Punch up on site - Gentlemen behave yourselves!

[Pebbs]

Late this afternoon, I had a phone call from a client, telling me there had been an 'incident' over some grout! and could I go in tomorrow to sort this out.
This was followed by 3 phone calls from the lads, (I call them lads, the reality is they are all older than me). It turns out there had been such a 'heated debate' between them and the project manager, things quickly escalated until a right good punch up had taken place. At any other time I would have paid to see this event and taken a vimto and some digestive biscuits to see such an occurance, however now I think this is going to cost me dearly.
This is really turning out to be a crappy week for me, Ive spent nearly 2 years sourcing the marble, doing the drawings and bringing it in within budget. I know that will all be forgotten tomorrow, because someone couldnt keep their mouth shut.

Roll on Friday

Pebbs

 

[Dan]

I was waiting for this post after you mentioned it earlier.

Speak to all incolved especially "the lads" and tell them how long you have been waiting for the stone.

I'd even call them off the job for an hour in front of everybody to make a point. The point is... You've given them a job and hundreds want it.

Sort it before Friday and the weekend can be a rest.

 

[Pebbs]

Dan,
They got read the riot act, believe me, and they know how much work has gone into the project. When we got awarded the contract it was celebration time, and in a few minutes it can turn bad. They were all carded and sent off, even the ones who werent involved, as they were on the other floors.
I think this has been brewing for some time, normally I know the differences would be sorted out in the pub, and they could move forward working as a team. I'll just have to see how it pans out tomorrow.
Pebbs

 

[Rob Z]

pebbs, forgive me with the dumb question-we are afterall divided by a common language :smilewinkgrin: - but does a right good punch up had taken place mean that your men started fighting on the job site?:yikes: And your client witnessed this? :yikes:

 

[faithhealer]

Most workplaces have a zero tolerance on fighting and usually is instant dismissal. They are very lucky if pebbs doesn't sack them.
I was always told, never raise your hands no matter how heated it gets and I've given a few people some verbal blasts before

 

[mikethetile]

those were the days...............pure bliss

not allowed to do it now but your lads are probably about my age, when we started on site differences were sometimes sorted this way. this didnt suddenly happen, a lot has been said to your blokes to get them to fly against a pm , watch this pm as he obviousley doesnt know how to handle men or when to back off and let things calm before restating his point

I learnt that humour is a good tension breaker, and giving one lad stick usuaslly gets the others laughing.............tension deflated and back to business

 

[doug boardley]

there are rules on sites, to my knowledge the Queensberry Rules aren't included:8:

 

[diamondtiling]

I posted this one before but with more colourful language shall we say, fingers were rapped.


I was on site in Dudley some years ago and the site manager was giving one particular lad a lot of grief for no good reason. This lad was a big hefty Sheffield bloke and took it all in his stride or so we thought. He brushed it off and did his work but the Foreman never let up. Near to the end of the job and I was siliconing up or doing something to finish off, the foreman had visited the site loo, it was a Friday and was full of you know what. As soon as the door was locked the lad in question tied a cargo strap around it and pushed it over!! What a noise came from that loo, he was screaming like a baby, "What the! what the!" I cant swear but add as many as you like and it still wont be enough.
Sheffield man got into his van and drove away, the site foreman came out after security removed the strap, he looked like a small version of the hulk (chemical toilet fluid) but with lots of dashes of brown. We were off like a shot straight into the pub laughing like school girls, that lad never paid for a drink all day.

:8::8:

 

[Ken Bruty]

:lol::lol::lol::lol: Retribution I love it!

 

[Deleted member 9966]

we have a zero tolerance approach to fighting on our site (manufacturing plant) too. threatening violence is also included. last year I ended up conducting a disciplinary hearing when two over 50's decided to get "upset" over a break time quiz about capital cities :mad2:

caused ructions for weeks. shifts had to be split up and moved around, causing unrest for a lot of people who weren't involved plus management time spent sorting it all out.

zero tolerance - violence or threat of, instant suspension pending disciplinary hearing.

 

[Pebbs]

I just got back from the meeting, I feel worn out with it all. I'll update later, Mike was right this has been brewing for some time it all came out this morning.

I need some sleep, but dont have that option right now.

Pebbs

 

[user123]

Pebbs, exhausting stuff for sure, to loose a contract over this ...wow... morons... let's hope it won't come to it, eh? Fingers crossed...

 

[Pebbs]

I got there this morning, and got they were on the defensive, the project manager involved was there. His first words were 'your foreman is an ****** animal!' ummmmm ok....point taken. He then went into a tirade of how they question him all the time, he doesnt think they want to work on the project blah blah blah, you name it he said it. I let him have his rant and listened to what he was saying.
Then I had my turn to speak. I had with me a list of all the delays we've had since we started, and most of them were down to this project manager, not getting the stone in on time, areas not being ready, stone that has been ripped up because he gave them the wrong drawings and the setting out had changed and they hadnt been given revised issued drawings. The comments about them not wanting to work, was blew out of the water, we are on price, if we dont get the works done we dont get paid simple fact. The Commercial Director was there, and he said what are you talking about delays for? the upshot was he had no idea of all the problems that had gone on. He had thought that everything was running smoothly.....kiss my .... running smoothly, we should have been 60% way through the first phase and were only at 19%. Then a god almighty row started between the com director and the project manager, with the chairman sitting there just looking shocked. They asked the Project Manager to go back to the office and they would see him later.
So the upshot is this, Ive suspended the main offender for 2 weeks to cool off, the client wants him back there as they quite like him and hes great at his work. The rest of them have to go through their site induction again, any problems on site now have to be reported directly to the Com Director on a weekly basis, and gawd help me, I have to be present on site 3 times a week to 'nip things in the bud'.
It all got sorted out, and the price I have to pay is take them to see one of the England matches in a couple of weeks time and foot the bill, that is a small price to pay for what could have happened.

Roll on the weekend

Pebbs

 

[Dan]

Hat's off to you. Sounds like a problem solved to me. Although it sounds like it has a few extra conditions in the contract now lol. England match. Tut.

 

[TT Tiling]

well done mate ,hope you enjoy the weekend , things do go wrong from time to time ,sounds like your heads in the right place well done

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

well it's all sorted now!!! it's Mad how silly thing's can become on site sometimes, and they can be very political if you ask me to :yikes:

 

[diamondtiling]

So they are bribing you to take them to the footie? can I come as well, I can fix marble.

:smilewinkgrin:

 

[user123]

Respect Lynne, MAJOR respect. Wouldn't be cut out for that sort of thing myself, at all. Amazing.

 

[mikethetile]

I wouldnt want to be in that pm shoes this afternoon. pms are hard to find as its a difficult job to get right, so if hes performing in other areas they may keep him ,if not you may not see much more of him

glad you got it sorted, some of the best tradesmen ive known have been hot headed but they are also passionate about their trade, it often goes hand in hand

so dont be too hard on them, maybe encourage them to talk to you about things in future so you can cool things before they get to this stage

 

[Scott]

I can fight can i come to the footie?

 

[Pebbs]

You'd all be welcome if I had the budget for everyone, youd probably better company as well...I got a feeling this is going to be an expensive match for me :8:

Pebbs

 

[Scott]

Never mind them Pebbs just take me!

 

[Ajax123]

Is it just me.....am I over reacting but physical violence or violent threats in my place of work would be considered gross misconduct and as such would result in summary dismissal........should that not apply here.

There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for violence in this context is there?

 

[Deleted member 9966]

Is it just me.....am I over reacting but physical violence or violent threats in my place of work would be considered gross misconduct and as such would result in summary dismissal........should that not apply here.

There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for violence in this context is there?

even a dismissal for gross misconduct requires the following of the statutory dismissal procedures Alan, and most employers would rather reserve judgment on the dismissal until the disciplinary hearing has been heard. Unless of course, you actually see the acts of violence first hand, then you can dismiss on the spot if your policies and precedents permit so.

not an easy position to be in from an employers point of view

 

[CJ]

Glad is sorted Pebbs.

Also soooo glad I work on my own. Although I do sometimes feel like telling the odd Builder, plumber, plasterer & sparky to go forth and multiply :lol:

 

[Ajax123]

even a dismissal for gross misconduct requires the following of the statutory dismissal procedures Alan, and most employers would rather reserve judgment on the dismissal until the disciplinary hearing has been heard. Unless of course, you actually see the acts of violence first hand, then you can dismiss on the spot if your policies and precedents permit so.

not an easy position to be in from an employers point of view

of course GRR you are right about the investigation and disciplinary procedure to find out what happened. I know that violent conduct would result in immediate suspension for the parties concerned pending the procedure. My contract actually includes a clause that violent behaviour or threats of violence by or toward employees or visitors will not be tolerated and may result in summary removal from the workplace. I note it says removal so I guess this relates to the suspension. I bow to your greater knowledge in these procedures. I have only had to sack someone once and I did not enjoy that at all so I agree it is a horrible position to be in ..... but he did deserve it :yikes:

 

[mikethetile]

work place bullying and abuse of authority are taken more serious than someone blowing with continued provocation

these things are never clear cut and we were taught to take the wider view on these issues and keep them in perspective

 

[Deleted member 9966]

of course GRR you are right about the investigation and disciplinary procedure to find out what happened. I know that violent conduct would result in immediate suspension for the parties concerned pending the procedure. My contract actually includes a clause that violent behaviour or threats of violence by or toward employees or visitors will not be tolerated and may result in summary removal from the workplace. I note it says removal so I guess this relates to the suspension. I bow to your greater knowledge in these procedures. I have only had to sack someone once and I did not enjoy that at all so I agree it is a horrible position to be in ..... but he did deserve it :yikes:

Alan, it's so hard to know what to do for the best in these situations. You have to think about how you handled previous situations like these, was it a first offence, could someone have been provoked causing the bad reaction and so on. You have to be so careful of setting a precedent or not treating people the same way despite having committed the same offence. bloomin minefield :mad2:

If in doubt, suspend, suspend, suspend. And then investigate and conduct a disciplinary hearing.