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Hi, I would very kindly appreciate some help please
I am the manager of a small independent gym. 4 staff in total. I have a situation arising and I need advice of how to handle it correctly.
I inherited a member of staff when I took over the gym 1st Feb. He has been problematic from the start. Initially it was suggested he take over as manager when the former manager walked out. Nothing was signed or official. I worked there for 6 years previously and was decided I was the best candidate for the the new position as 'Steve' was renovating his own gym studio and didn't really want the job and bought back in after leaving the company.
The main issue in question is that I have just returned from being away for 2 weeks for my wedding and honeymoon.
He had a few problems with childcare as he has found himself a single dad. To which he has notified us appropriately on previous occasions.
He works the hours of 6am-9am. It is his job to open the gym. Last week he failed to turn in until 7.30am. Due to the security not locking the door (we are in a shopping centre) and then Steve not turning in, confused members entered the gym and started training for an hour and half with no staff. He failed to contact or notify anyone at any stage or explain or apologise. I was unaware of this until my return.
He text me the the following Monday while I was away stating he needed Friday Sunday off and hoped that I was having a nice time away. No explanation to why or anything. The following morning he failed to turn up for his 6am shift. He failed to notify anyone until he was text at gone 7am asking where he was. He just replied, 'I was going go text, cant make it in'
I text him to ask him for an explanation that day to ask why he didn't inform anyone and that it has lead to a verbal warning as it has put the company is a terrible position with him not turning up to open twice in one week. I also said that was going to invite him to a meeting him to a meeting to discuss his recent lack of childcare and see if the company could help him out by changing his days/hours. I also said that this would be put onto a formal letter.
He did not reply so 6 hours later I text to ask if he could make his shit the next day - his reply was 'no no childcare'
An array of messaged went back and fourth. A staff member who I left in charge told me that Steve told him he wanted Friday and Sunday off to take his daughter away so I told him he couldn't take the time off as it did not give the company enough notice. He says the time off is due to a lack of childcare. 7 days is surely too long to be classed as emergency time off for dependants?which is the route i believe he believe he is entitled? and had made no formal plea of problems with childcare, or explained his situation or no suggestion to swap or change hours. He said he hoped it would be sorted soon and keep me posted??
My points to him are it is not the time off that is the problems but how it was handled. No notification to anybody either 2 hours before the shift which is policy. With it being so early even calling someone at 6am I would have classed as reasonable?
Twice in one week had upset members and made the company look bad
It'S gone beyond emergency time off for dependants and should have had something in place by now.
He has falsified his time sheet on the day he was late stating a 6am start when infact he started at 7.30am
He started with the company in june last year so is last than 2 years service.
I sought advice from ACAS and they say I can dismiss him on the grounds that he is unsuitable. This sits unwell with me and feel I should do a disciplinary hearing.
Could these absences and falsifying his time sheet class as gross misconduct? Our policy doesn't specify what it considers this to be.
Thanks
I am the manager of a small independent gym. 4 staff in total. I have a situation arising and I need advice of how to handle it correctly.
I inherited a member of staff when I took over the gym 1st Feb. He has been problematic from the start. Initially it was suggested he take over as manager when the former manager walked out. Nothing was signed or official. I worked there for 6 years previously and was decided I was the best candidate for the the new position as 'Steve' was renovating his own gym studio and didn't really want the job and bought back in after leaving the company.
The main issue in question is that I have just returned from being away for 2 weeks for my wedding and honeymoon.
He had a few problems with childcare as he has found himself a single dad. To which he has notified us appropriately on previous occasions.
He works the hours of 6am-9am. It is his job to open the gym. Last week he failed to turn in until 7.30am. Due to the security not locking the door (we are in a shopping centre) and then Steve not turning in, confused members entered the gym and started training for an hour and half with no staff. He failed to contact or notify anyone at any stage or explain or apologise. I was unaware of this until my return.
He text me the the following Monday while I was away stating he needed Friday Sunday off and hoped that I was having a nice time away. No explanation to why or anything. The following morning he failed to turn up for his 6am shift. He failed to notify anyone until he was text at gone 7am asking where he was. He just replied, 'I was going go text, cant make it in'
I text him to ask him for an explanation that day to ask why he didn't inform anyone and that it has lead to a verbal warning as it has put the company is a terrible position with him not turning up to open twice in one week. I also said that was going to invite him to a meeting him to a meeting to discuss his recent lack of childcare and see if the company could help him out by changing his days/hours. I also said that this would be put onto a formal letter.
He did not reply so 6 hours later I text to ask if he could make his shit the next day - his reply was 'no no childcare'
An array of messaged went back and fourth. A staff member who I left in charge told me that Steve told him he wanted Friday and Sunday off to take his daughter away so I told him he couldn't take the time off as it did not give the company enough notice. He says the time off is due to a lack of childcare. 7 days is surely too long to be classed as emergency time off for dependants?which is the route i believe he believe he is entitled? and had made no formal plea of problems with childcare, or explained his situation or no suggestion to swap or change hours. He said he hoped it would be sorted soon and keep me posted??
My points to him are it is not the time off that is the problems but how it was handled. No notification to anybody either 2 hours before the shift which is policy. With it being so early even calling someone at 6am I would have classed as reasonable?
Twice in one week had upset members and made the company look bad
It'S gone beyond emergency time off for dependants and should have had something in place by now.
He has falsified his time sheet on the day he was late stating a 6am start when infact he started at 7.30am
He started with the company in june last year so is last than 2 years service.
I sought advice from ACAS and they say I can dismiss him on the grounds that he is unsuitable. This sits unwell with me and feel I should do a disciplinary hearing.
Could these absences and falsifying his time sheet class as gross misconduct? Our policy doesn't specify what it considers this to be.
Thanks
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