When Employees Don't Get Along...

[gkids09]

What do you do?? I'm new on here so I'll give you a little bit of background first... I own a daycare that my grandmother had for 22 years. One of the ladies has worked here for over 8 years, the other for three or four years, and one just started in the fall of 2009. We have 12 kids per day, and two of us work together to be sure everyone has individual attention, and so that no one is left unsupervised at any time during the day. Unfortunately, I am still in school so I do have to leave sometimes to go to school (always leaving two of my employees there with the kids of course.) Personally, when they complain about each other, I take in what they are saying, sometimes agree, sometimes don't, but tell them I will watch for the behavior/things they are complaining about and take care of it. There have been a few times where I HAVE had to do that very thing. In my almost 2 years of owning the place, I have had to fire one person for not doing her job. My question is, what are some suggestions that y'all have about this kind of thing?

[gbcc]

What types of things are they having issues with? Do you have examples? Also, does it seem to be one that is provoking or instigating things more?

[gkids09]

Well, the one who complains the most is the one who's been here for 8 years..I love her to death, she's SO good with the kids, but she is constantly complaining about the younger girl who works in the afternoons when she gets out of school. She says she doesn't change any diapers at all, doesn't get trash together, won't empty the dishwasher, and won't fix snack in the afternoons. However, every time I have been here, she has done all of those things without me having to tell her. I know, I am the boss and she may just be doing it with me here so she doesn't get in trouble, but if I don't see it I don't know how I am supposed to fix it. Does that make sense? I have noticed a few things that I wish the younger one would do that I have requested and she jumps right on it when I remind her. She came from a bad home life, and I keep telling myself she just doesn't KNOW to do these things, which is why I tell her if I see it. I really don't want to go up to her and say, "Look, I know you do all this stuff while I'm here, but when XX is here, she says you don't do anything." That would cause even more problems. Wow...sorry this is so long. And thanks in advance for your help

[kitkat]

Does each employee have specific jobs to do (get snack ready, trash duty, etc) or do they work together and decide who does what that day? It sounds like the older one has certain expectations that the younger one isn't meeting. It may be that the younger one needs more guidance or reminders. Maybe if she is told/reminded and given a list of her daily responsibilities, that might help everyone. I would also ask the older employee what suggestions she has that may help the younger. Try to draw on the older one's experiences and get her involved in mentoring/guiding the younger one.

[gkids09]

Mostly, everyone just works together to get everything done. I have let them fill out anonymous evaluations about each other and hand them to ME ONLY, so that I know how each of them feels about the others. After I get these all back, I am going to write an individual note to each teacher to give them praises and suggestions on how they can do better. I will not tell anyone what anyone else says about them, and will be shredding the evaluations at my house when I get done reviewing them. I think I may add some things in the younger one's letter that tells her to do half the diapers, and either get trash together or unload the dishwasher. I know it's not fair to anyone else that she gets paid and doesn't do what everyone else does when I am not here.

[DBug]

When I worked in a center, my coworker and I traded off on duties. For example, I'd do one diaper/potty run (10 toddlers, so yes, it can be done), while she got ready for circle time, and then she'd do the after-lunch diaper/potty run while I cleaned up the dishes and floor. So we never felt like we were always stuck with one particular duty. Perhaps laying out who is responsible for what, and when -- in writing -- may help in this situation? The younger, less experienced employee may actually need a list of duties. Knowing what needs to be done comes from experience, and if she doesn't have that, she'll definitely need a list :-)

[Persephone]

When I worked at a daycare in the toddler room we each had our 'group' of kids that we changed. We watched all the kids but when it came to diaper or potty time we done our kids. Of course if the other person wasn't there we did all of them or if someone else was in the room then took that persons group. That way we each had the same number of kids to change for the most part. If someone needed help we helped.

Maybe the older lady needs to just tell the younger one what she needs to do? I've worked with people that just were not good at doing things on their own and you had to let them know.

"It's time for Susie to have her diaper changed" "Can you take out the trash now?" "Would you mind cleaning out the dishwasher?"

[gkids09]

I guess I should be more clear about which employee it is that is being complained about...It's not the one who started in fall of 09, it's the one who has been there 3 or 4 years. She SHOULD know what her job consists of, but lately I am wondering if she has forgotten. I have tried making a list of things we need to divide up between ourselves each day, and even made a dry-erase board calendar/job chart, where each employee initials next to a specific job when they do it. This way, the same employee is not doing the same things every day, and they can take turns. Suddenly, everyone just stopped signing it. I think I must need to be there 24/7 and guide them like the kids..okay, they aren't that bad, but I just get frustrated sometimes and don't know what to do!!!

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

how about a rotating schedule? a,b,c and d. list different things for each letter
a
toilets, floors, diapers
b
snack, dishes, pukes or blood
c
sweep, shovel, windows,
d
meals, art cleanup, kitchen
then roate the names with the letters by the week. or day even, if someone is ill, you take on that job that day.

thats how I do things here at my home,.. for my kids and their chores.

kids are abc&d, chores are on sheets, each week the kids are different letters. then each child will leave my home when they are an adult knowing every job I do.

[Persephone]

Maybe since this girl has been there for some time and just now started not doing things, she's not happy with the job anymore or she might have some problems going on in her life making it where she doesn't feel like doing anything.

[gkids09]

how about a rotating schedule? a,b,c and d. list different things for each letter
a
toilets, floors, diapers
b
snack, dishes, pukes or blood
c
sweep, shovel, windows,
d
meals, art cleanup, kitchen
then roate the names with the letters by the week. or day even, if someone is ill, you take on that job that day.

thats how I do things here at my home,.. for my kids and their chores.

kids are abc&d, chores are on sheets, each week the kids are different letters. then each child will leave my home when they are an adult knowing every job I do.

LOVE this idea!! I may try this. Then nobody will have to do the same thing every single day. Thanks!

[gkids09]

Persephone,
I do believe there are some things going on in her life that have made her unhappy...She seems to want to tell me about them sometimes. BUT she also texts me on days she is off and asks if I want her to come in because she'd love to, so I don't think she's unhappy with the job. I guess I may have to come out and ask her one day. I just really don't like confrontation!!!

[Persephone]

I guess I may have to come out and ask her one day. I just really don't like confrontation!!!

Its part of being the boss.

[gkids09]

Yeah..I know..I just have a hard time finding the right words. She's three years younger than I am, so it's not near as hard with her as it is with the others, who are 25+ years older than I am..LOL
Thanks for your help, everyone!!