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This employee was given a long leash, being seen as successful on many levels. Still, there were more incidences of unusual behavior. Once there was a meeting involving restructuring decisions where she was a participant. When discussion was not going her way at one point, she got down on her knees and started ranting.
Long story short: The employee exhibited operational successes and inexplicable behavior for a couple of years. I moved on to another department. Then a new accounting manager was hired. On a routine audit, he found classic expense report "double dipping" by the employee. She was convicted.
Looking back, her behavior could have indicated a very strong desire to get her way. That may have suggested a potential to obtain more than she was due.
I don't know. I do know that I learned to have a different view of what an "enlightened" supervisor is. I'm not cynical, mind you, just not so strongly a believer that employees will do the right thing. And I'm more pragmatic. I document everything, just in case a trend develops later. Even a weird trend. No matter what your definition of enlightenment is, document behavior of employees. Make it a habit.
Long story short: The employee exhibited operational successes and inexplicable behavior for a couple of years. I moved on to another department. Then a new accounting manager was hired. On a routine audit, he found classic expense report "double dipping" by the employee. She was convicted.
Looking back, her behavior could have indicated a very strong desire to get her way. That may have suggested a potential to obtain more than she was due.
I don't know. I do know that I learned to have a different view of what an "enlightened" supervisor is. I'm not cynical, mind you, just not so strongly a believer that employees will do the right thing. And I'm more pragmatic. I document everything, just in case a trend develops later. Even a weird trend. No matter what your definition of enlightenment is, document behavior of employees. Make it a habit.
Posted on: February 20, 2007 06:20 AM |
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