Some people never learn

[alarimer]

I have a coworker (or co-IRKER) who is always getting in trouble with the boss. Let's just say he has a problem with authority. Now he always does his job and works very hard. So the problem is not with his work ethic. But he has problems with rules. Rules like smoking in state vehicles (not allowed even if you are alone). Rules like wearing a belt as part of the uniform. Now this is not required as general office attire (although in his case it is probably a good idea). We are very casual here; shorts and flip-flops are the normal office wear. Seriously. But he constantly flouts these small rules. And recently got in trouble for flipping the bird while driving a state vehicle. How this guy never got fired in 25+ years is beyond me. actually I don't know how somebody hasn't killed him. I know I have wanted to deck him more than once.
This guy is pigheaded in the extreme. I have never met a person like this and I am pretty stubborn myself but even I know when it's okay to argue and when it is not. I have no real issue with obeying rule even if I think they are stupid. I wouldn't be afraid to speak out about something I thought was really wrong, though.
He will be called in to the boss's office Monday for the latest infraction and I will have to hear about how "everyone is always picking on him and how the boss hates him, etc." A real martyr complex. I do not get it.

[Breeze54]

1. Is he related to anyone in management?

That could be a reason or maybe he works really, really cheap and is saving the company money?

[alarimer]

2. Not that I know of.

It's government so that may explain part of it.

[Chan790]

3. It's virtually impossible to get rid of bad government employees.

I used to work in the non-profit sector, working closely with several state agencies. Some of the people I worked with were astounding. I had a woman try to tell me that the #1 cause of low-literacy is laziness. (Coincidentally, the most-common cause of low-literacy is learning disability or non-fluency in English, depending on the measurement criteria of the assessment study.)

When I asked my boss how the hell this moron ended up working for the CT. State Dept. of Education in the Adult Ed. office, he explained that she had started in another office and was transferred to her current assignment because she couldn't be fired and someone had decided that making her my liaison was the least damaging assignment they could find for her.

[Elidor]

5. There was a great line in Scott Turow's novel, Presumed Innocent

About an impossible-to-fire idiot: "Civil service, like concrete, had set."

I should go get a state job and then let my Id totally slip the leash.

[alarimer]

7. Some of us work damn hard, you know.

I routinely work 14 hours days, and I often work weekends. Plus I work outdoors in Texas.

[Elidor]

12. I wasn't trying to dis all civil servants

But as one yourself, you've surely seen the type I'm talking about. A few bad apples don't spoil the whole bunch.

[KSinTX]

4. Know you're not the boss of him, but the answer is DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT

In government (don't know if you're state or fed) the key is to keep really super good counseling records. You've got to make sure copies are in official files and available to Civilian Personnel. Then you do a double run EVERY TIME past legal and affirmative action (he's white? doesn't matter) to make sure you're on track. Then magically, five years later, you have a case that will finally fly! OK, maybe not that long, but it does take a while. Sometimes because of the process the boss just gets lazy about it all.

[alarimer]

8. Well they keep emphasizing that we ar "at will".

Meaning we can be let go anytime for any reason. It's much easier to fire someone now. They do it all the time. This is Texas, not the federal government, if that tells you anything.

[KSinTX]

13. Used to be in the UT system

While an at-will situation, all boss has to do is dot his 'i's and cross his 't's. I fired a few folks under the state system and once was called in by EO. I was golden 'cause I'd done the tough work and made it stick. It can be done if bossie stays on top of things. Good luck to ya! Let me know how it goes. :applause:

[alarimer]

14. Well I don't really want him to lose his job

I wish that he would retire. Mostly I keep my distance and don't let him bully me.

[Breeze54]

6. If he's a civil servant... you'll never get rid of him.

My Dad was a civil servant and was the boss of many and he used to be soooo pissed off
sometimes when he came home from work because he couldn't get rid of the dead wood.

[alarimer]

10. I think things work a little differently in Texas than in the federal government.

They keep telling us (as if to rub it in) that we are all "at will". Of course that's a two way street. I can "fire" them too whenever I want to.

[Haole Girl]

9. Do you think he might have oppositional defiant disorder?

http://www.depression-guide.com/oppositional-defiant-disorder.htm

:shrug:

[alarimer]

11. Possibly.

Or has just somehow refused to grow up.

I know that I don't want to be anywhere near the office Monday when it comes down.

I feel sorry for him a little because he can't seem to stop shooting himself in the foot.