Poll of the Day > How to take care of an employee that is in love with another employee?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Basically this guy works under me but another side of the business needed some help so one day a week he'd go help there. Little did I know at the time he volunteered because he developed a crush with someone there. Now he spends 4 days a week there. And from what people say he never leaves her side. Management on that side wont take care of it because they are basically worthless. The issue is upper management is getting mad at me because "he's my guy" when I didn't hire him or anything a few years ago.
---

Is it getting im the way of his work?
---

Give him an ultimatum, I guess.
---

Is it cutting into his work productivity? Has she filed any complaints regarding the attention he gives her?

If you're his manager, then manage him. Tell him he can't work on that side of the business 4 days a week.
---

This depends if the relation interferes with the productivity.
---

Yes, definitely interferes with productivity. He also tries to play hero and take on jobs he can't really do. They wanted to add hooks to the ceiling of the market and he came back to our shop to get tools. He asked for a stud finder and we don't have one. After a few more questions I determined he didn't even know what a stud is.

Another time the vacuum cleaner broke and wouldn't turn on. From what I gathered he tried for about an hour to fix it in front of his crush. thank god he didn't break it since it was a Dyson.

I have staff that can find studs and hang hooks and I have staff that can fix electrical shit.
---

RCtheWSBC posted...

If you're his manager, then manage him. Tell him he can't work on that side of the business 4 days a week.

He's on the schedule for that side nothing I can do for that other than say "hey why is he scheduled over here so much he is supposed to be working for me" which I already did but ignored. Honestly I didn't even care he was working there so much he wasn't the best worker. I only care because I'm getting shit from upper management.
---

Tell him to get a room and stop slacking right in front of both of them

I'm not a manager, that's just what my management would throw at my face if I was the problem.
---

Maybe you should talk to his crush. Don't know exactly what you would say to her, but that might be able to help you out.
---

RCtheWSBC posted...

Is it cutting into his work productivity? Has she filed any complaints regarding the attention he gives her?

If you're his manager, then manage him. Tell him he can't work on that side of the business 4 days a week.

This. If it's impacting his job performance (and/or hers) there's a problem. It'll only get worse if they get together then break up. Not to mention office romance can sometimes lead to lawsuits. Are there rules about employee dating?

You could just sit down and hash it out with him over coffee or something, or make him sign a declaration that he acknowledges the risks of his behaviour and may be terminated if things become unprofessional.
---

TheCyborgNinja posted...

RCtheWSBC posted...

Is it cutting into his work productivity? Has she filed any complaints regarding the attention he gives her?

If you're his manager, then manage him. Tell him he can't work on that side of the business 4 days a week.

This. If it's impacting his job performance (and/or hers) there's a problem. It'll only get worse if they get together then break up. Not to mention office romance can sometimes lead to lawsuits. Are there rules about employee dating?

You could just sit down and hash it out with him over coffee or something, or make him sign a declaration that he acknowledges the risks of his behaviour and may be terminated if things become unprofessional.

Normally, I'd agree. But if they do get together and break up, he would probably try to avoid that side of business and get back to the you're on. And won't be trying to constantly impress his crush.
---

Yellow posted...

Tell him to get a room and stop slacking right in front of both of them

I'm not a manager, that's just what my management would throw at my face if I was the problem.

I considered it lol. Not sure if I want to do that to the girl though. I doubt the feelings are mutual.
---

fire him
---

I'd take him aside and give him some direct, firm warning of sorts. Tell him that management and colleagues have reported a drop in his performance and that he need to rectify this or face formal consequences.
---

RCtheWSBC posted...

rectify this or face formal consequences.

I'm going to tell this to anyone I have a problem with from now on.
---

Yopster posted...

Yellow posted...

Tell him to get a room and stop slacking right in front of both of them

I'm not a manager, that's just what my management would throw at my face if I was the problem.

I considered it lol. Not sure if I want to do that to the girl though. I doubt the feelings are mutual.

You need to handle that even more directly and delicately then. I wouldn't let it go though. Just sit down with them separately and see what their thoughts are and if you think it's problematic, simply point out that work needs to come first.
---

Yellow posted...

RCtheWSBC posted...

rectify this or face formal consequences.

I'm going to tell this to anyone I have a problem with from now on.

lol
---

You only care because his lack of performance is affecting you? That's fucked up.

You should be caring because his lack of performance is reflecting negatively against him and upper management is asking middle management to handle it which could result in him losing his job.

Not everything is about you. Help the guy succeed.
---

SunWuKung420 posted...

You only care because his lack of performance is affecting you? That's fucked up.

You should be caring because his lack of performance is reflecting negatively against him and upper management is asking middle management to handle it which could result in him losing his job.

Not everything is about you. Help the guy succeed.

This is probably the worst possible answer in terms of things backfiring. Nothing like having the manager play wingman for a guy into a girl that doesn't seem to like him back.
---

TheCyborgNinja posted...

SunWuKung420 posted...

You only care because his lack of performance is affecting you? That's fucked up.

You should be caring because his lack of performance is reflecting negatively against him and upper management is asking middle management to handle it which could result in him losing his job.

Not everything is about you. Help the guy succeed.

This is probably the worst possible answer in terms of things backfiring. Nothing like having the manager play wingman for a guy into a girl that doesn't seem to like him back.

I wasn't talking about helping him with the ladies. I was talking about helping him not be a fool.
---

SunWuKung420 posted...

TheCyborgNinja posted...

SunWuKung420 posted...

You only care because his lack of performance is affecting you? That's fucked up.

You should be caring because his lack of performance is reflecting negatively against him and upper management is asking middle management to handle it which could result in him losing his job.

Not everything is about you. Help the guy succeed.

This is probably the worst possible answer in terms of things backfiring. Nothing like having the manager play wingman for a guy into a girl that doesn't seem to like him back.

I wasn't talking about helping him with the ladies. I was talking about helping him not be a fool.

Okay, well at least we both agree that's a bad idea.
---

TheCyborgNinja posted...

Okay, well at least we both agree that's a bad idea.

Puppy dogging is always a bad idea, more so at work, especially if it doesn't increase productivity.
---

Well...in my office they'd both be fired in a heartbeat.
---

It sounds like your job doesn't really have any clear or defined roles. The do whatever you feel like model might work for valve but it sounds like you guys need some actual structure.