Poor performance- how to address?

YesChef · 21-09-2025 07:34PM #1

Hey. I’m hoping someone here can give me some advice from what I suppose is an outside perspective.

To offer some background I’m a deli manager for a local convenience shop. I haven’t been at it long. It is my first real experience as a manager, which I think and by all accounts seem to be doing well.

I am however running into a very common issue and that’s with my staff appearing to essentially have no respect for me as their manager. They will more or less follow directions given but a lot of the time they’ll agree and then ignore me when I am not looking. I’ve worked in kitchens for many years so it’s crazy to me to see this type of behaviour and I don’t really know how to deal with it exactly?

I personally cleaned and organised the entire deli when I started. Fridges, freezers, under counters everything. But every single time I take my days off when I return it’s the same old same old. If I address them by saying something they just get moody and I might get “yeah ok” and they’ll carry on with what they were doing.

I guess what I’m worried about is pushing them on a matter too hard right? I don’t want to come across like a bully or anything. Like I caused quite a stir with one staff member when I explained their performance based on my initial observations was “shite” as I put it. That caused significant offence and they in fact resigned on the back of it, or at least that’s what they told us.

I suppose I’m just not sure what to do here. I read a lot about managers who just don’t trust their staff enough and micro manage every detail, which isn’t what I’m trying to do. Just enforce and maintain some basic cleaning and service standards..

if anyone has any advice, it is sincerely appreciated. Sorry I’ve been slightly sparse on details, just don’t want to identify myself or anything or run the risk of someone I work with seeing this.

yellowlabrador · 22-09-2025 09:15AM

I'd have a chart, hourly, daily, weekly etc with the tasks and get them to sign off when they are completed. Make sure they get all the training they need. It should become routine.

z80CPU · 22-09-2025 09:25AM

Last Saturday In my nearest big town Ballina, I ordered coffee and a bun in the cafe which also has a deli counter. The 3 staff there were ALL super slow. The queue was me and a couple who were super patient behind me. My conclusion is they were doing a " work to rule "

Are your staff doing this OP? Also, do they like each other - is there a personality clash between them?

Escapees · 22-09-2025 10:53AM

I'd guess the staff in question have been there a relatively long time or are well known in the store or by its owners.

Some tips in dealing with performance issues would be to always provide a bit of praise for something with any constructive feedback necessary and explain where you are coming from with the feedback, e.g. if this area isn't clean, a customer could get food poisoning or we could get closed down by an inspector etc. And make sure you don't do their job for them if a task hasn't been done. Just pick them up on it and get them or a colleague (if they are not on that shift) to do it when you notice it hasn't been done. If this causes knock-on issues with serving customers at the time etc., let it happen and point out to them that this is a consequence of the task not being done when it should have been done. A big issue with a lot of young staff nowadays is that they don't understand that 'there's always work to be done' and instead seek out supposedly idle time to be on their phones or manning a till with no customers around.

D_Luke · 22-09-2025 12:41PM

It’s a tough spot but fairly common when you’re new to management. Respect usually takes a bit of time to build, especially if the staff were there before you. Setting clear standards and following up consistently helps, but how you say it is as important as what you say. If you call someone’s work “shite” they’ll switch off straight away better to be firm but fair, and explain the why behind what you’re asking. Takes patience, but you’ll find your balance.

Dre Colman · 22-09-2025 02:37PM

You’re in a tough position starting out but nothing unusual either. Staff won’t automatically respect a new manager, it usually takes time and consistency. The big thing is how you communicate — calling someone’s work “shite” will only get their back up. Better to set out clear expectations, follow up calmly, and back it up with fairness. If they see you’re consistent and not just nitpicking, they’ll come around in time.

Poor performance- how to address?

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