Managing Problem Employees
How to Deal With Poorly Performing Employees
Small business owners depend on employees to be hardworking, loyal and customer friendly. However, sometimes, employees are not the dedicated workers their employers were hoping for. They show up late, don't complete assigned tasks and are impatient with customers or other employees. Sometimes, a word or two from the boss or a class on customer service can turn things around. Other times, problem employees simply don't mesh with the business and need to look for a job in a different field.
Being Unpredictable Helps Business Owners Stop Problems Before They Start
Don't stick to a regular schedule. When employees know the boss is going to leave the building from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday to visit the bank and that he or she takes a long lunch every Friday, the employer is creating the ideal situation for problems to occur. Even the best employee is human and will take that opportunity to relax a bit. A problem employee may seize this free time to take a two hour break, close the store to run errands of his or her own, or even steal merchandise.
Lock Up Money and Valuable Merchandise
Risking a steady paycheck for a hundred dollars isn't very tempting for most people. However, when several thousand dollars in cash is sitting in the till, the temptation is much higher. Make sure employees aren't even tempted to pocket some of the cash by running the register tape and switching out the cash register drawer for a fresh drawer several times a day.
Consider doing deposits several times a week, as well. This way, the store safe will rarely hold enough money to provide any temptation.
Securing expensive merchandise under lock and key helps keep employees honest. Since it also keeps shop lifters from stealing items worth a lot of money, the work and expense of setting up a locking display case are very worthwhile.
Use a Time Clock
Clocking employees in and out is an easy way to keep track of their time and is a great way to manage that chronically late employee. To use a time clock effectively:
- Set up a policy for tardiness and stick to it. Deciding to dock employee pay for every 15 minutes he or she is late and then not doing so because of a sob story is a great way to ensure that employees will all have sad stories about the reasons for their lateness at the ready.
- Consider standing by and watching employees clock in several times a month in case one employee is covering for a chronically late coworker.
Finally, remember that any time spent having to deal with problem employees is time that isn't spent on growing the company. Setting up specific procedures before hiring employees is a great way to avoid problems in the future.
