How does an employer deal with poor performance on an employee?
The first step is to hold a meeting or counseling session (an informal affair) with the employee. You explain where the employee is falling short and what standard is not being met, and discuss the matter fully to see if the reason for the poor performance can be established.
You may uncover a domestic crisis, such as a pending divorce, or a work-related problem, such as a colleague victimizing the employee. The most important is to establish the cause – if you don’t know the cause, you cannot treat the problem. The problem will not go away unless you treat the cause.
Try to find mutual acceptable way of dealing with it – training may be required or you may have to refer the employee to good divorce lawyer.
All proceedings must be recorded in details. These records will be required if you eventually have to be dismiss the employee and the matter is taken up with the Commission for Conciliation., Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
You will have to prove that correct and fair procedures were followed, and you need written records to do this. Remember that in a case of unfair dismissals, the employee only has to prove that a dismissal took place. The employer must prove the fairness of the dismissal.
At the end of counseling session, the employee must be warned of the consequences of failure to improve where such warning is appropriate. Bear in mind that the aim of the counseling session is not to punish employees, but to assist them to recognize and overcome the problem.
There is no rule of thumb regarding how many counseling session are required before dismissal, or how many much assistance or training must be given before dismissal, or demotion to a lower position. This will depend on how many factors such as length of service and extend of employee’s willingness to co-operate.
In the counseling session, you must be specific. It is not acceptable to state that the employee is “not making the grade” or “is not doing the job properly”. The specific problem area must be defined and discussed in details. Be specific about what improvement is needed, what standard are required, in what area and by when.
The counseling process is termed” evaluation, instruction, training or guidance”. If the matter comes to dismissal, then the Code of Good Practice; Dismissal must be applied, as well as your own procedures, if any.
You are obliged to consider whether the employee did in fact fail to meet a performance standard, if he or she could reasonably be expected to have been aware of the required standard and whether fair opportunity was given to the employee to meet the required standard. Most importantly , you must assess whether dismissal is an appropriate (and perhaps the only available) sanction under the circumstances of the case.
Generally speaking, you should spend as much time as is reasonably expected all reasonable opportunity to rectify the matter.
Obviously, if the poor performance is causing major operational problems, you will have to inform the employee that he has only limited amount of time to rectify the matter before further action been taken against him / her..
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
LESSON FROM THE EAGLES
The eagle is an aerodynamic marvel, a perfect flying machine,
Which can soar higher than practically any bird alive. Airline
Pilots have intercepted raptors at over 25 000 feet – five miles
Above the surface of the earth; Sometimes they fly so high that
Ice forms on their wings. An eagle can dive at speed s of up to
200 kilometers per hours and strike its quarry mid-air, then roll onto its back and
Catch the prey before it touches the ground. An exceptionally
graceful flier, the Golden Eagle hunts with its remarkable vision
five times stronger than a human’s –to locate snakes and mice .
No other bird understands the air currents better than the eagle.
In the mornings, it waits instinctively until the sun has warmed
The earth. As the eagle mounts the wind , it is in control, but the
Thermal provides the power, the lift to enable it to soar higher,in
Effortless flight.
Rything that has ever been achieved started first as an unseen spark
Some one,s creative imagination. Use your imagination to think like
A winner.
When the day ends and all other birds are tired from their constant
Efforts to stay aloft, the eagle glides in for a perfect landing. The
Thermals that bore it so high now return it gently back to earth.
Open your wings: It’s soaring time
It is time to get the big picture of life. We must learn to look
Beyond the horizon. You must believe – and see it in your
Mind- that you can soar. People who learn to use their
imagination flexibly see creatively. You have a rich source of
Ideas and mental pictures that can be developed.
The human brain has two distinct parts. The left is concerned
Mainly with logic and speech- it thinks. The right side is related
To intuition and creativity it knows. It is visual in orientation
And is the side of the brain that we tend to neglect.
Visualization is a powerful tool. Everything that has ever
Been achieved started first as an unseen spark in some-
One ‘s creative imagination. Use your imagination to think
Like a winner.
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS
• Seek, see and seize opportunities.
Great chances and challenges don’t always come gift-wrapped.
• Channel your passion into your profession or career.
• Persist and persevere- overnight success is a myth.
• Be inquisitive. Read widely outside of your field.
Ask questions and turn things inside out.
• Be optimistic. Things aren’t always as hard to accomplish
As you expect.
• Learn to get along with people; make them like you.
Respect their opinions and ideas.
• Learn to exhibit more patience than any other person
You know.
• Learn to think problems through.
Don’t give up. If you don’t get the answer
Today, go back to it tomorrow. Discipline
Your mind to the thought that anything given
To you to decide, pre-supposes your ability to
Solve it. Sufficient thought will bring one the
Proper solution in due time.
• Learn to put yourself in the other person’s place/shoes.
There are two sides to every dispute and yours is
Not necessarily the right one. Keep an open mind.
• Life is a challenge- meet it. Life is a duty-perform
It. Life is a gift accept it.
Which can soar higher than practically any bird alive. Airline
Pilots have intercepted raptors at over 25 000 feet – five miles
Above the surface of the earth; Sometimes they fly so high that
Ice forms on their wings. An eagle can dive at speed s of up to
200 kilometers per hours and strike its quarry mid-air, then roll onto its back and
Catch the prey before it touches the ground. An exceptionally
graceful flier, the Golden Eagle hunts with its remarkable vision
five times stronger than a human’s –to locate snakes and mice .
No other bird understands the air currents better than the eagle.
In the mornings, it waits instinctively until the sun has warmed
The earth. As the eagle mounts the wind , it is in control, but the
Thermal provides the power, the lift to enable it to soar higher,in
Effortless flight.
Rything that has ever been achieved started first as an unseen spark
Some one,s creative imagination. Use your imagination to think like
A winner.
When the day ends and all other birds are tired from their constant
Efforts to stay aloft, the eagle glides in for a perfect landing. The
Thermals that bore it so high now return it gently back to earth.
Open your wings: It’s soaring time
It is time to get the big picture of life. We must learn to look
Beyond the horizon. You must believe – and see it in your
Mind- that you can soar. People who learn to use their
imagination flexibly see creatively. You have a rich source of
Ideas and mental pictures that can be developed.
The human brain has two distinct parts. The left is concerned
Mainly with logic and speech- it thinks. The right side is related
To intuition and creativity it knows. It is visual in orientation
And is the side of the brain that we tend to neglect.
Visualization is a powerful tool. Everything that has ever
Been achieved started first as an unseen spark in some-
One ‘s creative imagination. Use your imagination to think
Like a winner.
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS
• Seek, see and seize opportunities.
Great chances and challenges don’t always come gift-wrapped.
• Channel your passion into your profession or career.
• Persist and persevere- overnight success is a myth.
• Be inquisitive. Read widely outside of your field.
Ask questions and turn things inside out.
• Be optimistic. Things aren’t always as hard to accomplish
As you expect.
• Learn to get along with people; make them like you.
Respect their opinions and ideas.
• Learn to exhibit more patience than any other person
You know.
• Learn to think problems through.
Don’t give up. If you don’t get the answer
Today, go back to it tomorrow. Discipline
Your mind to the thought that anything given
To you to decide, pre-supposes your ability to
Solve it. Sufficient thought will bring one the
Proper solution in due time.
• Learn to put yourself in the other person’s place/shoes.
There are two sides to every dispute and yours is
Not necessarily the right one. Keep an open mind.
• Life is a challenge- meet it. Life is a duty-perform
It. Life is a gift accept it.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
WORK YOUR WAY AROUND (OFFICE) POLITICS
The key is not to ignore it but to be aware of it – and the office troublemakers.
How do you navigate office politics without becoming an outsider?
To put it quite simply; “Nobody exists in an atmosphere where everybody agree.” This according to Professor Allan Cohen, author of Influence Without Power.
The fact of the matter is that if you work in an office with more than three co-workers, chances are that you’ve had a brush with office politics. According to the career guidance company, Professor Resume, office politics are inevitable because people will “attempt to use power to gain favour and influence with management and superiors”.
The trouble is that the disagreements and dissent that come from workplace politics can affect the whole company and decrease productivity and morale.
It is dangerous to completely ignore office politics because there might come a day when you are the victim of an unfair promotion or undermining rumour. The key, therefore, is actually not to ignore it but to be aware of it - and troublemakers – without distancing yourself and become the office outsider.
Handling gossips
Granted, this is easier said than done, especially if you are newly appointed and have yet to make friends.
It is often the case that because the gossip is always looking for an audience, they are also the first to extend the hand of friendship.
The trouble is that gossip have a away of poisoning working relations between co-workers. And even if you are only seen listening to the gossip-monger, , your silence might be construed as approval.
Instead, the key is to make it clear that you are not interested in discussing your colleagues, their performance or personal lives.
If your co-worker starts to discuss any of these topics or complain about a superior, ask them if they have taken the matter up with person involved and inform them that you have no wish to talk about this colleague behind his or her back.
Beware of cliques
Employees gravitate towards colleagues who share their interests and , most importantly their opinions.
Be wary of being pulled into a cliques – before you know it, you might be part of group gossips, malcontents or troublemakers.
Instead, treat everyone you meet with respect and try to align yourself with the moderate groups.
Remain neutral
If a workplace disagreement or argument develops and you are in some way involved, do your best to gather both sides of the story and not to make premature judgments.
Set boundaries
Keep your personal life that – personal. As harsh as this may seem, confiding in colleagues (unless they are close and trusted friends) about your personal problems may come back to haunt you as the information may be used against you.
Keep communication honest
If you have a problem with a co-worker, discuss it with them as soon as possible.
Treat everyone you encounter with the same degree of respect no matter what their reputation in the workplace might be. Remember that many can be as wrong as one , so do not ostracize a certain co-worker just because many of your colleagues do.
No matter what a person may or may not have done, everybody deserves to be treated with respect.
Focus on the job at hand
Safeguard your reputation by striving for excellence in your work. It is also true that your colleagues will mind less the fact that you are not that interested in office politics if they see that you are intent on shouldering your weight.
On the other hand , try to be a team player. Don’t act superior to your co-workers.
Be open for new ideas and be ready to bring your part and share the credit with the people you work with . Few actions invites as much back-bitting and hostility as the employee who ruthlessly climbs his ambitious way to the top ignoring the co-workers who work by his or her side.
How do you navigate office politics without becoming an outsider?
To put it quite simply; “Nobody exists in an atmosphere where everybody agree.” This according to Professor Allan Cohen, author of Influence Without Power.
The fact of the matter is that if you work in an office with more than three co-workers, chances are that you’ve had a brush with office politics. According to the career guidance company, Professor Resume, office politics are inevitable because people will “attempt to use power to gain favour and influence with management and superiors”.
The trouble is that the disagreements and dissent that come from workplace politics can affect the whole company and decrease productivity and morale.
It is dangerous to completely ignore office politics because there might come a day when you are the victim of an unfair promotion or undermining rumour. The key, therefore, is actually not to ignore it but to be aware of it - and troublemakers – without distancing yourself and become the office outsider.
Handling gossips
Granted, this is easier said than done, especially if you are newly appointed and have yet to make friends.
It is often the case that because the gossip is always looking for an audience, they are also the first to extend the hand of friendship.
The trouble is that gossip have a away of poisoning working relations between co-workers. And even if you are only seen listening to the gossip-monger, , your silence might be construed as approval.
Instead, the key is to make it clear that you are not interested in discussing your colleagues, their performance or personal lives.
If your co-worker starts to discuss any of these topics or complain about a superior, ask them if they have taken the matter up with person involved and inform them that you have no wish to talk about this colleague behind his or her back.
Beware of cliques
Employees gravitate towards colleagues who share their interests and , most importantly their opinions.
Be wary of being pulled into a cliques – before you know it, you might be part of group gossips, malcontents or troublemakers.
Instead, treat everyone you meet with respect and try to align yourself with the moderate groups.
Remain neutral
If a workplace disagreement or argument develops and you are in some way involved, do your best to gather both sides of the story and not to make premature judgments.
Set boundaries
Keep your personal life that – personal. As harsh as this may seem, confiding in colleagues (unless they are close and trusted friends) about your personal problems may come back to haunt you as the information may be used against you.
Keep communication honest
If you have a problem with a co-worker, discuss it with them as soon as possible.
Treat everyone you encounter with the same degree of respect no matter what their reputation in the workplace might be. Remember that many can be as wrong as one , so do not ostracize a certain co-worker just because many of your colleagues do.
No matter what a person may or may not have done, everybody deserves to be treated with respect.
Focus on the job at hand
Safeguard your reputation by striving for excellence in your work. It is also true that your colleagues will mind less the fact that you are not that interested in office politics if they see that you are intent on shouldering your weight.
On the other hand , try to be a team player. Don’t act superior to your co-workers.
Be open for new ideas and be ready to bring your part and share the credit with the people you work with . Few actions invites as much back-bitting and hostility as the employee who ruthlessly climbs his ambitious way to the top ignoring the co-workers who work by his or her side.
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