Well, I just thought I'd give everyone an update... I had planned on having a sort of "in-service training" for all employees to discuss various food safety issues I've noticed without pointing fingers. I planned to use this time to indirectly hint towards the previous issue, and then maybe I could readdress it with him directly if he didn't get the point. This in-service is scheduled for this upcoming Monday.
Since then, there have been some other issues:
First: I had an employee asking for clarification about the shelving (I am asking employees to move shelves up further from the floor/add casters to shelving units for pest control/cleaning reasons). She came and asked ME to clarify what I wanted, and in the middle of doing so, he interrupts me and tells me that she didn't need to worry about doing any of that because "we don't have the space and we'll never be able to meet all of industry standards anyways... it's not really that important, blah blah blah"
Second: Just the other day, he allowed several university folk (NOT employees of ours) use a piece of our equipment. He let them in the back door, failed to sign them in or brief them on ANY of our facility's rules (They were without hairnets, hair not even tied back, running around with unwashed hands, etc.). When I realized they were in the back of our processing facility, I asked if he had them sign the processing practices form and the visitor log. He said "no, but you should probably have them do that, huh?" .... I bit my tongue and held in what my immediate response would have been.
He didn't believe it necessary because they were working on their own product, not ours, so I had to educate him that regardless of whose product they are working on, while they are in our facility they are not only a food safety risk, but a legal liability, and anyone that enters our facility needs to, at a minimum, 1) not be coming in the back doors, 2) be briefed about the facility they are entering and the things we require of our employees and visitors, and 3) be supervised.
I gave him the forms and told him he needed to take them back to them and have them sign it, and while he was at it, HE needed to sign one as well, since I didn't have one on file and I'd asked before.
He took the papers out to them, and then I didn't see him for most of the day. I collected the processing practices/agreements at the end of the day and, come to find out, he STILL hasn't signed the form.
Since he failed to do so when I asked him to sign it while he HAD IT IN HIS HAND, I'm really beginning to think this is a lost cause.
And according to our production manager, as he was leaving the production manager asked him how long the guests were going to be using our equipment (because she was wanting to leave for the day, as well) and he told her that she could just go home whenever, that THEY WOULD BE FINE. He wanted to leave random people unattended in our facility. (she didn't, by the way, because she thought it was appalling he would even suggest this).
So basically he's being bolder about his resistance to this whole thing, and it's clear he doesn't want to or is incapable of change.... I know now with 100% certainty that it'll save my sanity to brush up a personal document that starts with an 'R' and start knocking on other doors and say good riddance
It might take a while for me to actually make the transition, but at least now I know how little he cares, and can save my energy and prevent stroking out before I turn 30 while trying to make changes that aren't going to happen due to his stubborn nature. It's a pity because a lot of other local businesses rely on this company surviving, and it's only a matter of time before something catastrophic happens.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and input :) it has been helpful, whether in a measurable way or not.
Edited by Mel.D, 30 January 2015 - 05:09 PM.