(no subject)

[liliaeth]

Currently got a job student working with me at my job.

And I like that the kid is trying, he’s only 15 and has never worked before, so I don’t expect him to be perfect.

But I hate how I have to go check on every single thing he’s done to make sure I don’t have to go over it again. I get that you can miss a crumb or two, but when the benches he’s cleaning are still full of crumbs, and the foots of the tables he says he’s done, are still filthy, then I have to start wondering about his eyes.

I mean, there’s a reason I won’t let him swiff the floors, because I know if I don’t do it myself, I’ll end up having to do it over again afterwards anyway and we really don’t have the time for that. (not that I like his mopping that much better, but…)

As the adult and regular worker at the post it’s my responsibility to make sure everything is done right. So I can’t just close my eyes, focus on my own job and ignore what he’s doing.

Any ideas for how to tell the damn kid to do his job right without discouraging him entirely?

I don’t want to be the mean woman who ruins his summer. But there’s times he just makes me want to scream.

Comments

[gluisa88.livejournal.com]

It sounds to me as if he's /not/ trying and perhaps doesn't want the job. Or perhaps he's just unaware of how poorly he's doing.

Either way, doing it yourself doesn't help him. In such situations, I always make a person go back and do it again. You don't have to be harsh about it so as to discourage him but you can say something like, "Good job with the floors, but you need to do the tables over again." And point out exactly what he's doing wrong and needs to correct.

If he's doing as little work as he thinks he can get away with, this will show him that you won't let him get away with shoddy work. If he honestly doesn't know that he's doing a bad job this will teach him how to improve :)

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

I'm taking a lesson from the internet and just writing +1 to this response :)

[liliaeth]

All true, I guess that the hard part for me is making him do things over, instead of just doing them right. Primarily cause I have to keep an eye on the time, and I spent most of the first hour doing the toilets. (I probably should make him do those, but I don't really trust him with the handtowel rolls. (they're tricky, even for people with more experience))

[gluisa88.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, when we had a cleaning business, my mom really struggled with that as well.

Although in the long run it would turn out to be more efficient to make him learn how to do it right.

[bauble]

I agree with the suggestions of the above commenter, and would also add that at 15, he might not fully grasp the standards of work he's expected to live up to.

Something you might try doing is showing him an example of just how clean everything's supposed to be (either show him a time before things get dirty, or after you've cleaned something) so that he can get a sense of a before/after. Some people grow up in messier homes than others, and may genuinely not notice a mess/dirtiness (I have some friends who are complete slobs who jut don't notice things like that). It might help to also be really specific in describing to him the exact steps he has to do, and the exact results he has to achieve (step by step guide on how to clean X, and what X should look like at the end--no crumbs on the floor, no streaks on the window, etc).

You might also try checking in with him periodically as he's doing his tasks. That way, if something isn't up to snuff when you're checking in, you can tell him to redo it/get it right before he finishes the entire task and has to redo it all. It may be slower and take longer than doing it yourself, but someone actually doing something themselves is the only way they learn how to fully do it (and eventually improve/become more efficient/become more competent).

[locknkey.livejournal.com]

One way - at least one i use with students is something like this - said nicely and genuinely. Take the person back to there task and try one of the following, "Does this look done to you?" Even kindergartners respond well and will take that look. If he says no - ask him to point out what needs improvement, then ask him to finish up. if he says yes, point out what he's missing. I know it seems like you shouldn't have to, but even in the upper grades I'll use this tactic for a missing name - which happens all the time. it teaches them to double check and forces them to learn. :)