suspended one of my employees

Did I do the right thing???

I suspended one of my machine operators for using a cell phone while packing goods. This guy and I were good friends but, this guy would never listen to me, I'v warned him lots of times about him using the cell phone while working. I asked him nicely to let me know if he needs to use the phone so I could have someone cover him. I been struggling with this guy for this past month, (since he bought a cell phone) and finally on Friday, I saw him using the phone while working I asked him to hang up. He did but, as I was walking out the room I turned around and there he was, that punk was using it again. I was pissed, so I sent him to the office to a higher supervisor than me to suspend him. So he got suspended I called him to tell him that I had to choice but, to suspend him, he went off saying it all my fault that he got suspended. ??? my fault I warned him and told him that he can't use the cell phone while working I'm not the one who put that cell phone in his ear. Any how I felt like shit the rest of the week, thinking of myself as a snitch and feeling guilty, I guess I'm not fit to be a supervisor, I know I did right but, I can't help but, to feel like an ass hole. My sister who's been a supervisor for 10+ yrs has told me that is not easy being a supervisor, and that you have to accept
being an asshole sometimes. I guess I should have never made my crew of 7 friends, being a supervisor SUXS. So what do you guys think should I have left my mouth closed or did I do the right thing?

yea you did the right thing, i bet he thought since you and him were friends he could take advantage of you and you wouldn't do any thing about it. he will get over it

yea you did the right thing, i bet he thought since you and him were friends he could take advantage of you and you wouldn't do any thing about it. he will get over it

:iagree:

Maybe he will get over it ... maybe not.
But you did tell him to stop and he didn't. If he says anything more about it, tell him again that you warned him and tried. He chose to ignore them ... it's his fault not yours.

u did the right thing, nothin pisses me off more than someone saying theyll do something, and not. fair warning then neglect got him in trouble, not u. u have to prove u r the boss or they ll walk all over u.

Like everyone has said so far, you did the right thing, and what you feel is totally understandable. It's tough as a manager to maintain a friendly rapport with your people but still be able to turn really the screws down on them when you need to. There's a middle ground that needs to be maintained to keep people from mistaking your kindness for weakness, as this guy seemed to be doing.

When you're a leader, you can't be nice to everyone all the time. It's impossible to keep everyone happy. There's bound to be stubborn dickweeds that require disciplining. Way to not give in - it demonstrates to him and the other employees that you're in charge. You did the right thing.

Yes, you did the right thing. You shouldn't feel bad, he got him self susspended, and he can't hack that so he shifts the blame onto someone else to convince himself that he did nothing wrong, it's people like that who lose law cases they make.

You did the right thing.

If he had been in a work related accident while on the phone and you hadn't taken action against him, you would have fingers pointed at you too.

Sometimes it's not nice, but you have to make tough calls at times.

Make that Eight votes for "you did the right thing".

The best bosses I've ever had were friendly but stern. As an employee you have to realize the difference between your relationships at work, and your relationships outside of work. There is no crossing that line when it comes to the rules. If he is a responsible guy, he will apologize to you for making you feel that way, and for defying you.

You can not feel bad for doing your job. If he doesnt want to follow your rules then he shouldnt work for you.

Thank you all. Well, he returned back to work I tried starting conversations with him but, he didn't keep them going like usual. He kept away from the group. The rest of the group support me and my decision so there's no other employee angree with me. Well, I guess I'll see what happens, meantime I need to watch him, I don't want him screwing orders up and shipping them on purpose.

Well from a managers point of view, you did the right thing. I have friends under me as well, and sometimes we hang out after work. But at work, im a nice person and easy going until you dont do your job. Then i become a big assh@le and tell them how it is. Fortunetly they understand and are cool with it after we are done. But let me tell you, in the past ive had several ppl walk out the door on me because of that. I manage/own a subway and run a very tight shift and business.

Ppl that gets pissed over getting in trouble arent very good workers to begin with. Watch him, cause he will get in trouble again. Next time, write him up and make it the last warning, after that walk him to the door. Once i put on my uniform and walk into my work my heart goes cold and still toward employees. But as soon as i walk back out those doors and am off work, then everything is cool and its time to cut up and laugh. You may have to do the same thing. Gotta be stern at your job, and you can still have fun and be relaxed. Just cant let things go that shouldnt be going on. Especially if you know they are doing something wrong.

You did good, and dont let it bother you. If you let it bother you then you will be walked over and become weak. Stay strong and stick to your guns and you will get alot more respect than you will think.

You did the right thing.
It's your asshole "buddy" that is making it hard.

In my position here at work I supervise 16 people while having to work with them at the same time.
I'm basically a working foreman.

My Corporation owns the site but all of the people working here work for the company who operate it except me as I'm the Owner's Rep.

I've had to fire four people in the last 6 months.

One labourer, one loader operator, the Maintenance Supervisor and the Facility Supervisor.
Then I have to turn around and work with the people who are left which makes it pretty difficult sometimes.

All of the staff who are left know that these people lost their jobs because of their own screwups, not because i was being a "prick".
Labourer ( useless ), loader operator ( stealing ), and the other two "Supervisors" for drinking!!

Nobody forced these people to do what they did, the same as no one forced that cell phone to his ear, they knew it was wrong and were warned as much.
Fuck 'em!
You're doing the right thing and the rest of the staff know it so try and not let it bother you too much if you can.

I have a lot more respect from the staff now that they know where they stand and I'm sure you will too.

I honestly don't understand why your even stressing over this situation. Your a supervisor and he works under you. He is your responsibility and when you tell him to do something, he should do it the FIRST time. I have a eeling your kind of new to the whole "supervisor" thing, because4 this minor event seems to be weighing heavily on you.. Just remember that you are in the right, especially after the guy had been warned repeatedly before.

Rob

We need more people like you in this world already.

You're in the right. He was told/warned numerous times, and as soon as your back was turned he was right back on the phone, disrespecting you and your authority.

it starts at the top, that guy hires bosses under him to handle stuff, they hire people under them and so on, if you have someone above you right there, your making your way up the ladder, but far from the top, its either you do your job, and risk losing a friend, or play pal and risk loseing your job, you did the right thing in my mind, with todays economy, your job is more importent then letting an arogent friend use the phone while on COMPANY TIME, especally seince you seam to be reasonable and say hey, if you need to use it, let me know and i will or will get someone to cover for you