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Author Topic: A very ugly staff issue Joseph L. Kleiman Master Film Handler Posts: 380 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Apr 2005 posted 01-22-2007 04:29 PM                     quote: You know, Joe. There's quite a bit of room under the stadium risers in one of the newer auditoriums and if we don't clean the theater out for a while I'm sure the odor of popcorn would...no! No, Joe. Murder is not an option! Dom, be careful what you write in public domains about any staff or customers, even if only jokingly. Any documentation, including web forums and logbooks could be subpoenaed should this go to court or an investigation ensue. I once worked for a hotel where we used to put joking remarks about our guests in the front office logbook - that was until one of the guests sued the hotel and the logbook was given to their legal staff. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty and resulted in a settlement in the hundreds of thousands (and the front office manager losing her job).  |  IP: Logged Jose Nunez Film Handler Posts: 3 From: Los Angeles, CA. USA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 01-25-2007 01:43 AM                        Your best bet is simply progressive discipline. Next time he becomes involved in anything other than professional conduct, do the following: 1. Next Offense: Discuss your expectations for his behavior. I'm still not clear whether this person reports directly to you. If he does, explain that his SPECIFIC behavior is creating a negative working environment. It is absolutely critical that you identify specific behavior. A "Bad Attitude" is not a good enough reason. 2. Document it: Do you use "write ups" if so, progressively discipline specific behavior. Explain that his behavior, if it continues, can lead to "further disciplinary action, up to an including termination" 3. CA. is an "At Will" State, however I strongly discourage using that as an excuse for not progressively disciplining an employee... Remember, as management a big part of our responsibilities is to train an develop. Be careful what you post on websites...it can bite you in the ass. referencing his age (especially of he's over 40) can lead to a "Age Discrimination lawsuit.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 01-25-2007 12:44 PM                     I see your points. I do keep documentation. It won't be an issue in a couple more weeks anyhow as I'm being relocated to a new location. At any rate I have no problem with his age. Anyone within the situation would know that. I employ a woman at this same theater that's over 50 as well. I'd rather hire older than younger because (for the most part) they have a built-in work ethic and higher standards than the kids.  |  IP: Logged Scott D. Neff Theatre Dork Posts: 919 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 01-25-2007 05:42 PM                        Great -- one more film-techer near me!  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 01-26-2007 12:32 AM                     Who said I was going to be near you, Scott? But I suppose that's true...I'll actually be pretty close to Mr. Sisemore.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-28-2007 11:37 PM                        quote: Dominic Espinosa It won't be an issue in a couple more weeks anyhow as I'm being relocated to a new location Oh yes.. it will continue to be an issue... perhaps not for you.. but it will be an issue, none the less. I'd cure the problem BEFORE the new manager gets there... Then again... that's just my opinion.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 01-28-2007 11:57 PM                     Funny thing, Jason. The manager coming in is the manager that left 10 months ago when I was sent here. It's not like he's a better manager than I...The theater has gained attendance, the per-cap is higher consistently, the place is cleaner, the film is built CORRECTLY among a plethora of other things I take into consideration when I say that he wasn't a very good manager. Some of the old schoolers argued simply because they were used to not having to clean, not having to actually work and meet a standard. Some of the ones that hadn't been there long enough to have it ingrained into them warmed right up. I retained other employees that had been there for 2 years already; they didn't all bail out or get fired, some went on to get promoted. The old guy won't be a problem for me however I think he'll encourage the manager to put pressure on some of my hires. I dropped the bomb today that I'm leaving. It's unclear right now how many are going to leave because of this but one manager has tendered a resignation and the projectionist is looking for other work. They were there for the clean-up and don't want to be a part of the eminent back-slide. Smoothing over his reputation for a dirty building hasn't been very easy since my hires from back in the spring did a lot of the physical labor cleaning up the theater. I can only hope the standard my ops manager held me to will be enforced upon this jackass.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 01-29-2007 04:26 PM                     Was your pending relocation of your choice? If not, perhaps were you making just a bit too much noise? Just a thought...  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 01-30-2007 01:48 PM                     Rick, If there is any noise filtering up to the office it's not coming from me. Though it wouldn't surprise me if the nucleus of this little thread would be the one making the noise. I think there are more office politics taking place here than I should discuss. I didn't like this market from the get-go anyway and I'm always looking to go up. I'm not going to stop growing yet. My ops manager knows it and supports my enthusiasm but I think more than anything I get jerked around by the company as a whole because of my age. I'll stick it out but these things make me wonder if I should.  |  IP: Logged Frank Dubrois Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 896 From: Cleveland, OH Registered: Mar 2005 posted 02-01-2007 08:07 PM                    It can be difficult dealing with employees that don't want to work. Especially if you are new to the theater, or to managment in general. They (the general employees) are not used to actually DOING work, and when someone with experience comes in and and sees the mess, naturally, you are going to tell the employees what needs to be done. Immediately you are seen as a "trouble maker" or "not cool" like the other managment is. I went through this same thing. Someone has to crack, either you, or the 16 year old employees. I plan on being in this business for a long time, and the kids probably wont make it through the summer, so I stuck to my guns and made them do it my way. Eventually, when they leave, the new employees will only know it one way...the RIGHT way. Your job only gets easier from there.  |  IP: Logged

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