I am young, female and my older male staff are out of control. Help!

Dear Aunty,

I am in my early 30s, tall and have quite a forceful manner, so I am told. I have a staff of 10 that I have no trouble with, and men have always treated me respectfully, partly due to my height and my deep voice.

My problem is an older man who I just hired to do a very senior position and who is seen in our industry as a bit of a catch. The problem is his attitude to work. He doesn’t appear to do much and the work he does is sub-standard. He has no problem leaving in the middle of the afternoon to get a haircut or to go to dental appointments (there is something wrong with his teeth but I am too afraid to ask what).

When he started he asked me to share a PA and then was taken aback to find out that I don’t even have one. He has trouble getting documentation and projects in on time, seems to not really understand his job and skirts around problems when I raise my issues with him. He tries to be charming and flattering with me to avoid talking about anything in-depth.

He is also on his fourth marriage and third lot of kids so he is always fielding calls from wives and ex-wives and kids.

He has no issues with interrupting any meeting we are in to take a call from a kid and then tells us what the kid is saying, as if we are all fascinated. No woman in her right mind would do that.

Then there are the photos of the kids that we have to look at on his computer.

Honestly Aunty, he is doing my head in. I could get two great staff for less than what he is on, but I worry about what the industry will say if he quits so soon after starting.

Also, I just can’t believe how bad he is given his high profile in our industry and his great CV. Is it the way I am managing him or is he taking me for a ride because I am young and female and he is used to working with big hotshots who have made him work?

Aunty guess what? Just as I was writing this to you I got an email from him saying he can’t come into the office tomorrow as he has to look after the kids for the day, as his wife is busy and so he will be working from home!

This guy is in his mid-50s. As if he could look after three kids under five and do work. Aunty, tell me, is he just settling in and will he turn into the superstar I thought I was hiring?

Your advice please!

Dear Your advice please,

Oh dear. Dear, oh dear. Ya gotta love born again dads. In fact, all men who have no qualms whatsoever telling all and sundry that they are popping out to go to kinder, morning tea or shopping for the wife’s birthday while we women slink around, terrified of being accused of putting our personal lives before our jobs.

Once an employee told me he had to fly to Perth to hit his son-in-law on the nose but he would be taking calls all day and it wouldn’t interfere with his work at all. I kid you not.

Look, you have hired a charlatan.

Deal with it the way you would deal with any employee. Be very clear about what he is meant to do and ride him. If he doesn’t respond start the three warning process.

Stop thinking about the past. You are clear about what you need now so get it.

Be smart,
Your Aunty B

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