Too many chances?

[macncheese]

A colleague of mine asked my opinion on a temp that is working in their department. The temp's performance has been been a up and down, depending on the day.  When given a task,  it is either done immediately  or  the temp says it will get done and it  doesn't get done.  And at least once a week, the temp slows everyone down with some distracting conversation. My colleague has had  to take the temp aside for not completing tasks and being a distraction and each time the temp gets upset and makes excuses about being busy and has made claims that my colleague as it in for them. 

Now my colleague has a really big heart. I mean huge. My colleague has made every effort to reach out the to temp help them out. My colleague has often told the temp, if they have too much on their plate, let them know and they will figure something else out. Things improve for a bit and then they are back at square one. 

In the near future there will be opening in their department. And the temp has expressed interest in working at the company permanently. Now what my colleague wants to do is have a meeting with the temp  and  tell them that this would be their last chance. And that my colleague was going to tell them that the opening is theirs only if they shape up. My colleague wants to do this before it is announced. Like I said, my colleague has a big heart.

I told my colleague that this was a bad idea. That they shouldn't say anything until it is officially announced and if the temp asks about the position, tell them to apply for it and that the only qualified person will be picked. If the temp wants to work for the company then they should make every effort to do the best job possible.  As soon the temp started trouble , they should have been replaced.

Am I being too cold? Is my colleague being too nice of a person?

[NyaChan]

I think having the shapeup and you'll get the job talk is a bad idea.  It basically perpetuates the cycle of letting the temp know he's doing badly, him shaping up for a bit, and then sliding back once the initial danger of trouble has passed.  I would let him know that he can apply and will be considered for the position.  I would give him honest feedback though that his history of inconsistent work will count against him.

[portabella]

Regardless of the size of your colleague’s heart, dissatisfaction with the temp’s performance should be discussed with the agency (the temp’s employer)  - not just the temp.  Also, your colleague might be violating the agreement with the agency by approaching the temp about a permanent job.  There is usually a fee involved (terms are spelled out on the time sheet.)

Is colleague the supervisor of the temp?  Can’t you go to your supervisor and explain the problem?  From what you’ve said, the temp has been given too many chances already (there should be no “up and down”) and should be replaced.  That would only involve a phone call to the agency.

[Pippen]

If they have proven to be ineffective in the role as it is it is highly unlikely they will be given the permanent position anyway if it is going through a full recruitment process. Surely no one in their right mind would offer it to them. The company would still have to pay the full recruitment fees on this person anyway so they may as well open it up to all comers and get the best person.

[macncheese]

Thanks for the replies. I agree with all of you.
I really respect my colleague but my colleague is thinking with their heart and not with their head.
This is pretty much my colleagues' responsibility. I have nothing to do with it. My colleague just wanted my opinion.
Now that I think about it, I think this my colleagues way of trying to scare the temp straight.

[still in va]

a temp is sort of the equivalent of someone new that you're dating.  in a new dating relationship, each person is pretty anxious to make a good impression if they're interested in the dating relationship going forward.  and if either party slacks off early, that's pretty much a sign of how things will go when they get comfortable and begins to take the relationship for granted.  if a temp is already slacking, not doing everything that they can to prove that they would be an asset to the organization on a permanent basis, then it's not going to go well to hire them permanently.  this temp doesn't sound like a good fit. 

your friend should not have the talk with the temp about the permanent job.

[portabella]

Thanks for the replies. I agree with all of you.
I really respect my colleague but my colleague is thinking with their heart and not with their head.
This is pretty much my colleagues' responsibility. I have nothing to do with it. My colleague just wanted my opinion.
Now that I think about it, I think this my colleagues way of trying to scare the temp straight.

If you have nothing to do with it, why get involved?  btw, a client of a temp agency should not have to be bothered with such nonsense as scaring a worker straight.  Your colleague is making the situation much more complicated than it needs to be.

[still in va]

Thanks for the replies. I agree with all of you.
I really respect my colleague but my colleague is thinking with their heart and not with their head.
This is pretty much my colleagues' responsibility. I have nothing to do with it. My colleague just wanted my opinion.
Now that I think about it, I think this my colleagues way of trying to scare the temp straight.

If you have nothing to do with it, why get involved?  btw, a client of a temp agency should not have to be bothered with such nonsense as scaring a worker straight.  Your colleague is making the situation much more complicated than it needs to be.

i will agree that the friend should be letting the temp's boss, the agency, know what's going on.  it's the agency's job to manage and teach their temps.

[cicero]

your colleague should understand that their first loyalty should be with the company and not with an intern. they should look at what is good for the company - if this happens to work out with the intern, then you have a win-win situation. but if it doesn't, then first priorty is what is best for the company.

it doesn't matter if colleague has a big heart or is first class witchwithacapitalB.

[portabella]

your colleague should understand that their first loyalty should be with the company and not with an intern. they should look at what is good for the company - if this happens to work out with the intern, then you have a win-win situation. but if it doesn't, then first priorty is what is best for the company.

it doesn't matter if colleague has a big heart or is first class witchwithacapitalB.

No mention was made of the person being an intern.  From the initial post, my understanding is the person is a temp (from an agency).  A simple phone call to the agency would solve the problem.

I’ve worked in situations where a person supervising a temp uses that as an excuse not to do their own job.  (“I’m soooo busy dealing with this situation with a problem temp I don’t have time to do my own job” and “I’m such a nice person with a good heart – look, I’m trying to work with the temp and giving the person chances”.)  Colleague should not be pulling others into the problem, asking their opinion, etc.  Colleague is wasting her time and everyone elses, and also sounds somewhat incompetent herself.  Alluding to a future permanent position with the company would be out of the question.

If OP has nothing to do with the situation, then she should remind colleague of that when colleague asks her opinion.  “That really has nothing to do with me, but if you’re having problems you should call the agency and get a replacement.  I’m in the middle of something so you’ll have to excuse me.”

[Bexx27]

a temp is sort of the equivalent of someone new that you're dating.  in a new dating relationship, each person is pretty anxious to make a good impression if they're interested in the dating relationship going forward.  and if either party slacks off early, that's pretty much a sign of how things will go when they get comfortable and begins to take the relationship for granted.  if a temp is already slacking, not doing everything that they can to prove that they would be an asset to the organization on a permanent basis, then it's not going to go well to hire them permanently.  this temp doesn't sound like a good fit. 

your friend should not have the talk with the temp about the permanent job.

Very true. This temp should absolutely not be offered a permanent job. I am a soft-hearted person who works with a lot of interns and I've fallen into the trap of giving someone a second (or third) chance too many times. It never never never ever works out.

[BeagleMommy]

Your friend should not be offering the temp a permanent position as a "shape up or ship out' incentive.  If anything, the temp agency should be called and told of the temp's inconsistent work ethic.

I've had too many bad experiences with temps.  A few years ago the office where I worked hired a temp agency to provide a clerical for a possible permanent position.  The first temp was an elderly woman who was "working just to have something to do" (her words).  She had no word processing experience even though we told the agency that was mandatory.  She lasted two weeks before we requested a replacement.  Next temp was a 20 something young man who continually fell asleep at his desk.  He didn't last three days.

[Cami]

A temp who does not work well consistently is foolish. A temp who does not work well consistently knowing a permanenet job is available is a fool. I don't hire fools.

[Editeer]

In a way, the temp is doing your company a favor: She's showing that she's a problem employee before she's actually become a (staff) employee. If your colleague hires this person, she (colleague) will have a new full-time job of supervising, nagging, motivating, and listening to the temp. She will have to take the temp aside for a shape-up talk every week.

Perhaps your colleague really wants to hear this from you (or someone else), because she can't bring herself to make the decision?

[portabella]

Also occurs to me that this particular temp might be coasting along, knowing that she can get away with being an on-and-off slacker, while trying to find a job she really wants.  Yes, it’s a tough job market but (speculating) maybe for whatever reason she doesn’t care about working there permanently. .  could be due to some personal situation.  And since colleague hasn’t gotten tough or called the agency to complain, could be temp is just riding it out.

I remember a temp at a place I worked who had very poor attendance, mediocre skills, and a drama-filled life - but they had gone thru a couple temps and were tired of training people.  HR was getting fed up.  So they put up with it.  One day they got a call that temp had decided to move in with her bf in another city (agency didn’t exactly say that, but it came out).

Still, bottom line is that colleague who is in charge of the temp in the initial post needs to get more of a clue and less of a heart.  Sounds like a ridiculous situation.