Need personnel advice on sensitive issue

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
OK so our secretary has been out on disability for about 2 months, & we had this wonderful temp but she had to leave last week. We got a new temp who's much younger--about 21 (the other lady was in her late 40s & had a great deal of office experience).

My first issue is how she dresses. Her pants are so tight the buttons are straining at the waist, which leads me to the next problem--I'm SEEING her waist! And not just her waist, her bare stomach too. For two days this week she wore a tight denim jacket on top of these really really tight pants. Oh and the shoes--flip flops every day. I can't tell you how many ways this girl is violating our dress code. Two department heads have complained to me about her already.

So this is really sensitive. I can't assume someone can afford a couple of suits--heck, I can barely afford a couple of suits. Maybe she's gained Also if I call the temp agency & ask them to talk to her I'm sure it would be very insulting, not to mention she'd know it was me who complained.

Second, the girl is barely computer literate--she doesn't even know how to use Microsoft Outlook. We're supposed to have a mid level staff member--we're paying a pretty steep rate for her & she seems to have no office skills at all. She definitely should be in the lower tier of temps, which is not what I requested from the agency.

Any advice? I'm stumped.
 
Ok, I'll take a shot at this one. I say, call the temp agency and ask for anther temp. Say that this one is not working out. You might want to comment on what is bothering you, the lack of experience, the attire, etc.
I wouldn't worry too much about insulting her, you will more than likely never see her again after that.
If you want to keep her on, maybe you should sit down with her, being that it sounds like you are her "boss" and tell her what is acceptable to wear to the office and what is not. It's not your problem that she can't afford to buy a suit or two. She could at least buy some nice black pants and a nice button down shirt that fit. You are not over stepping your limits if you do this. Any employer would do the same I'm sure. And once again don't worry about hurting her feelings, she works for you. She's not your friend or your family member.

Kathy
 
I would call the agency. She's obviously NOT what you requested. Quite apart from the dress code violations, she can't do the job if she doesn't know what she's doing. Perhaps you can mention to the agency in a subtle way that she needs to wear more office-appropriate clothing and that any temps they send must abide by your office dress code.

You're paying good money for someone who can not only do the work, but can look professional. You should be getting what you're paying for.
 
I agree with everything Kathy said.

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
OK I called. Turns out they replaced the last woman with this girl and are charging us the lowest rate.

I said, "why would you replace a skilled temp with an unskilled temp?" She really didn't have an answer for me, but I'm getting a new person Monday. Thank heaven! I can't be constantly interrupted by this girl so I can train her on the computer........x(
 
Laura,

I once was the person who hired and placed temps in all sorts of jobs from manual labor to factory production work to senior executive assistants,. .etc. The temp agency did not send you an appropriate replacement. It is their job to screeen, test, check references, interview and place personnel appropriately. Call the temp agency and tell them the problems and the specifics of ability and dress code you require. That's what your company pays them for and YOU should have no regrets or guilty feelings about it.

Good luck.
 
I hope you get another agency if they can't or won't come with someone better.

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
>OK I called. Turns out they replaced the last woman with
>this girl and are charging us the lowest rate.
>
>I said, "why would you replace a skilled temp with an
>unskilled temp?" She really didn't have an answer for me, but
>I'm getting a new person Monday. Thank heaven! I can't be
>constantly interrupted by this girl so I can train her on the
>computer........x(

Why was the good temp that you had let go?
 
She wasn't let go, her husband was having health problems so she split.

I'm sticking w/the agency--this has been their first screwup in the four years I've dealt w/them, & they've been a great tool for promoting diversity. For whatever reason everyone we've gotten from them has been a minority, & we've ended up hiring many of them on full time, so generally they've been a good thing.
 
> You are not over stepping your
>limits if you do this. Any employer would do the same I'm
>sure. And once again don't worry about hurting her feelings,
>she works for you. She's not your friend or your family
>member.
>
I agree. Particularly with this part of the post.
She needs to be informed that she is violating dress codes in your office, and her employment will not be continued if she continues to do so. Approach her first. And if she doesn't listen, ask the agency for another person,, and let them know why.
 
Just be glad you got rid of her. Her attire was more suited for a secretary at a construction company. Does she not know that wearing pants that tight brings on infections?
 
Laura,

If she doesn't meet the minimum qualifications for the job (which she clearly doesn't), you should address that with the rep from the temp agency. If they can't help you, use a different agency. I would definitely request a replacement based on the skills issue. When you talk to this person, you might also want to mention that she may need some pointers as to appropriate dressing in the office.

You know, this problem cuts many ways. I used to work with a woman who dressed like she stepped out of Vogue. That might SOUND good, but she looked ridiculous and out of place. Everything she wore was very trendy, very short, and/or far too tight for the office. She had a great body but looked so out of place. I can't tell you the number of eyebrows that would raise when we were meeting with other departments. It was so bad a couple of times (think, leopard skin suede jacket and knee-high boots, hair up to here) that I had to ask her to leave several meetings, which was SUCH an uncomfortable place to be. We once brought in a vendor and she was wearing a blouse that was slashed to the waist - I am not lying. My boss made her put on someone else's jacket. She just never got it.

Anyway, sorry to run on, but I wanted to tell you I really feel your pain and discomfort here. Those agencies really need to do a better job of preparing their staff for the positions they'll be in.

Good luck!
Marie

ETA - I just read the other posts and I'm glad you made the call. Sometimes being in charge is really a pain in the *ss!! :) Hope your other person works out.
 
<We once brought in a vendor and she was wearing a blouse that was slashed to the waist - I am not lying.>

How could anyone be so friggin' dense?

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
><We once brought in a vendor and she was wearing a blouse
>that was slashed to the waist - I am not lying.>
>
>How could anyone be so friggin' dense?


Well, honestly, I think the media permeates a distorted image of how people dress in the corporate world - just think about Ally McBeal and other shows of that ilk. Many young girls then make the mistake of thinking that short skirts and cleavage are appropriate office attire. This woman, though, was just incredibly unaware of how inappropriate she was. She thought she looked fab. I know several managers had discussions with her, to no avail. Needless to say, she doesn't work here any more!!
 
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