Money obsessed/jealous employee since corona virus started

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I have an employee who's job is safe during the corona crisis. Despite that he is obsessing about money in every aspect of his employment. He refuses to work more hours but is increasingly jealous of people on unemployment benefits getting more money than him short term as they have doubled the unemployment benefit in Australia for 6 months. He has expressed to other workers that it's not fair that trades people are getting kick backs on there expenses as well. He is not a tradesperson just a normal retail employee. I told him that if he would rather be unemployed to collect the same money as working then that would be a very dangerous thing to do as there is no guarantee that jobs will be available in great numbers when this crisis ends. He should feel lucky to have a secure job now. He has taken out some large loans and his wife is now not working. More money for more work is available to him but he thinks he should get paid more for doing less. He is paid above the award now. His attitude is bringing everyone else down. I would love some advice how to handle this as I really can't get a grip on his thinking.

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@Wizzer249,

Wizzer249 wrote:

increasingly jealous of people on unemployment benefits getting more money than him

...

I really can't get a grip on his thinking.

really?

just like everyone else, your employee is stressed

likely doesn't want to be dealing with public (you mention this is retail work)

realizes people can get more money staying home AND not being exposed to others

__

it's pretty clear to me

__

I have a friend working frontline retail, making less than the benefit being paid after others are laid off. She is terrified of going to work every single day. I will not think less of her if she goes off on a stress leave from this.

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@Wizzer249,

Wizzer249 wrote:

that would be a very dangerous thing to do as there is no guarantee that jobs will be available in great numbers when this crisis ends. He should feel lucky to have a secure job now.

he probably thinks he will be lucky not to get Covid while working retail -

which is worse. danger of not having a job later or danger of getting Covid now?

__

we all have to be really sensitive to how frightened some people are

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@Wizzer249,

My advice.

1) Be patient, be understanding, be fair. We are all stressed and your employees are no different. Be the boss that you would want to work for.

2) Draw a line, put it in writing, what the expectations are and what you are willing to give. Put the offer for more hours in writing (hopefully this is a public offer that everyone is aware of). Your duty is to provide a fair working environment that treats your employees well as employees. Whatever you offer to one person you should offer to all of your employees.

3) You are not a psychotherapist (I assume). You are this employees financial adviser. Be fair and compassionate as a boss. There is nothing more that you can do that would be appropriate or expected.

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@Wizzer249,

Wizzer249 wrote:

I told him that if he would rather be unemployed to collect the same money as working then that would be a very dangerous thing to do as there is no guarantee that jobs will be available in great numbers when this crisis ends.

That almost sounds like he is thinking of quitting the job to draw unemployment compensation. I don't know about Australia, but in NM USA, if he would have neither job nor compensation.

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@ehBeth,

Thanks for helping me get another perspective on this, I am not afraid of going to work and I feel lucky to be able to go to work. But I need to realise others may be very scared. Our retail has probably no more than about 20 customers a day so it's not a high exposure shop. We sell high priced items so less is more. If I had the choice to keep working and have job security I would definitely choose that over staying home and collecting unemployment because the fear of future unemployment and loss of everything I own would be a far more stressful situation than the thought of getting corona virus in the short term. There are going to be so many losers out of this and I really want to be one of the survivors.

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@roger,

roger wrote:

he would have neither job nor compensation.

there are quite a few people who are more afraid of covid than losing their jobs, short or long-term. it's one of the reasons nearly every grocery store in this city is looking for staff - frontline or behind the scenes

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@Wizzer249,

People are looking at it as job security or increased risk of severe illness or death.

Most frontline people I know are not afraid of work at normal times, but times aren't normal.

Is

Quote:

loss of everything I own

more important to you than your life, or the lives of members of your family?

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@Wizzer249,

Wizzer249 wrote:

I really want to be one of the survivors.

you are thinking about financial survival. others are thinking about physical survival/not dying.

1 Reply

@Wizzer249,

Wizzer249 wrote:

the thought of getting corona virus in the short term.

death is not a short-term outcome

0 Replies

@ehBeth,

I get your point. My partner and I work together and we are distancing from everyone else as much as possible. Hand washing between customers and not visiting any other family or friends. Everything we all have though hinges on our ability to support ourselves and our families. When that is gone, all that is left is poverty and hopelessness. Surely that is no life at all and is akin to a death of sorts.

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@Wizzer249,

At the end of the day every individual must make their choices. I am not forcing this person to work. It's their choice to do so. I can't give them more money for doing the same hours as that is not fair to others. They unequivocally will not work more hours for more money. That's the crux of my problem. They accept one outcome 'must work' but whine at other staff and make the workplace unhappy. We don't need that at this challenging time. I would appreciate any response to this cheers.

1 Reply

@Wizzer249,

Wizzer249 wrote:

They accept one outcome 'must work' but whine at other staff and make the workplace unhappy.

that's how their stress is coming out. there is a decent chance they don't see it themselves. they're just seeing the unfairness of working for less money than people who have been laid off. Luckily in Canada, the government has come up with a benefit that seems to have balanced that out a bit - one benefit offers funding to top up frontline retail staff income . another offers employers funds to rehire laid off employees.

you've got a tricky line to walk. don't want to fire them as some governments aren't taking covid-timed/related firings well and are taking on employers. is there a way to take the person out of the frontline so they have less contact with fellow employees?

is there an employment lawyer you can get a quick consultation with to find out what your legal options are right now. covid has changed so many rules/laws/bylaws.

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@Wizzer249,

I have a couple of thoughts on this.
First I think you should do what Max suggested and put your offer in writing, making it clear that it's his choice but if he doesn't accept the extra hours he has no right to complain any further.

Secondly - is it possible that he is deliberately pushing you to the point where you fire him? He must know that he wont get a Jobseeker payment if he leaves voluntarily and if he thinks being on that is better than working that might be how he's thinking.

Also, does your business qualify for Jobkeeper payments?

1 Reply

@cherrie,

We don’t qualify for job keeper as we are only a tiny bit down on last year. He originally thought we would be 30 percent down then he would get an instant payrise. I said to abandon that thought we are not going down without a fight. I moved some of my business to eBay and concentrated on the products people need who are staying home. We have a long term casual who only does 5 hours a week who technically would have been entitled to the $1500 a fortnight payment. He stamped his foot on the floor and said that wasn’t, fair. I said forget about it as we are not going to be 30 percent down. So far so good.

0 Replies

If he’s a good worker, why wouldn’t you give him a bonus at this time. If anything, just to keep him until things get back to normal?

1 Reply

@PUNKEY,

But he's already said he offered him more hours and he knocked that back. Why would he give him extra money for doing nothing when he has the option to work more and earn more?
And if he gives this employee a bonus he has to give all his employees one.

3 Replies

@cherrie,

I already gave him a perk worth $300 a month

1 Reply

@cherrie,

Cherrie, you ought to get away from the crossword world more often.

1 Reply

@roger,

I seem to have more time on my hands these days.

0 Replies

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