How to Manage Crybabies & Tattlers at Work

As a Miami staffing services firm, we’ve heard all kinds of horror stories over the years about toxic employees, from the crybaby to the tattler. The easy solution is to fire them. But what if they’re really good at what they do? Or you simply don’t have time to hire someone new?

If that’s the case, here’s a look at some childish behaviors and how you can manage them without losing your cool:

Behavior 1: The Tantrum Thrower

Tantrum throwers typically have trouble expressing their feelings in a productive way and therefore resort to throwing a tantrum in order to act out their stress and unhappiness.

Your Response: If an employee throws a temper tantrum, don’t feed into it all. Just wait it out, staying calm and quiet. If it continues for an extended period, then excuse yourself and leave. The tantrum thrower will eventually calm down and until they do, there’s no point in trying to have a conversation with them.

Behavior 2: The Hoarder

Some kids have trouble sharing their toys and some adults have trouble sharing their ideas, important information, or office supplies and equipment. Whether it’s intentional or not, lack of sharing can create problems.

Your Response: How you deal with a hoarder depends on what they’re hoarding. If it’s office equipment and supplies, then deal with it indirectly, implementing a policy about who gets to use what and when, as well as where supplies should be stored (i.e. in a community supply room, not at the hoarder’s desk).

However, if it’s ideas or important developments they’re not sharing, then you need to deal with the hoarder directly and discuss an agreement for when information should be shared.

Behavior 3: The Tattler

Some people just like to rat out their co-workers, which can create a lot of animosity among your team members.

Your Response: One big problem with tattlers is that the information they are tattling about is many times inaccurate, or simply “their side” of the story. So make it clear that constant tattling will not be tolerated. Also, keep the lines of communication open so everyone is on the same page and the tattler will have less of an opportunity to plant innuendo or inaccuracies about people.

Behavior 4: The Crybaby

Workplace crybabies may not actually cry, but they whine, complain, blame, and moan every time they open their mouths.

Your Response: Get the employee to focus on solutions, not on problems. When they come into your office to complain, ask them straight out “What’s the solution to the problem?” If they don’t know, then ask them what they want the solution to be. Hopefully, they’ll eventually learn that every problem has a solution and that they are completely capable of coming up with one and executing it on their own.

If you’re sick of dealing with an office tantrum thrower, hoarder, tattler, or crybaby, and need to replace that person fast, Future Force can help.

With a database of more than 8,000 qualified candidates for manufacturing, distribution, and administrative positions, our Miami staffing services firm can give you access to reliable and skilled people who can get the job done…without giving you a headache.

Learn more about how our Miami staffing services can help you >

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *