I am working with a facilities manager who has two post-room / warehouse staff, and has been told to cut costs. He wants to merge the two roles in to one. It will require a 'reach truck' qualification to move items around on shelving.
Employee 1 has been employed for 25 years, is ex civil service, performs his duties but has no ambition and doesn't have the qualification needed to perform the warehousing part of the role.
Employee 2 has been employed for 7 years, is a supervisor, has the qualification so can perform both parts of the role, but is apparently 'lazy and slow'.
The manager wants to offer employee 1 a settlement agreement - approx £50k, to keep employee 2 who has the qualification. The return on investment would be about 3 years. When asked why he wants to do it this way, he told me employee 1 is refusing to do the qualification. This seems crazy to me.
I've been asked to have a meeting with employee 1 and manager to talk about getting the qualification, explaining that it is a requirement of the role, for cover and business continuity, and to try to understand why he doesn't want to get qualified.
Everyone seems to have an opinion and is telling me different things. Can anyone add their thoughts?
Thanks, Tracey
Replies
Hi Tracey,
Ultimately what is best for the business? Is it the right person for the job or cost? Does employee 1 understand what it happening and the implications of them not doing the qualification?
Does he want the settlement?
More questions than answers but lots to think about here - what is your gut instinct here?
Hi Mike
Thanks for your response. Finally getting somewhere, we have found another solution that we are working on.
Tracey