handing out a written warning

[jon9000]

bit of a long story this,

we have a man whos been working for us for about 30years, not a very skilled man however loyal. last year we bought him a new tractor. this spring we had a mis fuelling isident the resulted in an insurance claim to repair the tractor. gave him a bit a bollocking however it was a mistake. i moved the ad blue tank away from near the diesel tank. then last week we had a mis fueling issue again. my dad caught him with the adblue in the diesel tank and adblue spilling all over the floor. we got a local guy out to empty and clean the tank, which he did, however when he went to test the tractor it stop working at the end of the track. all it's filters were full of adblue. So i can only assume that the tank had already been contaminated. needless to say im very disappointed with the member of staff. i think it demonstrates a gross neglect of care and attention. I intend to put my thoughts on paper?! and a list of bullet points going forawrd ie. personal phone calls, never to touch the adblue tank, needs to get his eyes tested. etc

what would you do?

 

[Formatted]

Seems odd that after 30 years of good service he's making mistakes like that; has he been to the doctor?

 

[sawdust]

what would you do?

Get him his old tractor back... something he's familiar with

 

[chaffcutter]

Sounds similar to the symptoms my cousin started to show in his mid- fifties, later diagnosed as early onset Altziemers, (never spell it right) he needs to get tested and they have drugs which help to slow it down now.

 

[spin cycle]

refuel his tractor for him

 

[jon9000]

refuel his tractor for him

Going to do that from now on , however we are a busy farm.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I'd be more than a little concerned for the chap's state of mind - as others have said.

I realise your pocket is hurting, however it would indicate something more serious than simple oversight/neglect?

 

[ARW]

How does he feel about it? If he feels guilty then it’s alright it’s a mistake, if he doesn’t care then he’s a liability

 

[spin cycle]

Going to do that from now on , however we are a busy farm.

he probably just can't get his head round it......tractors lot different from 30 yrs ago

 

[jon9000]

How does he feel about it? If he feels guilty then it’s alright it’s a mistake, if he doesn’t care then he’s a liability

he denied it the first time however it couldn't of got in by its self

 

[Brisel]

Lock the AdBlue tank and don't give him a key. You'll just have to fill it up for him every other day.

Keep a record of all these incidents and your reaction to them. can you get him seen by a doctor?

 

[kiwi pom]

I think he certainly has to get a written warning especially if you have other staff, just make sure you do it properly.
I'd hope after employing someone for 30 years you'd know him well enough to judge if this is out of character and could be a sign somethings wrong or he's just had enough and wants out but doesn't really know how or have the motivation to move on.
If he just doesnt give a stuff anymore then the written warning will make it easier to fire him the next time he has a major cock up.

 

[New Puritan]

What's the bit about the personal phone calls in the OP got to do with adblue? Are there other issues besides the wrong fuelling?

 

[jon9000]

What's the bit about the personal phone calls in the OP got to do with adblue? Are there other issues besides the wrong fuelling?

He probably spends two hours a day speaking to friends and family. I half blame that for his lack of attention.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Tough one. I presume he is quite valuable but just needs a bit of care.

Can you ask him if he would prefer an older tractor with none of the ad blue? Strikes me as a very peculiar mishap, locking the ad blue is one thing but what is to stop him making an oil mix up or similar?

I presume the phone calls aren't all that problematic?

My gut feel from the information given is a written warning might be the 'wrong' thing to do in this instance.

 

[Tarw Coch]

He probably spends two hours a day speaking to friends and family. I half blame that for his lack of attention.

Gossip or is there some sort of personal problem that’s on his mind?

 

[Shutesy]

He probably spends two hours a day speaking to friends and family. I half blame that for his lack of attention.

Type 'written warning template' into google, there is loads you could use to adapt to what you want. Sounds like he definitely needs one! With the phone calls, is it hands free while driving the tractor getting work done or standing around with a phone to his ear?

 

[Robert K]

I'd start by having a chat with him in private to see if there were any underlying problems with home/ farmily which could be affecting his working life

 

[Mc115reed]

You’d do well to remember that there is a hell of a lot of operator vacancy’s around these days and good loyal hard working guys are very hard to come by so I wouldn’t go looking for an axe to grind which it looks like you are mentioning his personal calls?

Adblue in the wrong tank is quite a common problem my boss has done it twice now and he’s the boss so nobody’s perfect....

 

[Roy_H]

I had an uncle who many years ago managed to put diesel in the radiator of a Massey (165 I think?) How the heck he managed that l can't say as we had owned Massey 100 series tractors for some years. Some time after that he died of a brain hemmorage. Maybe just a coincidence?