Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#11

Post by notus » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:02 PM UTC

ahaferburg wrote: post #9

notus wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The way they are doing it seems illegal... However at my work we host all our meetings through zoom and record them all.

That also sounds illegal.

Maybe if they were secretly recording but its common knowledge they are all recorded so people can refer back to them if necessary.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#12

Post by ben_jones » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:02 PM UTC

It's hard advice but especially at a small company with potentially no formal processes the best you can do is prepare for any outcome. As with all aspects of life, be kind, thoughtful, and reasonable, but do not always assume others will be the same to you.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#13

Post by sombremesa » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:17 PM UTC

I'm not sure a project manager is the same thing as a manager. Is this person your direct report?

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#14

Post by NewsAware » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:41 PM UTC

eropple wrote: post #10

ahaferburg wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That also sounds illegal.

Can you maybe substantiate this a little? I don't understand why a company recording the meetings of their employees, on company time and regarding company business, would be illegal. (An individual doing so, on the other hand, might be problematic.)

This would definitely be illegal in Germany where I work as CTO. Even having employees sign some letter of acceptance of such would still be illegal as a court would assume an employee was in an uneven power position and therefore not able to refuse even if they wanted to.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#15

Post by annogram » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:55 PM UTC

ahaferburg wrote: post #6

go_ruby wrote: post #5

If it was actually only a single curse word and not maliciously directed at any individual, apologize and start recording the meetings, you probably have your phone out anyway, download the Hi Q app, just let it run. That person probably has something to hide about their work habits. You don't have to trot out the recordings at the first sign of back stabbing, let them pile up and if they make a serious play to get y…

That sounds illegal.

Depends where for most places it's not Illegal it's just inadmissible in court.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#16

Post by annogram » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 10:57 PM UTC

Say that you want to record meeting minutes from now on and will be recording important meetings to summaries later. If people aren't comfortable with that ask them not to attend and they can be briefed later. Eventually, that will get to annoying and they will just start attending the meetings.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#17

Post by dvanwag » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 11:06 PM UTC

sombremesa wrote: post #13

I'm not sure a project manager is the same thing as a manager. Is this person your direct report?

As far as I am aware. I was not given the individual's name for "privacy reasons". I was explicitly told it was someone under me, but that could be anyone of 20-some odd people.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#18

Post by dvanwag » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 11:08 PM UTC

NewsAware wrote: post #4

If this is a small company, I would probably not worry too much about process and ask the concerned employee to discuss this in a friendly and open way. Maybe a misunderstanding which can be cleared, maybe the reason is actually lying deeper. Good chance you can resolve this by being emphatic and act understandingly. That being said, I would note down a memory protocol afterwards in case this turns ugly after all.

I'm not sure what you mean by a memory protocol, what is that?

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#19

Post by vogt » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 11:11 PM UTC

sombremesa wrote: post #13

I'm not sure a project manager is the same thing as a manager. Is this person your direct report?

In most cases, most certainly not. If the OP was hired as a managing PM with direct PM reports, that's a different story. It is unclear what the context is.

Re: Ask HN: I'm a New Manager – How to Best Handle Employee Grievance?

#20

Post by downrightmike » Sun, Jun 30, 2019, 11:26 PM UTC

ahaferburg wrote: post #6

go_ruby wrote: post #5

If it was actually only a single curse word and not maliciously directed at any individual, apologize and start recording the meetings, you probably have your phone out anyway, download the Hi Q app, just let it run. That person probably has something to hide about their work habits. You don't have to trot out the recordings at the first sign of back stabbing, let them pile up and if they make a serious play to get y…

That sounds illegal.

There are US states that have traditionally been home to call centers, and the laws in those states usually allow for only consent of one party to record, including yourself.