Managers dilemma

[Flexus]

Hi all I am a manager in a logistics company that is run on 4 sites. The sales rep has an office in a building about a km away from where her product is on another site. The manager on that site does not want to make office space for her to be closer to her product because they have had disagreements in the past, she does not like the way she dresses and there are predominantly males there - only 2 females and about 22 males. The rep had an accident with her her now has to walk that distance with her clients ever time they come to view. How will you approach this? Am I wrong to fight it as it is her site to manage after all?

 

[Deadmanza]

Hi all I am a manager in a logistics company that is run on 4 sites. The sales rep has an office in a building about a km away from where her product is on another site. The manager on that site does not want to make office space for her to be closer to her product because they have had disagreements in the past, she does not like the way she dresses and there are predominantly males there - only 2 females and about 22 males. The rep had an accident with her her now has to walk that distance with her clients ever time they come to view. How will you approach this? Am I wrong to fight it as it is her site to manage after all?

I would start by making your question easier to read.

If what the manager is doing is affecting clients, than go over her head.

Edit: If after speaking to her she still wont listen to reason. Also just how does the 22 year old dress?

 

[Flexus]

Sorry man, but thanks for replying.
It does affect clients as they have to walk over a km in order to go view the products. If the rep had an office on the site, it would be easier.
She's not 22 years old, but is a bit untidy for a woman and overweight so clothes don't always fit appropriately.

 

[AwTroN]

1. Why is she not driving the clients there instead? (Just a question, not a resolution)
2. You as her Manager needs to have a straight up discussion with her, politely of course, about her appearance impacting on both the clients and her colleagues (at the site where the product is).
Her dress sense is obviously inappropriate, and unprofessional.
Someone needs to have the balls to have that discussion with her, as she is not only embarrassing clients and colleagues, but herself, and she needs to know this.
Obviously no-one has yet been kind enough to help her understand this, and truly see how it will impact on her in the long run - both personally and professionally.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

The company objectives are more important than another manager disagreeing with how she dresses.
As was mentioned someone needs to explain to her that she needs to dress more appropriately, it should be done in a nice way though!
Then she needs to move to the site she needs to be at in order to do what she is employed to do.

 

[Venomous]

The company objectives are more important than another manager disagreeing with how she dresses.
As was mentioned someone needs to explain to her that she needs to dress more appropriately, it should be done in a nice way though!
Then she needs to move to the site she needs to be at in order to do what she is employed to do.

this

under current conditions, she may not be punished for non-performance, due to her working conditions...

 

[noxibox]

Her dress sense is obviously inappropriate, and unprofessional.
Someone needs to have the balls to have that discussion with her, as she is not only embarrassing clients and colleagues, but herself

Well that's a lot of assumptions.

The company objectives are more important than another manager disagreeing with how she dresses.
As was mentioned someone needs to explain to her that she needs to dress more appropriately, it should be done in a nice way though!

If the only person making a fuss over her attire is that one manager then the manager is the problem not the sales rep.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Sounds like its this other manager who is having a personal problem with your employee.

The way this gets dealt with, is the other manager gets told in no uncertain terms that he will make office space for the rep in the building, or her time spent travelling to and from the product storage location will be billed to his department, and any lost sales, lost work time etc will be as a result of their decision and will be communicated to the company as such.

 

[AwTroN]

Well that's a lot of assumptions.


If the only person making a fuss over her attire is that one manager then the manager is the problem not the sales rep.

I'm not assuming that much, the OP posted the following: "She's not 22 years old, but is a bit untidy for a woman and overweight so clothes don't always fit appropriately."

That being said, the OP agrees with the other manager RE this employees' dress sense and attire.

Hence, someone needs to have a chat with her, politely.
Sometimes we're afraid to have these discussions, and that actually causes more harm than none.
Not everyone is well aware of themselves, and I for sure would prefer someone telling me, rather than me going on and embarrassing myself for years to come.

 

[MickeyD]

2 issues both need to be addressed by the OP:

1. Sort out the dress "code".

2. Sort out the office space to make space for the sales rep.

You are the manager.

Do it.

 

[Flexus]

Thanks everyone. I have addressed the dress code issue and will monitor it so that I can broach the subject again in the new year. I feel that dress code us a correctable behaviour so cannot continue to punish her for it if she toes the line. I still feel that it makes business sense for her to be on the site closer to her products so will just see what reasons the site manager has to further hijack a good business decision. I am also going to remind all the other managers that it is their duty to address issues like this and not to let things fester until they can use it for their own good.

 

[akescpt]

If I had to walk a 1km to see your product I would lose interest. Make space, she needs to be onsite.

 

[Velenoso]

This is ridiculous. Tell the other manager that clients cannot be expected to walk 1km to the product site. If they not playing ball, either the sales rep goes or the other manager goes. This is a business decision, not personal.

 

[Venomous]

This is ridiculous. Tell the other manager that clients cannot be expected to walk 1km to the product site. If they not playing ball, either the sales rep goes or the other manager goes. This is a business decision, not personal.

considering the rep seems to be trying (op mentioned speaking to rep in another post), the manager would have to go as they seem to not be a team player....

 

[Velenoso]

considering the rep seems to be trying (op mentioned speaking to rep in another post), the manager would have to go as they seem to not be a team player....

I would say so, yeah. But since manager is a (more) senior position than sales rep, I wouldn't hesitate to let her go as well. Would have to call it when in the situation, but you can't have company politics affecting business.

 

[GhostSixFour]

Sorry man, but thanks for replying.
It does affect clients as they have to walk over a km in order to go view the products. If the rep had an office on the site, it would be easier.
She's not 22 years old, but is a bit untidy for a woman and overweight so clothes don't always fit appropriately.

And she's in sales? Maybe you need to move her office even farther away so she'll have a longer walk..

 

[DigitalSoldier]

If I had to walk a 1km to see your product I would lose interest. Make space, she needs to be onsite.

This!

We are living in a fast-paced world and if I had to walk another kilometer after driving to the site already I would not be very happy with the company.

Flexus, haven't you guys had any complaints from customers yet regarding this ?