across the country.
After all, phoning in to say "sorry, I can't come in to work today I'm not fit enough" might pose a few problems oop north - as in Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool - where Yours Truly understands the term 'fit' applies to looks alone. Based on his own experience of visiting these secondary cities, he can confirm that while former Spice Girl Mel B (pictured)may never have taken a day off, more than half the population would have to make the 'unfit' declaration every day - although, unpleasant as turning up may make the view for everyone else, he's not sure being ugly is a reason to take a day off.
Guru's Tweets