Discipline & Termination

Somewhere along the line, you will encounter poor-performing employees who whine, assign blame, watch the clock or drag down morale. Why, then, might you hesitate to fire such people? Here are four lousy excuses for not imposing proper discipline.

Q. Do employees who feel compelled to ask for a lower position rather than quit have a legal leg to stand on in court? — Paul, Ohio

Being an effective manager means confronting those “challenging” employees who, while typically good at their jobs, too often display unprofessional or downright obnoxious behavior. The best way to tackle such problems is to meet with employees right when you spot the problem behavior. When you sit down with the employee, describe the behaviors and tell the employee firmly that those behaviors must stop, using the D-I-S method.

Talking to employees about performance problems, attendance issues, or an upcoming layoff can be awkward. Take these steps to make those conversations easier for you—and your employees.