It's never an ideal situation when you're stuck with an employee you cannot stand working with. Whether it's because of their work ethic or their character, sometimes you will realize you have an employee who you wish would just quit. In fact, according to a recent survey by CareerBuilder, 27 percent of managers have an employee they would like to see leave their company.
If you have an employee whose time is running out, here are six ways to address the situation:
1. Confront the employee about the problem. In any given situation, honesty is the first action you should take. Set up a private meeting with the employee and address the issues they are causing at work. Whether it's poor performance or a more serious problem, explain to the employee what they need to do to improve. The best way to confront this type of situation is to be direct with the employee.
2. Give the employee a warning. If you have an employee who has unfavorable performance or is a disruption in your office, you should issue a formal warning. When you have an employee who refuses to cooperate with management and their coworkers, it's a sign the employee needs to change their habits. By issuing a warning, the employee will realize they need to change their ways before they lose their job.
3. Relocate the employee. While it's important to refrain from passive-aggressive tactics in this situation, sometimes it's necessary to relocate the employee. If you feel like the employee is an asset to your company, but their place in your office isn't the right fit, consider moving them to a different department. This can help the employee find a better niche and help you save your sanity.
4. Try to mend the relationship. Although you may be ready to give the employee the boot, try to make an attempt to improve the relationship. As the manager, it's important to work with the employee to help them improve. Reach out to them, address the issue, and ask for the employee's opinion of the situation. Once you can discover the problem and hear their side of the story, work closely with the employee to resolve things.
5. All else fails, terminate the employee. If you're in over your head with a problem employee, it could be time to let them go. When you feel like all of your efforts have done nothing to help improve your relationship with the employee, make the decision to terminate. If your employee refuses to take your warnings seriously or hasn't improved their behavior, it's time to say goodbye.
Managers must remember to be direct when addressing an employee who needs to leave. It's also important for employees to be aware of the warning signs you provide when you're displeased with their work. Although dealing with this type of situation can be uncomfortable for both you and the employee, it's important to be objective, honest, and do what's best for the environment in your office. Have you ever had to deal with an employee who needed to leave? What did you do to solve the situation?