So, it went somewhat okay, but it was definitely a challenge. The young girl actually is 19 and the other staff member is a fellow Supervisor yet I still outrank her in the pecking order (I hate using those terms, but it's the way it is) and as I said 10 years older than me.
Started basically saying that the purpose was that there is some issues going on causing tension and disruption in the workplace. They both agreed to my outcome to try and clear the air and move on and erase the slate.
Basically, the young staff member said the other talks to them like shit and yells at her. The kicker is, this Supervisor has had other complaints against her for the way she speaks, and I've told her in the past if she keeps it up she'll be screwed when HR get involved. She says she isn't aware and while at times these young kids are just soft I admit, there's still ways to talk to people and ways not to.
I brought up faults on both parts and tried to play it even and not focus solely on just one of them, and asking the staff member if she has done anything she thinks that may have affected these confrontations. She said no, she never does anything wrong. 'Christ, here we go,' I thought. I told her in actual fact her productivity and attitude has slipped compared to what it use to be and that she also sometimes can have a tone herself and while people shouldn't talk to people like shit, if she's given a direction from a Supervisor she needs to respect it and do it. Don't think she liked that but to her credit agreed.
Then the Supervisor asked what she can do to communicate with her better. The answer was just not speak down to her, which is fair. Then the Supervisors tone changed while she was saying 'if you make a mistake I should be able to tell you etc etc.' and her tone changed. I pulled her up and said 'right there, while obviously you're not aware or mean it, your tone right now is coming across slightly condescending and aggressive,' which it was. There was almost some tears, from both mind you. I said, just change your approach and you won't have these issues.
The Supervisor did apologize genuinely for making the staff member feel the way she does and there was still some hesitance. I asked the staff member, 'she's apologizing and it sounds genuine, do you not agree or accept it?' She did.
Basically, the Supervisor is a bitch and the staff member is a princess really. The staff member has always been a funny one anyway but damn she's stubborn. I've had conversations with both individually before the meeting to say my side and things they both do and don't do but Jesus, that was quite a challenge. Afterwards both individually were okay and happy to move forward. I just hope both do their part.
I think I handled it pretty well. I didn't think too much about it beforehand and didn't take notes beforehand or anything, just dealt with it as it comes. The worst thing I've found is playing possibly scenarios in your head of how it may go is the worst thing you can do. Just going in there and doing it with what's in front of me went well. I said what I needed to say. I praised both of them but didn't bitch out on telling them what they both needed to hear also. Time will tell. Definitely earned my crappy pay yesterday. I kind of actually somewhat enjoyed it....I think, which is weird.
Topic: What pissed you off today? (Read 134261 times)
