I need some advice. Let me share the story quickly.
I got a call from my secretary that someone had called her and said that one of my drivers in a mini-van ran a lady off the road while merging onto the freeway. She said that he sped up trying to get on the freeway in front of her. When he was unsuccessful, he caught up to her and was yelling and cussing at her on the freeway.
This guy is 20 years old. He has been with me about a year. Whenever I confront him with something, it is always the other person’s fault. I know when I confront him he will say it was her fault. The reason I suspect this story is true, is because the other person has no reason to call our office and make up a lie, and my employee does have a reason to lie (keep from being disciplined). Also, the same kind of situation happened about 6 months ago. Someone else called and said something very similar.
So, my question is, “What do I do?”
Right now we have 5 company vehicles. I have 4 full-time Techs, and they each garage the vehicle at their house overnight.
Do I take away the keys, park the vehicle he was driving at my house, and make him drive to the jobs with his brother (who also works for me)? (Incidentally, he and his brother have been having a bad attitude lately, disrespectful, and argumentative. If so, how long should I suspend his driving privileges? How would I know that he has humbled himself and learned his lesson for the future?
Do I suspend him for a day or more - just tell him to take a few days off without pay?
Do I fire him?
He has generally been a pretty good Technician in the past, but lately things seem to be slipping. He has been impatient with a customer, skipped 5 upper windows on a job (probably overlooked this), and when I helped him and his brother on a job, I caught him just standing around doing nothing twice.
Plus, he wants a raise! He feels he is underpaid and overworked. Don’t they all!
Anyways, any pearls of wisdom you might have would be greatly appreciated. I need to sit down with him tomorrow morning, so if you could shoot this off before 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Pacific time), I would appreciate it.
Thanks!