Manners Matter: Employee Just Isn’t Cutting It

Dear Mary Pat,

My employee is struggling to keep up, and I don’t know whether I can afford to keep him employed any longer. I’m a pretty patient guy, and I am all for encouraging and motivating my team of employees, but I’ve run into a wall here. He’s very nice and tries, but he just falls too short.  At what point do I just cut my losses and say that this person isn’t suited for this line of work? 

I don’t want to give too many details away here, so I know this is a little vague. All I can tell you is that I’ve tried for two years to teach this young man the tools of the trade, and he hasn’t progressed enough to warrant me paying him a full-time salary and benefits. I need to find someone else who can help the bottom line, not hurt it. I probably know the answer to this already, but have I given him enough time?

Signed,

Help Wanted

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Dear Help Wanted,

Only you can answer that question; however, I think two years is very generous. If your employee is young, perhaps he hasn’t tapped into all of his strengths yet. If he isn’t flourishing in his current position, you’re not doing him any favors in the long run, and you’re hurting your own business in the process.

You need to be honest and direct with him and give him constructive criticism so that he can learn from this experience. He might be surprised or upset, but that’s natural. No one wants to be let go or fired.  Give him as much notice as you can so he has a chance to brush up his résumé and start looking for another job.  

Good luck,

Mary Pat