Dear all,
I am a practicing dentist and I employ two front office staff. Lately, I have observed that they are spending too much time making personal calls on their cell phones, which is disturbing the clinic.
How should I handle the situation? Any input would be greatly appreciated, and many thanks in advance for the same.
Regards,
Veerendra Darakh
From India, Mumbai
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1I am a practicing dentist and I employ two front office staff. Lately, I have observed that they are spending too much time making personal calls on their cell phones, which is disturbing the clinic.
How should I handle the situation? Any input would be greatly appreciated, and many thanks in advance for the same.
Regards,
Veerendra Darakh
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear all,
I am a practicing dentist and I employ two front office staff. Lately, I have noticed that they are spending too much time making personal calls on their cell phones, which is disturbing the clinic. How should I handle this situation? Any input would be greatly appreciated, and thank you in advance for the same.
Regards,
Veerendra Darakh
Dear Veerendra,
Your business is not exceptional; this is a common problem in the industry. You can ask your staff to deposit their personal cell phones with you during working hours. During this period, they will use landline phones for important calls only. In case of emergencies, their family members can call them on your office landline numbers. After all, the workplace is for work, not chatting. In the past, when there were no cell phones, people used to work and face emergency situations.
You should make this clear at the time of the staff's appointment itself. I hope this is the best solution available at this juncture.
From India, Mumbai
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I am a practicing dentist and I employ two front office staff. Lately, I have noticed that they are spending too much time making personal calls on their cell phones, which is disturbing the clinic. How should I handle this situation? Any input would be greatly appreciated, and thank you in advance for the same.
Regards,
Veerendra Darakh
Dear Veerendra,
Your business is not exceptional; this is a common problem in the industry. You can ask your staff to deposit their personal cell phones with you during working hours. During this period, they will use landline phones for important calls only. In case of emergencies, their family members can call them on your office landline numbers. After all, the workplace is for work, not chatting. In the past, when there were no cell phones, people used to work and face emergency situations.
You should make this clear at the time of the staff's appointment itself. I hope this is the best solution available at this juncture.
From India, Mumbai
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First, have you made your displeasure known to your employees?
If not, you need to do so.
At first, it may take the form of light comments in context - e.g., "How much time do you spend on the phone? This is the office." The second time, you can tell them: "Get off the phone, please. There is work to be done."
If the message does not percolate down, then you need to call them in and tell them explicitly - mobiles are not to be used during office hours, either for personal calls or for chatting on social media. Also, inform them that you will start taking stricter measures, such as confiscating phones or requiring them to be handed over during office hours.
From India, Mumbai
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If not, you need to do so.
At first, it may take the form of light comments in context - e.g., "How much time do you spend on the phone? This is the office." The second time, you can tell them: "Get off the phone, please. There is work to be done."
If the message does not percolate down, then you need to call them in and tell them explicitly - mobiles are not to be used during office hours, either for personal calls or for chatting on social media. Also, inform them that you will start taking stricter measures, such as confiscating phones or requiring them to be handed over during office hours.
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Dr. Veerendra,
In such matters, it is advisable to follow a progressive ladder of action steps:
1. Advise: Polite discussion, explaining that it is unprofessional to use office time for personal usage, its detrimental impact on office discipline - (In case they continue with the same behaviour, then the next step)
2. Stern Warning: Make it a formal discussion, state observations, and mention the consequences of repeated indiscipline (you should think of what would fall under strict action - It could be suspension without salary for up to four days, enforcement of a no-cell phone policy, or in an extreme situation, termination with notice pay as per the terms of the employment contract - if this does not improve the conduct, then go to step 3)
3. Strict Action - This should be done after proper documentation and ensuring that you have displayed enough fairness and guidance.
Trust this helps.
Regards,
Rajesh
From India, Mumbai
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In such matters, it is advisable to follow a progressive ladder of action steps:
1. Advise: Polite discussion, explaining that it is unprofessional to use office time for personal usage, its detrimental impact on office discipline - (In case they continue with the same behaviour, then the next step)
2. Stern Warning: Make it a formal discussion, state observations, and mention the consequences of repeated indiscipline (you should think of what would fall under strict action - It could be suspension without salary for up to four days, enforcement of a no-cell phone policy, or in an extreme situation, termination with notice pay as per the terms of the employment contract - if this does not improve the conduct, then go to step 3)
3. Strict Action - This should be done after proper documentation and ensuring that you have displayed enough fairness and guidance.
Trust this helps.
Regards,
Rajesh
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Veerendra,
1. Warn both employees not to spend time on cell phones as part of discipline and also inform them that it is a nuisance to clients, hence cannot be tolerated.
2. If they continue with their old practice, terminate the one who is causing more trouble and hire a new employee, providing a full understanding of your disciplinary norms. Offer the job to whoever agrees.
3. Ensure the new employee follows the disciplinary norms of not talking excessively on mobile phones. Also, assess if the second old employee has improved; if not, it will be their turn for exit.
4. Employees may be spending more time on cell phones due to a lack of workload. Evaluate if you truly need both employees or if one can manage the tasks.
Regards,
Satish Akut - 9822602908
From India, Pune
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1. Warn both employees not to spend time on cell phones as part of discipline and also inform them that it is a nuisance to clients, hence cannot be tolerated.
2. If they continue with their old practice, terminate the one who is causing more trouble and hire a new employee, providing a full understanding of your disciplinary norms. Offer the job to whoever agrees.
3. Ensure the new employee follows the disciplinary norms of not talking excessively on mobile phones. Also, assess if the second old employee has improved; if not, it will be their turn for exit.
4. Employees may be spending more time on cell phones due to a lack of workload. Evaluate if you truly need both employees or if one can manage the tasks.
Regards,
Satish Akut - 9822602908
From India, Pune
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Thank you, everybody, for the insights. I have benefited from the same. As I look at things, the problem is multifactorial, and the lack of a work culture is one of them. In these times when corruption, bad "Sanskaras," and insincerity are a way of life, these problems are bound to arise.
Just a few months back, I hired two part-time receptionists. Within a week, I realized that these girls were not only misusing the internet by visiting their Facebook pages but also viewing obscene images online. I had to let both of them go.
The good thing is that many times, with a little bit of frank, purposeful conversation, these problems become less, although they may not go away completely. Thanks once again for all the inputs.
Regards, Veerendra Darakh
From India, Mumbai
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Just a few months back, I hired two part-time receptionists. Within a week, I realized that these girls were not only misusing the internet by visiting their Facebook pages but also viewing obscene images online. I had to let both of them go.
The good thing is that many times, with a little bit of frank, purposeful conversation, these problems become less, although they may not go away completely. Thanks once again for all the inputs.
Regards, Veerendra Darakh
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Dr. Darakh,
Thanks for sharing your insights. Your comment on "lack of work culture is" extremely pertinent. In our education system or even in corporate training, Work Ethics, Professionalism, Etiquettes, and Soft Skills are not given the importance they deserve. We have graduates with degrees, but many of them are not employable. I am working on solutions in this space – obviously, candidates and employers would stand to benefit. I will be happy to connect with you to exchange ideas. My contact number is +919820307019.
It is my pleasure to invite you to visit my website and LinkedIn profiles:
http://ro.linkedin.com/pub/rajesh-vaidya/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/earth-&-stars/
Regards,
Rajesh
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Thanks for sharing your insights. Your comment on "lack of work culture is" extremely pertinent. In our education system or even in corporate training, Work Ethics, Professionalism, Etiquettes, and Soft Skills are not given the importance they deserve. We have graduates with degrees, but many of them are not employable. I am working on solutions in this space – obviously, candidates and employers would stand to benefit. I will be happy to connect with you to exchange ideas. My contact number is +919820307019.
It is my pleasure to invite you to visit my website and LinkedIn profiles:
http://ro.linkedin.com/pub/rajesh-vaidya/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/earth-&-stars/
Regards,
Rajesh
From India, Mumbai
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Very interesting topic this. Very clear that we need to be prepared for counters from such employees - after all , they can claim they were practicing the skills they were hired for.
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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