Accepted a position and quickly realized I was hired to fire a ‘problem’ employee and replace her. After getting to know her I found out that her work was great, she was a single Mom of 3 and called out a lot due to child care issues. My 2 supervisors hated this, although they work from home most days, they both told the ‘problem’ employee she could not do that. After a few months the owner saw my value and respected my opinion. I told him to allow me to make the ‘problem’ employees position a permanent work from home position and watch productivity go through the roof. The owner agreed and now we no longer reported to the other 2 supervisors. The ‘problem’ employee and I absolutely crushed it, she thrived knowing child care is no longer an issue. After a year I earned a huge promotion, made the ‘problem’ employee my #2, and now both of the former supervisors report directly to me. The first thing I did change their work from status to hybrid. They both now must come into the office 3x a week. They both cried to owner that they don’t have child care, he told them that they must follow what I want. They have already used up all their PTO. They came to me and begged me to change their positions back, I told them I’m too busy to deal with this, speak to my #2 and I’ll let her decide. They set up a meeting and my # 2 is not sure what she will do, but is really looking forward to it.
