It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are three updates from past letter-writers.
1. Can I use an improvement plan for an employee who lies?
After a discrepancy arose regarding some reports, the employee in question was found to have engaged in a problematic behavior despite being explicitly told not to. This led to a decision for the employee to take on a different role in a different department at the company.
- I genuinely wish the best for this employee in their new career path and hope that they will continue to contribute positively to the company in their new role.
- I feel that I had nothing more to teach the employee after their long tenure and I am eager to see them grow under a new supervisor.
- There were concerns about the employee experiencing burnout, which I now believe to have been validated given some errors discovered in their recent work.
I feel relieved that I no longer have to have the same feedback conversations with this employee, as the situation had become untenable as you advised.
Their replacement has started, and I am hopeful that all will end well.
2. How can I break the habit of giving reasons for my time-off requests? (#2 at the link)
While I have made efforts to refrain from giving reasons for my absences or PTO requests, I have found myself backsliding due to building a friendlier relationship with my grandboss. This has led to more casual explanations, blurring some of the boundaries I initially set for myself in this job. This has affected my work-life balance, but I am still successful in maintaining a no-contact boundary during my time off.
I will continue to be mindful of these boundaries and strive to improve incrementally, or at the very least, resist further slippage.
3. Can I pass on a volunteer who’s only interested if they eventually get paid? (#3 at the link)
I took the advice given and ended up finding a fantastic fit for the project with another potential volunteer who worked for a video production company. The first volunteer who expressed interest in being eventually hired was not chosen, as the other volunteer had more experience and was also a great fit for the project.
I appreciate all the comments and have taken them into consideration. I believe we can still create rich, meaningful opportunities for people to donate their skills as long as we are not blind to the challenges.
