Manager Asks If They’re Wrong For Threatening To Fire An Employee For Not Giving Up Her Pet Fox
Punctuality and professionalism are crucial in the office because they show respect for others’ time and dedication to the job. They help maintain a smooth workflow and foster a positive work environment. But not every employee can fall up to those standards.
OP works in Engineering and manages 4 employees. One employee got a pet fox and has had attendance and hygiene issues since. She was often late, left early, and took long lunches, citing the fox as the reason. After a talk with OP, her attendance improved, but a new issue arose: the smell. Co-workers complained about her bad odor, which became constant. Despite her efforts to shower and wash her clothes frequently, the smell worsened. OP talked to her again, saying something had to change, or she might be fired. She got very upset, cried, and felt OP was being heartless. OP feels bad but is unsure what else to do.
via Reddit
Image credits: Nikita Grishin (not the actual photo)
Scroll down below to read the story in OP’s own words.
1. OP threatened to terminate an employee unless she gives up her pet fox due to attendance and hygiene issues caused by caring for it.
2. OP manages 4 employees in Engineering. A team member planned to get a pet fox, which is legal in their state.
3. She got the fox a month ago, shares pictures, and keeps one on her desk, but OP noticed several problems.
4. When she got the fox, she often missed work, left early, took long lunches, and arrived late almost every day.
5. She apologized, citing vet visits and fox-related issues, but it happened nearly every day.
6. After OP’s talk, she improved her attendance, but the bigger issue became the constant smell.
7. After OP got complaints about her smell, it became clear she wasn’t addressing the hygiene issues, despite claiming she showered after the fox peed on her.
8. The smell became constant. When OP’s employee walked in, you could smell it. Even her jacket left on the desk smelled like fox.
9. OP had an uncomfortable conversation about the smell. The employee promised to improve hygiene, but the issue worsened over the week.
10. OP consulted with their supervisor and had a follow-up discussion on Friday, expressing concerns about the lack of improvement in attendance and hygiene due to caring for a pet fox.
11. OP’s discussion upset her, causing tears as she felt it was heartless and unappreciative, comparing it to criticism of OP’s own child.
12. OP feels remorseful for upsetting her, unsure if handling the situation correctly.
via Reddit
Now that you have read the story, it’s time for you to see what Redditors had to say about this. Read till the end to see what are other people’s opinions on the story. Don’t forget to share your own opinion at the end of this article.
13. Hygiene and attendance are crucial in the workplace. OP addressed a valid concern professionally.
14. OP should have communicated better. Nonetheless, she had to be fired.
15. OP should have not equated two things. And the employee could have bettered her behavior.
16. Work expectations are clear, and it’s reasonable to expect employees to meet them.
17. It’s about maintaining a professional environment. OP did what any responsible manager would do.
18. Fox urine smell is really that bad, now I know.
19. A job requires reliability as well as hygiene. But what’s personal stays personal.
20. Hope so that OP have understood the thin line between professional and personal life.
via Reddit
What are your thoughts on this story? What would you do, or how would you react if you were in OP’s position? You know that your feedback means a lot to us; therefore, we want you to share your thoughts in the comment section below. For more such articles, keep visiting our website. Have a nice day!
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