What can I do about the awful employees I work with?

Question

I am an office manager, I started 3 months ago. This office never had ANY supervision before me, at all EVER.

Since I've been here my boss/owner has had me empliment rules, breakes etc, nothing out of the ordinary.

The staff hates me and is nasty, vendictive, conjures lies and any mistake they can pin on me... then they take it to the boss. They also leave me out of everything... even on my birthday I had only one person wish me well.

I'm seriously considering looking for another job because of the hostile work environment it is.

I don't know whether to leave or stay... the pay is good and I my boss bought me a brand new car.

Answer 1

You need a policy and procedure document for everyone to sign. In it, write all of the normal rules, and make sure they are written clearly and firmly, not sweetly. At the bottom write "breaking any of these policies or procedures could lead to disciplinary action, termination, or legal recourse. I have read and understand this agreement, and I agree to all of it's terms".

This way you haven't said they'll be warned or written up first, but rather that you have the choice to deal with any violations any way you see fit.

Also state that "owner and manger has the right to discipline and or terminate any employee, at any time, for any reason, without notice". This way they will know that you can fire them even if they look at you wrong, and their is nothing they can do about it. It is very important for you to establish your authority immediately and get the support of the owner on this. Otherwise they will continue to intimidate you and succeed at running you out. I believe once the document has been delivered, you'll be respected. Good luck.

EDIT: I want to add after reading some of the other well meaning responses, that I disagree that you should go and ask them how they feel or what they want, or say they're not your rules but the owners. You are not trying to win their friendship. It is essential you establish yourself as boss or you will constantly be challenged and taken advantage of. Once that role has been firmly established, you can be more light hearted and personal, but not until then.

Answer 2

talk to the staff.. tell them the rules are not yours but your bosses and you are only following orders.

if they have a complaint about the rules, tell them to take it up with the boss.

Answer 3

It's not you that is the problem, It's the employees.  perhaps a stern meeting is in order to voice some opinions and get them out in the open with the big boss present.  and if the workers are not willing to negotiate, then maybe sterner action is to be taken.  EVERYONE deserves a decent working environment.

I had a boss once tell me as I was cleaning his office that we were nothing more than warm bodies and he could find more just walking down the street.  I never knew what brought that on.  We all worked well with one another but I never forget that.  It was harsh but it did remind me that I was expendable.

Answer 4

It is hard for employees when the culture suddenly changes.  You really need to get your boss to back you.  It needs to be known that you are not the bad guy in this situation, but you are just the one that has been put in charge of administrating the rules your boss wanted to implement.  It will be hard to earn the love of the employees until they get used to the new system and see how it works for them.

Good luck.  I would stick it out for a while.  Three months isn't very long, and they will probably adjust to the new system and you.

Answer 5

You have a big responsibility but there are steps that should be implemented before the 'rules' are set down in ink.

[1] Meet with the staff individually to seek out what they like or dislike and what problems and or issues they perceive

[2] Meet collectively being upfront, honest, authentic about the need for continuity, togetherness, et al.. Mention that there is a need to implement rules on .... list them out and that you would like to have them provide you with their opinions -

[3] the key to anything is that you communicate, communicate, communite and then communicate some more... it is a difficult road that we travel as managers and whereas the 'staff' may learn from us; we also learn from them.

Good luck on your new journey!

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Answer 6

Hint to your boss that to implement the new structures you may need to take some drastic measures.To start....FIRE one person for cause.....so that the others know that you mean business.......that should clear up the problem...if the problem continues, then get rid of the rest of them as the situations warrant...hire new people (in other words, your own team). You will need the backing of your Boss, so when the opportunity arises discuss it with him and give him the business reasons why you are firing someone, not the inter-personal reason. It's cold, but it is probably the only way.