Pragmatic management or soft employer?

[Newchodge]

My car was booked in for an MOT today. Early last week our local garage rang and asked if it could be delayed to tomorrow. No problem.

I live just over the river Tyne from Newcastle. My husband is a Geordie.

For those disinterested in football Newcastle won the English League Cup at Wembley last night. It is their first win in any domestic competition for 70 years. The match started at 4:30pm.

Our garage owner was obviously aware that, whatever the result yesterday, his mechanics were unlikely to be fit for work first thing this morning, expecially bearing in mind that their work involves driving other people's vehicles. To be perfectly honest I do not remember getting home from the local pub where we watched the match.

Do you think businesses should take this kind of thing into account or are they just soft?

 

[Ozzy]

Do you think businesses should take this kind of thing into account or are they just soft?

I think being aware there is a risk to customer property and also handling vehicles with the risk of being over the legal limit for driving, I think that is pragmatic for customer service and also forward thinking as a duty to their staff and business.

I'd then also suggest if the staff had not booked the time off, or turned up to work over the legal limit to do their job that is a disciplinary matter.
So a bit of a mix of both.

 

[KM-Tiger]

Do you think businesses should take this kind of thing into account or are they just soft?

For a once in 70 years event the pragmatic approach is the right thing to do. You are not going to be able to fight it.

Many moons ago I lived in Newcastle for a few years. I remember the Geordies as work hard/play hard people, so turn a blind eye on Monday and they will make it up the rest of the week.

 

[Newchodge]

For a once in 70 years event the pragmatic approach is the right thing to do. You are not going to be able to fight it.

Many moons ago I lived in Newcastle for a few years. I remember the Geordies as work hard/play hard people, so turn a blind eye on Monday and they will make it up the rest of the week.

It was a brilliant late afternoon/evening, as far as I remember!

Separately, though, shouldn't these matches be played on a Saturday?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I think the owner was under the imression the Newcastle stood no chance of winning a cup, as normal, so work would not be affected!

 

[David Griffiths]

Separately, though, shouldn't these matches be played on a Saturday?

The TV companies have absolutely no regard for the wishes or convenience of spectators.

 

[ekm]

My side gig (car work related) doesn't have staff due to it's size but when it comes to things like this, my stance would be a good boss might agree not to take bookings because if you don't have availability you just don't have it and the customer won't really need to know whether it's because your busy or your staff are just hungover. There's definitely some positives in being a friendly boss or turning the other cheek at times.

I'd draw the line perhaps at actually moving people who are booked I think. This is where trying to be a good boss is actually costing the customers - some might not accept being rescheduled, some might be a bit affronted as why you accepted a booking if you can;t honor it, and whilst it'd be nice if everyone shared the enthusiasm for being a boss, the customers have absolutely no reason to get invested in you trying to keep your employers happy in a 'I shall re-orient my need for your services to accomodate it. In your cirscumstance the business asked if you'd be okay with it - I don't see much harm in asking either really as long as any outcome is mutual.

So yeah, up to the point of actually having to reschedule people already in the booking diary, I'd probably be okay about wanting to be a flexible boss, but when it's more customer impacting I'd probably not.

Just my hypothetical 2p.

 

[FreddyG]

Do you think businesses should take this kind of thing into account or are they just soft?

Geordies are football-mad. It's not a pastime; it's a religion! And a religion that has been low on profits and prophets ever since Kevin Keegan left. (We went to the same English Lit classes together at North Lindsey Tech. College - he was going for A-Levels in case that whole football thing didn't work out!)

I was often in Georgie Country back in the 70s to visit a small blond girl and I got to see the whole place go football-mad on weekends. I find all religions whistle past me and leave me very uninterested - football included. But I do respect other's beliefs and make reasonable allowance for those strange beliefs.

 

[Newchodge]

My side gig (car work related) doesn't have staff due to it's size but when it comes to things like this, my stance would be a good boss might agree not to take bookings because if you don't have availability you just don't have it and the customer won't really need to know whether it's because your busy or your staff are just hungover. There's definitely some positives in being a friendly boss or turning the other cheek at times.

I'd draw the line perhaps at actually moving people who are booked I think. This is where trying to be a good boss is actually costing the customers - some might not accept being rescheduled, some might be a bit affronted as why you accepted a booking if you can;t honor it, and whilst it'd be nice if everyone shared the enthusiasm for being a boss, the customers have absolutely no reason to get invested in you trying to keep your employers happy in a 'I shall re-orient my need for your services to accomodate it. In your cirscumstance the business asked if you'd be okay with it - I don't see much harm in asking either really as long as any outcome is mutual.

So yeah, up to the point of actually having to reschedule people already in the booking diary, I'd probably be okay about wanting to be a flexible boss, but when it's more customer impacting I'd probably not.

Just my hypothetical 2p.

As it turns out, when I took the car in today he apologised for the place being in a bit of a state after a chaotic day yesterday. Apparently we were asked if we would mind moving as they had overbooked. When I suggested he might have been closed after the football he looked at me as if I were mad!

So please ignore most of this message, except the bit about Newcastle winning the cup.

 

[ekm]

As it turns out, when I took the car in today he apologised for the place being in a bit of a state after a chaotic day yesterday. Apparently we were asked if we would mind moving as they had overbooked. When I suggested he might have been closed after the football he looked at me as if I were mad!

So please ignore most of this message, except the bit about Newcastle winning the cup.

That;s a bit bizarre. I suppose it depends on the state, I have a clean desk policy at my personal office and by clean desk policy I mean if my desk is clean then I need to find more work xD

Apologising for the state of things is my norm, you'd probably be disgusted.

 

[DontAsk]

When I was working full time for an employer, we were allowed to watch the Olympics and World Cup on the huge video conference screen, if events were on during the day. The expectation was that we would make up the hours. We also had table tennis, table football, Wii that could be played anytime of day with the same caveat.

 

[numbersrule]

I thought Monday 17th March 2025 was a Bank Holiday in Newcastle anyway?

 

[Newchodge]

I thought Monday 17th March 2025 was a Bank Holiday in Newcastle anyway?

Everyone appeared to treat it like one!