How to Handle a Problem Employee
When it’s time to move from coaching to discipline
Disciplining an employee is one thing I never enjoyed as a manager. Sometimes, even when you make every effort to motivate and encourage your team, some members of your staff will develop performance or behavior problems.
Confronting underperforming or disruptive employees and trying to correct their deficiencies were opportunities for me for a long time. I learned some valuable lessons over the years in how to handle problem employees and I’d like to share them with you.
Don’t Wait
The biggest piece of advice I can give when dealing with a problem employee is to act swiftly. Don’t let their behavior or deficiency linger any longer than it has to. Start small — don’t immediately jump into writing them up or firing them — but start addressing the issue as soon as you become aware of it. Letting a problem continue for very long — especially if it’s an employee causing it — can spell doom for your team’s morale and goals.
Document Everything
From the first coaching conversation you have with the employee in question to the discussion involving their termination (if it comes to that), make sure you have accurate, dated records of everything. This serves to not…
