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Learning Curve ONE: Dealing with difficult partners.....
Disclaimer:
This blog is not meant to demean, belittle, or slander the current person(s) that I am working with. I do not have the intention for doing this. I will not mention names, dates, or specific information, nor add add any form of false truth to the events that I write about in these discussions.
To begin with, I am working with a very difficult person at work right now. This person calls me names, mostly derogatory in nature, and usually beginning with four letter words of the not-so-nice nature. This person has made fun of me for my driving, and I have explained to this person, that I have everything to live for, and I want to go home the next morning to see my wife and my child. This person will drive back from out of town trips well over the posted speed limits, even to the point of exceeding the ethical points of driving a public safety vehicle. The rule that we have in going through EMT in Alabama is in the fact that the State Troopers will give you 10 to 15 MPH over the posted speed limits, and let you slide. I have witnessed on occasion that the vehicle I was in, although I was not driving, was going well over 100 MPH coming out of a major metropolitan area here in Alabama. People at work, my co-workers, have explained to me what this person is like, and how to deal with the person in question. They have stated that you basically need to stop and put this person out on the side of the road for them to understand your point, and I have tried being nice to this person, "killing them with kindness", and even being mean, and trying to fight back. This person is literally cheating on their spouse, because the divorce has not yet been finalized, and this person obviously thinks that they are going to get away with it. This person in question has been with this company for a few years, and the directors statement was that he did not want to hire this person to begin with, but is fair enough to give anyone a chance until they screw up or mess up; which this person has, multiple times, and they will not get rid of the person in question, due to this person having a Medic License. 17 of 19 of the co-workers I work with have also stated that they didn't wish to be paired with this person. This person will also walk around everwhere I run into them, with their chest poked out, and they aren't muscular at all. It's an arrogant type of gait, and it drives everyone at the station nuts, because we don't do it.This person I work with has anti-social characteristics while on duty, to the point that this person only comes out when they need something, or want something. The cell phone is always glued to their ears, and the person is constantly on the laptop, which apparently is their baby sitter. ( I hate to be that way, by the way.) I do not like being mean to anyone, but I don't like getting ran over by someone who is not worth fighting with.To end my posting, I feel that I am an easy person to get along with, as long as I get the respect back that I go out of my way to give at times. I am a loner by nature, and I am a great team player as well. I am a laid-back, easy-going person, but I don't let people run all over me either.
In writing this, I am trying to use any means possible to try and resolve this situation by using the opinions of my peers, reasonable thinking, and critical thinking skills. I am a fairly educated person, and I ask this question to you: "How would you deal with this issue?" And believe me, there are always more than one side to every story, and I believe in finding the other side to the story as well. I have sat down and explained to this person that I don't like what he is doing to me, as nicely as possible, and they still continue to do the things that I have asked this person not to do. And I think that is like a slap to my face, especially when I have gone out of my way to try and understand what the "root" of this person's problem is. I have even spoken to this person's siblings and family, and they are not like him.
Your opinions are welcome, and in advance, I want to say "thank you" for your help in this situation. I always try to solve problems by looking at them from differing perspectives, and this is exactly what I am trying to do with this issue. Thanks in advance for writing back and trying to look at this issue with me.
This blog is not meant to demean, belittle, or slander the current person(s) that I am working with. I do not have the intention for doing this. I will not mention names, dates, or specific information, nor add add any form of false truth to the events that I write about in these discussions.
To begin with, I am working with a very difficult person at work right now. This person calls me names, mostly derogatory in nature, and usually beginning with four letter words of the not-so-nice nature. This person has made fun of me for my driving, and I have explained to this person, that I have everything to live for, and I want to go home the next morning to see my wife and my child. This person will drive back from out of town trips well over the posted speed limits, even to the point of exceeding the ethical points of driving a public safety vehicle. The rule that we have in going through EMT in Alabama is in the fact that the State Troopers will give you 10 to 15 MPH over the posted speed limits, and let you slide. I have witnessed on occasion that the vehicle I was in, although I was not driving, was going well over 100 MPH coming out of a major metropolitan area here in Alabama. People at work, my co-workers, have explained to me what this person is like, and how to deal with the person in question. They have stated that you basically need to stop and put this person out on the side of the road for them to understand your point, and I have tried being nice to this person, "killing them with kindness", and even being mean, and trying to fight back. This person is literally cheating on their spouse, because the divorce has not yet been finalized, and this person obviously thinks that they are going to get away with it. This person in question has been with this company for a few years, and the directors statement was that he did not want to hire this person to begin with, but is fair enough to give anyone a chance until they screw up or mess up; which this person has, multiple times, and they will not get rid of the person in question, due to this person having a Medic License. 17 of 19 of the co-workers I work with have also stated that they didn't wish to be paired with this person. This person will also walk around everwhere I run into them, with their chest poked out, and they aren't muscular at all. It's an arrogant type of gait, and it drives everyone at the station nuts, because we don't do it.This person I work with has anti-social characteristics while on duty, to the point that this person only comes out when they need something, or want something. The cell phone is always glued to their ears, and the person is constantly on the laptop, which apparently is their baby sitter. ( I hate to be that way, by the way.) I do not like being mean to anyone, but I don't like getting ran over by someone who is not worth fighting with.To end my posting, I feel that I am an easy person to get along with, as long as I get the respect back that I go out of my way to give at times. I am a loner by nature, and I am a great team player as well. I am a laid-back, easy-going person, but I don't let people run all over me either.
In writing this, I am trying to use any means possible to try and resolve this situation by using the opinions of my peers, reasonable thinking, and critical thinking skills. I am a fairly educated person, and I ask this question to you: "How would you deal with this issue?" And believe me, there are always more than one side to every story, and I believe in finding the other side to the story as well. I have sat down and explained to this person that I don't like what he is doing to me, as nicely as possible, and they still continue to do the things that I have asked this person not to do. And I think that is like a slap to my face, especially when I have gone out of my way to try and understand what the "root" of this person's problem is. I have even spoken to this person's siblings and family, and they are not like him.
Your opinions are welcome, and in advance, I want to say "thank you" for your help in this situation. I always try to solve problems by looking at them from differing perspectives, and this is exactly what I am trying to do with this issue. Thanks in advance for writing back and trying to look at this issue with me.
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Comment by Jason on October 28, 2008 at 4:51pm
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Update from Learning Curves ONE: Dealing with difficult partners.
As of Tuesday, October 28th, 2008......The decision has been made by the Director today that I will be moving to B-Shift effective November 3rd, 2008. Simply for the fact that we are also in the process of going to dual medic trucks, and the Employee Roster will be shaken up company wide effective January 1, 2009. He stated that it will ultimately prove to the possible demise of this individual, making the decision to move to dual medic trucks, or having two paramedics on each individual unit by 2011 at minimum. So, things will work out eventually, even though it may not be the exact decision that we want to hear at the time. I don't really want to be on B-Shift, but I told him that if it got me away from the individual in question; I would work there for a period of time for the company's sake, but if I took personal preference, I would like to have A-Shift. So, it's not a permanant fix, but for the time being, it is a temporary fix if nothing else to simply separate us at this time.
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Comment by ROOKIELZ on September 11, 2008 at 12:12am
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I know my EMS friend's ambulance has GPS on it. It also has some sort of data recording feature in it (black box type??) that Admin. occasionally downloads to check on it's drivers.
One of the EMS providers was let go for continually driving at speeds beyond prescribed policy in a non-emergency situation.
I do not know if this will help your case with your co-worker but it is something to check out for your own knowledge.
TC/SS.
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Jack,
This is an issue that I am passionate about: driver safety. This individual seems to be burned out, and this is understandable; but at the same time, when we ALL go through the same training, the same instructors, and are all told the same thing, and this person ignores it; I have a problem with that.
I am grateful for your input on this issue, and there are updates to pass along on this issue. About a week ago, I got so tired of dealing with this that I went straight to the Director's Office of my service. I asked for a lunch meeting in a day or so, and we met and discussed things over. The Director stated that he would handle the situation carefully, and investigate it; which he and the Shift Supervisor are still currently doing, but carefully. They had a meeting with everybody that is a driver on our shift and some others in the service, and there has been an agreement that there is a lack of confidence in this individual, from not only my shift, but also from others on different shifts. They met with this person, and basically told this individual that if he were to make another worker "uncomfortable" in their work environment, they witnessed him driving too fast for any reason- above and beyond what he has been trained to do in school, or if he meets or has "relations" with another female while on company time, he will be dismissed, no questions asked.
In turn as well, the Shift Supervisor has made a requirement that we will not have assigned partners on our shift. We will all rotate partners and learn our partners as a group. They have done this for equality reasons, as well as other reasons as well, that I will not go into at this time. It is basically done not to make it look like there is a personal "vandetta" against this person for termination reasons. I am satisfied thus far with my service's actions towards this individual, but I also realize that this person needs to go....It is in the principle that "one rotten apple spoils the entire bushel." So, I guess at this time, we will see what happens. I have talked to them about a possible shift swap, and that is also being looked at as well, because we have a couple of folks leaving soon, within the next month. So, at this time it will be a wait and see thing.
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Comment by Jack on August 27, 2008 at 11:34pm
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Next time you have the honor of working with this individual make sure when you are taking the cot up or down a long flight of stairs he has the botton & let go, he might get disabled then the problem for everyone os solved. Just kidding there. Seriously though I had the opportunity to work with a couple of guys that sound just like this guy. After trying to talk with him on his crazed driving technique one was driving the ambulance down the shoulder @ over 100 miles an hour in rush hour traffic with the lights & sirens going while we were returning to quarters, made a phone call (cell phones are a wonderful thing) to the State Police reporting him for reckless driving & a traffic stop was soon made
and the problem was solved. Another one was my first tour after being made Lt. again I had counseled this individual on his poor driving habits as were reported to me by his partner on the ambo that day. He assured me that he was going to change them immediately. Around 6 that night the next amulance came in and while transporting the pt. to the hospital he hit a car in a blind intersection killing the driver and placing himself and his partner in the hospital for a while. The investigating officers estimated his speed at approximately 95 M.P.H. in a 35 M.P.H. zone ( congested urban area also) So Jason the best advice I can offer to you is that you do everything in your power to be certain that you go home from work the same way you came in HEALTHY, and in doing so you will also protect your patients and the general public also. Wish you and your co-workers the best in this situation
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Comment by Dustin J. Millis on August 21, 2008 at 3:20pm
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That sounds like a TOUGH situation. I spend quite a bit of my time at the firehouse even though I am only a volunteer. The guys down there are great. At my day job I work alone for the most part and on rare occasion work on a big job with my boss. We also get along really well. I wish I could say just beat the absolute shit out of the person, cuz thats what he sounds like he deserves. I know though that you prolly cant do this and from the sounds of it, ur not the person that would stoop that low anyway so good for you. I wish I could say the same about myself. My patience can only be streched so far before I just lose it. Luckily that almost never happens. LOL. The only advice I can offer is to keep making official complaints to the proper supervision, eventually they will get the hint. Also get as many people to complain about him/her as you can that supervision knows its not just a personal spout you have with this guy/gal. Until they do something about it, all you can really do is just keep talking to people about it, dont hold it in, and try not to take it home with you. You said yourself the only thing that really matters is that wife and child you have at home. Best of luck man, my thoughts and prayers are with you in that tough situation
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Comment by Michael on August 20, 2008 at 10:41am
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Give me a call and I can give you some names of people to talk to.
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Send him on down my way me and my crew will take care of your problem. Have you though about calling the state ems office I am sure they would like to hear about this, I have some good friends up there in the office. How is he with pt. care ?
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