Question

An employee who has been with the organization for over 10 years arrives every day on time at 9:00 a.m. The employee's team is scheduled to work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The employee returns from lunch 15 minutes after the other members of the team and ends the workday at 5:15 p.m. A new manager has recently taken over the department and notices this pattern of behavior. During an informal conversation, the manager mentions that the employee is taking extended lunches. The employee responds with, "What does it matter? I stay and make up the time."

After concluding the conversation, the manager decides to partner with the HR generalist, as the manager wishes to document the employee taking an extended lunch. The manager is concerned that the previous manager allowed the behavior. There are no notes that the employee has any accommodation. Additionally, the manager is concerned that the morale of the team is suffering because of this, as three team members have approached her about this since she took over two months ago. The new manager is also worried that if the issue is not addressed in a timely manner, she may lose the ability to effectively manage the team. The manager asks the HR generalist if HR can simply update the policy to allow the employees some flexibility in their hours.
How should the HR generalist advise the manager if she insists on documenting the employee behavior?

A. The manager can compile whatever documentation she feels is appropriate in this particular situation.
B. Advise that it would be a bad decision to take this fight on, as the manager is new to the company and it would not look good in front of all the employees.
C. Terminate the employee, despite the fact that the behavior is not documented, and hope the next hire adheres to the policy.
D. Partner with the manager and her supervisor to gain effective buy-in that expectations must be reset before documentation can commence.

Answer 1

The HR generalist should recommend partnering with leadership to set clear expectations for the team before proceeding with documentation of the employee's behavior. This approach focuses on clear communication and policy understanding to ensure fairness and maintain team morale.

Step-by-step explanation:

The HR generalist should advise the manager to adhere to best practice by partnering with the manager and her supervisor to gain effective buy-in that expectations must be reset before documentation can commence. It's important to establish clear communication with all team members and align the entire team with the updated expectations, ensuring fairness and maintaining team morale. Once an agreement is reached, and policies are clear to all employees, then the manager can begin the documentation process if the employee continues with the extended lunches.

This approach respects the company's traditional hierarchy while also accommodating new trends in equal partnership between managers and employees. It aligns with best practices by promoting accountability, respect, and a professional attitude within the workplace. Additionally, any changes to policy should be communicated openly to prevent misunderstandings and preserve the organization's culture of transparency and trust.