We have a Debbie Downer at Work!!!
By Rachel
@RachelleDD (823)
Canada
May 19, 2007 2:16pm CST
Anyone every watch Saturday Night Live?? Have you ever seen the skits with Debbie Downer?? We have a lady at work just like that..no matter what you happen to talk about around her she will always find something negative to talk about in response. It seems that nothing is ever good enough and she always finds fault with something, no matter what it is. For example, we just moved our business into a new location, more space, newer equipment, nicer offices etc..but the building is still in construction stage and there are paint cans and plaster boxes scattered around..and we are on night shift so the crews can work during the day...
This lady calls the department of health complaining...she then calls the Labor board to complain...I am so blessed to finally have a job that I dont have to physically kill myself at, the last thing I am going to do is complain about it..so there are a few paint cans lying around..we are still setting up the lunch room and some of the offices still need painting...the unemployment rate here is really high, and this is a good paying job...Why is it that somethings no matter what it is, its just not good enough for others??? This lady should be grateful instead of looking around her life finding things that just bother her.
She was the one that done the most complaining about a lady in our group that didn't have a pleasant odor and then laughed about it behind her back...I am moving up into a supervisory position soon...should I fire her?? Just get this negative person out of there?? I haven't talked to a single person in our work place that likes her because she is so negative and down all the time...I know that this will probably fall on me once I take my new position and now I am not too sure what to do or how to do it...any suggestions??
1 response
@Tanya8 (1733)
• Canada
19 May 07
I remember that skit. How frustrating to have to deal with someone like that in real life.
When you do become her supervisor, you have to be quite careful about firing (if the laws are the same in your province as they are in mine). You need to meet with her to discuss any disruptive behavior and give her a chance to rectify it, otherwise she can sue for improper dismissal (and she sounds like the type to do that). I think it would be worthwhile to look into the laws related to firing, or talk to a manager in the human resources department, if your company is large enough to have one.
I've been in companies where firing someone who is obviously causing lots of problems at work has turned into a nightmare for the managers there. Canadian labor laws are designed to protect employees, which is a good thing normally, but it also makes it easy for bad employees to take advantage, and draw out firings into costly and morale destroying battles.
Good luck. It's not a great problem to have to deal with just as you're getting a promotion.
1 person likes this
@RachelleDD (823)
• Canada
20 May 07
She has already been warned, being negative all the time isnt her only downfall, she has also spread some nasty rumors about co-workers who then in turn have complained about her to Human Resources...she has also been responsible for two people quitting their positions...its just a matter of time but I know that management right now want to cover their bases and make sure that whatever they do will be legal...
thanks for posting.
