Will try and make this short.
I worked at a cat boarding kennel near here steady for over 2 years, then made a stupid mistake that cost me my job. My bosses and I were all very upset about it - I liked them, they liked me, but if I came back we'd be waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I was getting $13 an hour, I got to work with all these kitties! - and I loved that job. When I left, I cried for 3 days.
Meanwhile, they were trying to sell their house and the business. They had built this from the ground up and 10 years later, they wanted to be able to take a holiday or two...they were burned out. They at least wanted to sell the business.
I finally recommended my best friend, all worked out, and she is manager there. An apartment is in the basement, below the kennel. She and her nale friend (they were engaged and broke up just before she got the kennel offer at which point they saw it through. He was refusing to get treatment for his PTSD). I thought she would be great at it for valid reasons.
I left. The former owners had their way of doing things learned over 10 years first-hand experience. My friend said she would have her own system - fair enough.
The present employee is experiencing some of what I did - I was no longer allowed to do the laundry, or dishes in the dishwasher (utilities cost!), or scrub and sanitize the litter boxes/scoops/brooms. It used to be that as soon as a cat room was vacant it was vacuumed, sanitized, then windows done and refurbished with clean towels, box etc.
Now she doesn't want the rooms done until they are needed. The litter buckets are not taken out and emptied daily. Dirty dishes are left outside the cat rooms when they are removed - and (I don't know how frequently) an opened can of cat food is left on top of one of the rooms.
The place is starting to stink. Dishes are hand-done in bleach and soapy water, rinsed and drained on a huge (clean) towel. The three large plants in the sunroom are dying - I was in one morning and managed to get some water into them. She "doesn't like plants".
She has health limitations, so the idea was to have her manage the financials and bookings (which she sometimes forgets to write down), but she is really good at that, while the other person did the more physical work. But it seems like she wants to do everything. And it doesn't get done!
Her personal stuff, like clothing, is in the kennel bathroom, on the table - in short, too much of her personal stuff in the business space.
Now, I know she is going through her own stuff. But I loved and love this place, it means a lot to me - and try and talk to her about the kennel stuff! Upset and defensive.
She leases the building and is paying off the mortgage for the business itself - a non-tangible asset.
The wife of the original couple has some idea of all this, and probably her husband as well.
Should the current employee and the past one meet with her and the original couple for a meeting?
She loves the cats and keeps a good eye on them...but she seems overwhelmed and will not let go of "her way" and let someone help her. Her doc has referred her to a psych and she also found out about a psychologist in town from the priest at my church, who she talks with every so often for spiritual advice.
Maybe he can talk to her?
She will run this into the ground and the rest of us (employees present and former) are standing by feeling helpless. It's none of our business, yet one can't approach her on this.
This is heartbreaking and frustrating.
Thanks for listening to the vent.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
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Originally Posted by Catty1
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