Well, the saga of the missing employee may have finally reached its end, but not without a struggle. As I mentioned, the HR gal asked me what I sought to do with all of the attendance information I provided her. I replied that he was deep in termination territory, as I saw it, but that was HR's decision to make. She responded to
that with the question "Did you ever issue him a final warning?". I gave her the date I issued his Attendance Warning, and she questioned me again about a
final warning. Then she called me.
HR: "Your emails were rather vague."
Me: "I disagree. My emails were succinct, and to the point."
HR: "I thought we agreed that there would be a second, final warning."
Me: "I have no recollection of any such conversation. If you recall, my last conversation with you in your office didn't go well. After 92 hours of missed work, as well as a written warning for attendance, and one for poor performance, I still couldn't fire the guy."
HR: "Well, we have to align with the company's policies."
Me: "If the company's policies allow this guy to continue working after what is now 160 hours of missed work in eleven weeks, then I want no part of it."
HR: "It sounds like you're checking out. I get that, but I still need to align with the company's policies on these issues."
Me, in a matter-of-fact tone: "When I left your office the last time, I was done. I told the plant manager that I would not issue the guy any more warnings. I would put him to work if he shows up, and document his absences. Beyond that, you (HR) could deal with it. I tried to get rid of him, and I wasn't allowed to. Now he's making a fool of someone, and I'll tell you what...it isn't me. This is all on you, now. If the guy shows up tomorrow, I'll put him to work, but I won't fire him. You get to do that. That last meeting with you and the way it was handled is the sole reason I bumped up my departure date by two months, by the way. I want you to know that."
HR, after a long silence: "Are you telling me that you feel I'm ineffective and unable to accomplish things in my job?"
Me: "I'm telling you that you are the face and the voice of this company's policies, and that I don't want anything to do with a policy that keeps employees like this around. This is on your department. These policies are the worst, and I want nothing to do with them."
HR, now somewhat indignant: "Alright, then. Thank you for the clarification. Goodbye."
A half-hour later I get an email stating that the employee had been terminated.
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