Melpomene's Whiny Staff Member Is Never Happy

My last submission was about Favourite and the homophobic bitch in fitting rooms. At the time the whole thing happened, I had been trying top convince Favourite to apply for a job in our cash office (he'd applied before, but missed out by about 2 points at interview - he tells me now that this was because he was drunk during the interview, but that's beside the point). Happy news - he got the position! So he's now away from scum like that bitch, and gets to sit happily listening to the radio. I'm so pleased for him, even though it does mean I don't get to see him much now :( I miss him!

My submission today is about another staff member, who I shall call Kampupot. She's always seemed a nice enough girl, who was hired shortly after Christmas last year I believe, as a till op. Recently she's been having problems with one of the lads who works on the same floor, he's taking the mick out of her about her height, and anything else that he can, and she's feeling really down about it. She also feels that New Manager is too fluctuating with his moods, and he brings everyone else down (not something I've found - I've always enjoyed working with him, but she's really having a problem working with him). As a result we've worked to get her moved off that floor. We've been keeping her on the ground floor, and sending some of our other staff upstairs to replace her while everything is sorted out. My staff are often seeing this as a punishment, so I'm trying so hard to reassure them that it's not, it's only a temporary thing, and if they really don't want to go, we can work something else out.

You'd think that Kampupot would be grateful. No. 

1) She's complaining because we're putting her on tills. Hello? She's a till op, that's what she was hired for, what it says on her contract, and what she does on the first floor. Why would I put one of my department staff, who work their butts off, and are quick and good at recovery, onto a till and keep her on department instead? She's not as good at recovery, so all that will happen is we get out late - oh, but that won't affect her because she insists on leaving exactly on time (Ok, that's her right, but the rest of us work together and will stay up to 30minutes to make sure the job gets done. No one HAS to, but we all do), so the rest of us get screwed over because she doesn't want to do the job she was hired for? Not happening - she's staying on tills.

2) She's complaining that she's "Had enough now" an hour before her shift finishes. Suck it up. We're all tired, some of us have been there for three or four hours longer than her, and personally I'm working 7 days a week (I'm teaching Mon-Fri as a trainee, and working at Primevil weekends), so I have no patience for someone who is complaining about working a 6 hour shift.

3) She's not even working. After we'd closed today she was helping recover folded tables. I could hear her complaining again (which is a feat considering I generally can't hear when I'm behind the tills - something to do with the processor fans causing a sound barrier), so I looked over, and she's talking at another staff member.

I watched for about 5 minutes and she didn't move, so I called out "Kampupot - are you actually doing recovery?"

"Yeah" came the response.

"Doesn't look like it from here, you've not folded anything in 5 minutes," at which point she sighed and started folding again.

Now is it me, or is this a particularly shitty attitude from someone for whom I personally have been bending over backwards to help? If she thinks this kind of thing is going to convince me to move her onto department she can take a running jump, all this is doing is convincing me, and the rest of the management team, to stick her on tills and not let her move. If she doesn't like it, she can quit as far as I'm concerned now.

The lad who she's claimed was bullying her is really confused as well - he thought they were friends and that it was just friendly piss-taking. He can't figure out why she didn't tell him it was upsetting her, and now she won't even acknowledge him when he says hello. He wants a chance to apologise for offending her, as it wasn't his intention, but he says hi and she sniffs and looks away.

To top it off, she asked me a question today, I answered, and she turned to the person next to her (thinking I had moved out of earshot) and says "Ugh, god. I stopped listening about 5 minutes ago."

She looked a bit shocked when I turned around and said, "You might want to consider lowering your voice if you're going to say things like that."

I'm thinking it was a massive mistake to help her, but as it is, either myself or Awesome Manager will be pulling her up about her attitude. She's bringing the rest of the staff down, and we've had a fantastic team on ground floor. I won't have anyone ruin that dynamic, least of all a whiny, self-important mare like she's turning out to be.

-- Melpomene

Comments

[NC Tony]

Sounds like you're going to have to read her the riot act, and basically warn her if things don't change soon, she might want to start looking for another job. I can't stand people who whine about how hard or long they worked, when the only hard work they did was avoiding hard work. I've also found that people who insist on leaving right on time are the same people who come in late, get out of shifts they don't want to work, and then complain about how little their paychecks are. Don't even get me started on the people who complain about everyone and everything and then wonder why everyone avoids them.

With this kind of attitude I'm surprised she's lasted a year. It's this kind of person you're hoping in the back of your mind that they won't straighten up their act, and get fired.

[witcheypoo]

she saw how well you all do your jobs and get along and thought she'd have it easier on your floor than where she was. Now, you make her do her job and she's not happy. Put her back on tills, on her old floor and let her sit. If she can't appreciate you guys going above and beyond, she doesnt deserve to keep benifiting from it.

[LadyBelle]

Speaking as someone who works with negative coworkers, please do something about this person. Working in a negative environment can just suck the energy out of you. A job that you once enjoyed is now something that makes your stomach turn and you don't want to face. When you are feeling a tad ill, you would normally go into work, but if you know the entire time there is going to be miserable, then you are more likely to call in because you don't want to put up with the BS on top of being sick. The longer her attitude stays in the department, the more likely decent workers are going to get frustrated and look for other work, or lose their give a damn.

[Office Slave]

It sounds like a person who wants a paycheck, but not a job. I have worked with heaps of people like that. I agree with LadyBelle that working with someone like that sucks all of your energy and all of any fun (if fun was going to happen).

If she does okay on the till, I would keep her there. If not, I am not sure. I know that I would explain to her in very blunt terms what is to be expected if she continues like this. I am thinking less hours, less pay and possibly no job. Maybe a stern talking to will help with her attitude. Good luck!

[Melpomene]

We've been keeping her on the tills - she is a till op, and the tills are busy. She has a full stroppy face on, but that will be fed back by customers. Which is fine, we'll have written evidence of the problem.
It's got to the point where the rest of of are finding her pouts quite funny though. She walks through the store, lower lip stuck out, looking heartbroken, and most of us burst out laughing.
This weekend was an improvement (minor), so I'm seeing how it goes. I'm trying to keep her away from the others because I don't want her bringing them down, and I've told the ASM and HR manager that her attitude sucks, so they're keeping an eye out as well.
The longer I superglue her to the tills, the stroppier she's going to get, and it will come to a head - either she'll quit, or I'll let rip.
Any bets which will come first?

[LaserSpawn]

ooh, i hope they both happen! starting with you letting it rip, and her getting so upset/pissed off/whatever that she quits! and i hope that you letting it rip will come to great amusement to your other coworkers.

in actuality, i just hope she fucking quits because it sounds like she's giant walking twat infection.