If you’re a manager, what would you do if your employee (s) just don’t care about their job?

Question

Like, they’re just burnt out and they’re lacking motivation to work anymore. What would be your thoughts?
I’ll be honest, I’m that employee and my managers don’t seem to care if I put little to no effort into my job.

Benjiman19 · Accepted Answer

I am an employee of a job that is hardworking and causes you to carry heavy equipment and also do things such as clean the floors or wash dishes or even carry 60-90 lbs of cut meat from one place to another.

My coworker is someone who is older than I am by a year or two and has zero compassion for his job. It's not so much that he doesn't do his job, but he is angry about doing it. Not only that, but he's been late to work several times with no good excuse for it. Mostly because he goes out partying with friends at night and meeting random girls to hookup with.

Now, I'm not saying that he shouldn't live his own life, but I do think he should spend his time better than that. I'm not in charge of him at work. I've been working there 2 months more than he has out of the 4 months he's been there.

However, if I were his manager, I'd have let him go a long time ago. Calling his friends during work hours, almost always on his phone, taking 20-30 minute bathroom breaks 5-8 times a day... I don't even know why he's still there.

Anyway, just my view of him. How I've seen him since day one.

Massageman · Accepted Answer

Being "burnt out" and "just not caring" to work are polar opposites but with near the same result: little/no work gets done.

People who are burnt/ burned out are so because they OVERdo what they are to be doing. I know from experience, having been doing the work oof three titles at several points in my history. Those who don't want to work, just DO NOT want to work, yet expect payment just the same. (It's called "welfare".)

Talk to each, find out the real story. If someone is just not going to work, can them.

If they "don't care" about a FUNCTION of a position, maybe there is a better fit doing a different function.

I know that employees of Aldi Foods (Albrecht of Germany) are cross-trained to be able to handle every position in a store, from stocker and floor sweeper, to checker and "closer". They may excel at one function, but they still need to do passable work at every station in order to keep their employment.

IslaTheWitch · Accepted Answer

we have regular 1-on-1's every two weeks as a standard, and in more demanding cases, every week. I never take this time to talk about projects. It's my team member's time to talk about anything they want to talk about. Most guys in my team are more or less fresh fathers, so they deal with limited sleep, illnesses, etc. We plan their time off. The company offers additional paid time off for fathers besides what the state offers. So we have plenty of time to create something that they can rest, enjoy their families and return refreshed to work. If I can see a lowered performance, we have a conversation out of the framework, more like friends than manager and their employee. To help, I need information. So one of my guys works 6 hours daily (should 8) but couldn't do it. He is paid, as if he works full-time. He has fought depression for many years already. It's sometimes better, sometimes worse. So for now 6 hours. I told him, I won't check if he works as we agreed, it's his responsibility. And he is always when I expect him to be, his tasks are always delivered on time. It works.

SugarSugarplum · Accepted Answer

There are so many variables here.

Firing the lowest performers tends to motivate the rest, though it will create a desire to update resume's.

Throwing parties for a roomful of non-performers only builds contempt, as in "this asswipe can't even tell we're all quiet-quitting. Nice pizza, though."

Recognizing individual accomplishments publicly only makes everyone else think teacher has a pet.

The only tool left in the toolbag is to hold frequent status meetings, update everyone on progress, and try to rally everyone to the cause.

HOWEVER: Any employee who is just there to kill time and earn a paycheck is going to hate all these approaches. These parasites need to be weeded out before they poison the attitudes of the whole office.

ohsheeT · Answer

It's almost like being a teacher first of all manager is just the title and you have to know how to teach people to guide them you have to be a leader... And you must be able to see and feel all this going on... You can tell when somebody's motivated about their job and when they're not.
And there's two types of those people there's ones who just want to collect that paycheck and that's it they don't want to work for it they don't want to give their time for it those are the people you don't have working for you or if you see somebody that's just burned out you change up their day you give them other responsibilities you make them become a better employee by the things that you have them doing to learn everything if you're a manager or if you're a leader you don't want your employees to be struggling all their lives you want to teach them to be leaders and managers so they can better themselves or get a better job. But when this happens people look at it like if I have to take two more steps then I used to have to take I want to raise I understand all that but if you know how to go about it and if you are good leader a good manager you can make it so everybody has fun and does less work and. more Accomplishing less time

Alwayreckles93 · Answer

Honestly this is why I feel ashamed if my own generation. I am a manager my self. I would get their ass fired if they aren't willing to do the work. I mostly hire boomers and Generation X. Because let's be real honest here. Millennials and Gen Z only want to easy money they are lazy and they don't want to work to later blame their problems on the inflation. I am all about the business , customers and ranking huge sales. If you come late to work I don't care if it's 1min or 20 year late you get a write up only Next it's go clock out grand your crap and get out. No lazy people. Employees had called me Karen for taking the business seriously.

CuriousHubby · Answer

Honestly have them rest take a vacation...

I'm that employee but my manajor likes it that way. Over worked no breaks mean while she never puts her phone down long for her own personal issues!

Her life is her work and she does some of it... Just blames us for anything that goes bad when it's always her fault.

The days we do the best work are her days off!

Most employees leave and are happy some where else. I'm ready to go before it affects my home life more.

We get a weekly skedule on Sunday night... Someone has to guess they are working that Sunday morning! Or what days we work. Few have regular set schedules so she makes it so we never know when we work.

She just says call in sick if you can't make it. We have limited sick days but she takes how ever many she wants to.

paledreams · Answer

I saw a manager chick criticise her staff when I was among others waiting in line and I was indifferent about waiting - and no, she was not flirting by giving me the rush - if anything I think she was gonna criticise her staff that shift regardless - though in my mind I did look bored and not staring except around the ceiling and television and my phone and thinking "hmm, i only ordered a small order of stuff" - ah well 😃 that was months ago now - maybe those get burnt out, I haven't seen that manager and I've seen men and women's managers at various places i shop come and go come and go 👀

Anonymous · Answer

I can relate to how you feel. My company got acquired 4 years ago and everything has gone from bad to worse at my job.

But you have to remember that you are not special just for existing. You were only hired if you bring value to the company not because you breathe air. Anybody is replaceable.

Now you are a woman so maybe that affords you a modicum of “intersectional” protection (white guys are the most expendable). But you are still replaceable.

But I saw you posting about how you want to stay single forever as well. Sounds like you got some sort of deep depression going on.

AviatorTom · Answer

I would call them into my office and have a talk with them. Try to find out if there's a solution to their not caring about the job. If we can find something to try, I would try it, with a set period (say 2 weeks) to show improvement. If that doesn't work, I would show them the door.

exitseven · Answer

I have had these problems in the past. I have changed up their duties so they have more variety in their jobs or else get them to work with one of the other techs and give them a chance to learn a new procedures. \

As a last resort I have to be the bad guy and document that they are under performing and try to find out what the problem is.

NathanDavis · Answer

as a manager

first of all, don't pick bad workers... a careless worker is a bad one, so don't pick/hire/keep them... simple

burnt out? only happens if you burn them out, so don't...

the bigger the company the less interest though... that does happen

MicahRaine · Answer

I've been in that position.

Ideally:
I talk with them about why they aren't motivated and what about the workplace drags them down, and I have enough staff to give them a few days off to rest while I figure out how to solve the issue.

Commonly:
I talk with them about it and hope that they stay/don't totally burn out while I solve the issue.

genericname85 · Answer

they don't have to care about their job. they have to to their job correctly. i'm not paying for their interest in the job. i'm paying for the job to be done. and if the job isn't done, i'd fire the employee.

also if they're "burnt out" and "lack motivation", i can take measures to not burn them out and to give them motivation.

Anonymous · Answer

Give them books about the Great Depression. Would anyone during that time have been "not motivated" to work? We're headed toward an even greater Depression then the 1930s. People will be killing each other for the most menial jobs, and will happily work 7 days a week for pennies.

avery58 · Answer

First I'd just have a friendly talk with them. If that doesn't change anything then I'd write them up, that would show me if they want to keep the job or not

normalice · Answer

I would offer the employee to agree to halving the next four years of their raises in exchange for moving to a 30 hour work week.

dustybiker2 · Answer

If the employees aren't doing a good job then the manager isn't doing there's.

Ms_Facesitter · Answer

I have them take a break or find someone who cares.

alice55 · Answer

In France they can't do nothing cause it's to hard to fire them

RavVid · Answer

I would. I am reasonably good at motivating but you can't motivate everybody.

noohair · Answer

Team building is very complicated and can't be done overnight. The manager needs to observe and make plans. If your manager is not team builder, it will eventually lead to his dismissal.

Goahead76 · Answer

Fire them. 🔥 Either we see significant improvement in X about of time or..

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

Fire them and hire people who enjoy the job and are a joy to be around.

LEGENDARY4200 · Answer

I suppose pull you aside/ sit you down and and see what the problem is, if time off, switching depts, or something we can do to work on it

Iron_Man · Answer

Most people don’t care about their job anymore and they’re not happy where they work

Anonymous · Answer

Some managers don’t care. But their managers probably do.

RedInnocent69 · Answer

Probably nothing. Your manager probably doesn’t care about their job either.

MatureMan40 · Answer

I would ask for the reason in order to see if I can do anything for them.

Staximus · Answer

Maybe you should just get another job

eagle1951 · Answer

hire ones that do

Anonymous · Answer

They always fired me, so fire them?

MK1997 · Answer

Try to motivate them

If you’re a manager, what would you do if your employee (s) just don’t care about their job?

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