Get Rid of Your Unproductive Workers Once and For All

Looking back over a lot of the posts I have made over the past couple years I have come to the conclusion I have been “pussyfooting” a bit about what is really going on out there in the workplace. especially the mobile workplace … employees on the road, with the expectation that they will be earning money for the business. In the US, especially, it really seems that in recent years it has become sort of a “bad thought” to expect that employees are only entitled to be employees if they produce something of value. In my own experience I get the impression that many government executives and even “for profit” business owners have the idea that to demand performance from their employees is somehow a “bad thing”.

If you want to operate your agency or business with that outlook, go for it. But remember one thing. One of the big issues that faces the US and other “first world” (think “fat”) countries is that business, at all levels, is becoming more and more international and the dreaded word “outsourcing” keeps rearing its ugly head. Perhaps you think that competition can’t touch you … but I can assure you it can, no matter what your line of business. Besides, I have heard there are people in this world who suffer from too much profit … but I haven’t run into one lately. If you are one of those, won’t you drop me a line and let me know how it feels.

I often write about theoretical or arcane technical issues. But let’s talk today about how you, as a manager, are getting your pocket picked. Plain and simple.

• Goofing Off: or, to call a spade a spade, theft. During my active years of building, operating and selling GPS tracking systems I never once … that’s right, never once … had occasion to put tracking units on government agency or business vehicles and not find employees literally stealing time from their employer. It may be blatant, like spending three hours on time and a half sitting at their mom’s house watching TV while their boss paid them. It may be more subtle, like stopping for breakfast for 45 minutes every morning while “on the clock”. But it is going on right now, today under your nose. Think I am exaggerating? Measure the employee’s performance and show me the proof.
• Sideline Work: Do you operate a service business? landscape, snow plowing, plumbing, air conditioning, garage door openers, appliance repair, pest control? … the list goes on. If you do, you have employees who are out there making service calls for customers you didn’t know you have and pocketing the money. Running their own sideline business using your checking account for withdrawals and their own pocket for deposits. Again, sounds bold and contentious, doesn’t it? Well, if you aren’t measuring, you can not prove me wrong … and I have seen so many instances over the past few years that it just makes me sick.
• Vehicle Abuse: You have employees who are speeding, failing to stop at railroad crossings, driving where you have told them not to and idling your vehicles for hours on end. You think not? Again I say, if you aren’t measuring you do not know.

So, now that I have insulted your employees and denigrated your managerial capabilities, what are you going to do about it? The easy thing to do is dismiss me as a crackpot and never read my blog again. Fine. The intelligent thing is to stop and think for a moment … this guy isn’t selling me anything … he has no axe to grind … and he speaks from years of experience. Could there be something to what he says?

Measure your people’s performance (isn’t that what you get paid to do?) and you will find out for sure, for yourself. You’ll also sleep better.

As always, I welcome comments, confirmations, even disagreement is encouraged, and you can also email me direct at: davestarr (at) gmail (dot) com or call me on 1-719-423-8872. If you liked this article, please subscribe to my RSS feed so you get all my news and views.