The business has been running smoothly for roughly 9 months now and the honeymoon period is well and truly over. My kids are still a bit too soft with the staff which has not helped matters and we need to put things back on track. The busy festive season has already started and will be like this until January 2025.
I am always amazed at what your employees get up to and you have to wonder what were they thinking because if they were thinking then most mistakes would not happen. This week we have had mistake after mistake and on Monday we will be having a quiet get together. I don't like to tear strips off them, but a reality check is way over due. I think with age I have somewhat mellowed, but the frustration is still there.
One of the drivers lost a small outside table off the back of his vehicle whilst doing deliveries. The obvious cause is the vehicle was not packed correctly or tied down and he was not paying attention whilst driving. What happened to driving and continuously checking your mirrors which most of us do knowing what other traffic is around you at all times.
In the past we had an exercise bicycle fall off the back of a vehicle whilst on the freeway which resulted in damaging another vehicle. Not only is this very dangerous and could have been far worse, but it is highly irresponsible. This table wasn't such a big item, but I still see it as something that should never happen.
We had an order dispatched with the wrong paperwork which just highlights the checks and balances in place are not being followed. Mistakes cost money which eats into the profits being generated which will affect everyone.
The driver has to be held responsible and accountable for the loss which he rightly will have to cover the cost. The frustrating part is we have not hard any problems for months and all of a sudden the standards have slipped. I have taught the staff to step up and own what they do so if things go wrong they also own those mistakes.
No one is perfect and we are all human so there has to be some leeway up to a point before people become accountable. I do believe we are now at the cross over where they need to be held accountable and why Monday the staff will be told some home truths. We all need a kick up the backside every now and then because generally most staff become comfortable and start looking for short cuts.
It was only just over a week ago when I stopped a punch bag order being dispatched that had never been checked properly and the weights were all off. A silly mistake like that could have catastrophic repercussions as clients don't accept excuses and you will be replaced. I honestly hate working with staff and if I could have robots working instead I would do it tomorrow.
I am not making excuses for the staff ,but when you have half the staff being illiterate you have to always keep in the back of your mind what their limitations are. This is why when we do stock take I chase everyone away and this is far easer and faster doing it myself. The team would take days when I only take a few hours and there are no recounts and make sure it is right first time.
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