The Correct Approach to Correcting Employees

We’ve all been there…a situation happens and instead of going straight to the problem employee we think we are better off to just make a general announcement stating that a situation has happened and because of that, policies are now being changed.  So what is wrong with that?  A lot!You now have employees who feel like they are being punished for something they did not do and these same employees will start talking to find out which employee was the cause of all this.  Then you have tension among your employees because they are singling one person out and that person is feeling embarrassed.

Also, by doing a group announcement, you have left the one employee feeling like they have no consequences for their actions, so they might continue to do things differently.  After all, they didn’t get in trouble the last time.

So how should you handle this situation?  You need to step up and be the boss.  I know this isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but you need to.  You need to call that person into your office to explain and to discuss the situation.  Find a solution to the situation.  And if policies need to change, then you change them. This way everyone else thinks the policy change is because policies change from time-to-time and not that they are being punished because of one person.