hitting the 3year slump!

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Rob Reid — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:33:11 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]t's also quite difficult to sack someone these days. Bob Russell must have been lucky: "in at the front door and straight out of the back door" could be a very very expensive pleasure.[/quote]

That's as may be, but the counter-argument to Employment Law being stacked in favour of the employee is that could be more expensive to settle a constructive dismissal claim for one (or possibly more) disgruntled and bullied employees. Not to mention the (hidden and often heavily underestimated) cost of recruitment of maybe several members of staff.

Sometimes it's worth the hit in the long run.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:15:36 GMT

[quote user="Braden Collins"]It sounds like there are multiple bosses there, so I would initially approach one of the others to see if they can have a quiet word with the boss involved.[/quote]

Depends who is the real Chief Boss, which may well not be the senior partner or the supposedly designated chief boss.

It's also quite difficult to sack someone these days. Bob Russell must have been lucky: "in at the front door and straight out of the back door" could be a very very expensive pleasure.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Braden Collins — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 06:19:54 GMT

I would be surprised if the boss hasn't picked up on things being unhappy there, but they may be in a tough situation if they are friends outside of work (not that it should be an excuse for allowing this sort of behaviour - they have to be a boss at work, not a friend). It sounds like there are multiple bosses there, so I would initially approach one of the others to see if they can have a quiet word with the boss involved.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

An On MRCVS — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 21:55:22 GMT

[quote user="Lwyalep -"]I dont really know what to do to be honest but I just wondered if anyone had any advise or tips, or even similar experiences I could learn from?? [/quote]

Been there....

http://www.vetsurgeon.org/forums/t/14070.aspx?PageIndex=1

If your boss values this staff member on a personal or professional level above the rest of an established team you haven't got a chance. If he is just too weak or conflict-avoidant, or is worried about upsetting his social life (assuming as happens in these situations, they may have other friends in common) he may just be hoping it will all somehow work out. In that case he may be willing to act if he is approached en-masse and realises that he might not have any other employees if things don't change, and that he has support from his staff to help deal with the situation (or to blame for having to take action) - but make damn sure you can count on your colleagues. Also document everything - keep a diary, keep records as much as you can - it's easy for a boss to dismiss an incident or two (or three or four...) as a personality clash but when you have a record on paper of wrongdoing, (or just a huge amount of evidence) it is much more difficult for them. Rather than saying "she always says this" have a list of dates, times, who was there, what was said . You said "one of the bosses", so could you approach the other one(s)?

[quote user="Lwyalep -"]I feel run down, unsupported, and lonely most of the time. I do get quite a good balance for out of work time but I am so exhausted/upset I never get to enjoy it properly......[/quote]

If things aren't looking like they are going to change, don't stay on please. It becomes like an abusive relationship where your confidence and self esteem are eroded daily and finally destroyed, you risk becoming physically ill and severely depressed and you feel that nobody else would employ you or even that you should give up being a vet, by which time you become incapable of escaping. You sound like you are already suffering - take it from someone who knows (just getting over a long bout of severe crippling depression brought on by working in a similar situation), just trying harder, pretending it's not too bad, making excuses for others' behaviour doesn't work. They won't thank you for it, in fact when you finally crash under the intolerable strain, they will simply complain at the inconvenience and (falsely) see it as vindication that you were not up to the job

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Anthony Todd — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 18:59:57 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]Piss off a receptionist at your peril.[/quote]

Particularly one that's "seeing" the boss or partner......

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:49:00 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]It beggars belief that a member of the non-clinical staff can have such an influence over the running of a practice.[/quote]

You'd be surprised. Piss off a receptionist at your peril.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Anthony Todd — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:34:10 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]the first step must be to approach the boss,[/quote]

+1, but all of you together, and with some clear examples to illustrate your displeasure.

If you're on your own you may be regarded as just a disgruntled employee; all of you obviously aren't.

You must have good examples though, so your action's are reasonable and obvious.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:19:03 GMT

It would seem you have several choices:ignore this person and any influence she may have which may then lead to a confrontation with the boss and force his hand, leave or approach the boss with or without the support of the other staff and demand a change of the situation. It beggars belief that a member of the non-clinical staff can have such an influence over the running of a practice. The boss may be blissfully unaware of the situation, however, it could be that he is aware of it but feels somewhat impotent because of personal reasons or because it is not that simple to fire someone without very good reason.

As a boss I have been in this situation a couple of times although the offending person was a nurse. One was trusted by me and good at covering her tracks, the other nurses suffered in silence and started leaving until one had the courage to tell me what was going on. Once I was aware I could not discipline her immediately as she ostensibly had done nothing wrong but I was able to monitor the situation and waited for her to make little mistakes that I would normally ignore but which could be used as ammunition for a disciplinary case which eventually led to her her dismissal. The other slowly built up until it ended in me being assaulted by her boyfriend. Not the best way for it to end but at least it resolved the situation instantly!

Knowledge is power, unless you've really had enough and want to walk the first step must be to approach the boss, as said he may welcome this.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Rob Reid — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 16:59:54 GMT

I can empathise with your situation - been there myself in a previous job.

What you're describing undermines the whole team. In my case, at first things weren't directed at me and seemed a tad trivial, but the members of staff involved slowly managed to draw everyone in through a culture of passive-aggressive behaviour that was like a cancer that slowly grew and eventually affected every member of the team. This sort of workplace is horrendous to work in - it's a battleground where everyone gets stressed and it has an impact on both physical and mental health that eventually undermines the quality of your work and affects your personal life. Clients will pick up on it as well and it invariably leads to mistakes being made, a reduced level of service and an increase in complaints - all of which then snowball the already increasing problem!

Your options are either to leave or to try and nip this in the bud as early as you can. Your practice should have a grievance procedure so if you want to stay this is a good place for you and your colleagues to start. If this doesn't resolve things, there are legal channels you can go down, but things can get messy!

In my case, I left (as did a number of my colleagues) and it was like a weight lifting from my shoulders when I did.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Lwyalep - — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:31:13 GMT

Yes sorry they seem close friends but not girlfriend! I think I may have to discuss with the other vet and staff members to see if they would be happy to format a letter, as we have asked for a meeting which hasn't occurred! So this may be the last hope and then I will have to man up and unfortunately look elsewhere, I just hate the thought of leaving a job which has gone from giving me everything I want, to everything I don't!

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Bob Russell — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:24:19 GMT

"Friend of one of the bosses" and may be doing enough damage that she may have to go - there is more than one boss!

An employee can do only so much before throwing in the towel and this may be a case where leaving is the right thing to do but without being familiar with the practice 'dynamics' difficult to comment.

I was just saying that if a problem staff member goes, things can settle down and occasionally things get better. Hence my suggestion of a Plan A and B!

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:09:17 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]I agree that things may not return to normal but with our practice the mood lifted as soon as the staff were convinced the practice manager had really gone for good.[/quote]

She's the boss's girlfriend. She won't be leaving.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Bob Russell — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:06:48 GMT

I agree that things may not return to normal but with our practice the mood lifted as soon as the staff were convinced the practice manager had really gone for good. They really thought she would turn up for work the next day!

Staff on the point of leaving are still here (years later) and everyone pulled really hard together to clear up the mess.

If nothing else doing something may help others in the practice. Prepare a Plan A and B!

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Andrew Kent — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 14:52:05 GMT

[quote user="Lwyalep -"]I dont want to leave I just want the atmosphere of the practice to return to how it was! easiest answer is to get rid of her!!!! [/quote]

In my experience things never return to how you want them after things like this happen. If you don't like it then look elsewhere, its not worth the stress!

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 14:51:07 GMT

I think a letter to all the bosses, signed by all the employees who feel this way might be a good idea.

Wynne

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 14:50:58 GMT

[quote user="Lwyalep -"]However in the past year we have employed a new member of office staff who is just vile and is having a detrimental effect on the whole practice, but being a friend of one of the bosses means she is getting away with murder! [/quote]

You've no hope of winning.

Start looking for another post.

[quote user="Lwyalep -"] I am even thinking o applying for a technical advisor role/rep role as the pay seems better, no out of hours etc but then I think, is it a case of grass always looks greener...........[/quote]

I think this is just your exhaustion and depression talking. I wouldn't think that such posts are meant to provide an escape route for vets who fancy an easier life.

You are a veterinary surgeon. You've got 2.5 years of probably excellent experience.Do what your first sentence suggests you love doing.

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Lwyalep - — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 14:47:24 GMT

It might sound odd but although it is a form of bullying (I guess) it isnt always directly at me, its at the proportion of the practice who were here before she started, worked as a well knit team, and rather than joining in she has broken it apart by people ending up being paranoid and you cannot feel relaxed round the office about how you deal with situations as things are relayed straight back to the boss, but in an "untrue" or "out of context" fashion which makes you out to be a bad employee etc.

The other vet in the practice and I both feel the same, we know a couple of people are already looking for alternative employment and its horrible as those that are leaving are the ones we trust and work well with!

I dont want to leave I just want the atmosphere of the practice to return to how it was! easiest answer is to get rid of her!!!!

Re: hitting the 3year slump!

Bob Russell — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 14:37:08 GMT

If you feel bullied then you are entitled to protection so a quiet word with one of the bosses would be in order if he or she is approachable. If you feel it needs to be taken one step further then put it in writing. Are you the only one having problems?

We had a practice manager years back who was bullying and it only became obvious to me when she went on holiday and other issues were raised. On her return she walked in the front door and was walked out of the back door!

One bad egg can make life a misery but sadly on occasions you just have to accept the situation or walk!