How to handle an underperforming employee
Author: Darren Newman
Summary
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- Do not allow concerns about legal risk to prevent effective management of poor performance.
- Provide clear, prompt and constructive feedback where an employee is underperforming.
- Address any barriers to effective performance.
- Set a standard for the employee to meet and allow a reasonable opportunity for improvement.
- Invoke a formal procedure where the employee fails to improve.
- Issue a formal warning if appropriate and monitor the employee's progress.
- Hold a performance dismissal hearing where the employee fails to improve.
- Consider redeployment as an alternative to dismissal.
- Consider whether dismissal is appropriate.
- Keep in mind the option of a settlement agreement.
- Put extra effort into helping an employee reach the required standard if there has been a failure to address underperformance in the past.
- Revert promptly to the formal procedure where an improvement in performance is only temporary.