Are you a manager or business leader dealing with a difficult employee? One that is underperforming? Or you believe may have an addiction? A difficult challenge. Here are four ways to help an employee that wants to be helped without risking your business...
4 Ways To Help An Employee And Employee Development Suggestions
Seeing a valued employee burn out and go off the rails can be difficult. You may feel partially to blame for their workload, or you may know enough about their personal life to know they’re going through some difficult times.
Employees who are struggling may have turned to drinking or maybe even drugs. As their employer, you care about them and understandably want to help them as much as possible without compromising your business. So, if you’ve got an employee that has become less dependable or has gotten themselves into some trouble, there are things you can do to help get them back on track before you must make a hard decision.
Here's how to help an employee who is struggling before it is too late...
Decrease Their Workload
Quite often someone that’s struggling would rather not have everyone know what’s going on in their personal life. Slightly decreasing their workload will give the employee room to breathe. Temporarily, they won't be overloaded with additional stress, without making it obvious to everyone else around them.
They will appreciate you being discreet and will be more likely to seek help from you or external places during their struggles. In turn they will be able to focus on dealing with their personal problems without feeling conflicted about their position at your company.
Again, this should be temporary and not slight other good employees, or you will see negative effects.
Discuss Your Concerns
The relationship between an owner or manager and employee should be professional. However, you should care about your employees and should voice your worries when they occur. If you’ve noticed they’ve come into work smelling of alcohol or seem dazed, speak to them about your worries for their health and mental state.
You should do some research to help direct them in getting the right treatment if they do want help. This article about MedComp Sciences talks about help for addictions with new technology that’s been recently developed. Going into the conversation equipped with facts and reason will make the conversation more effective and meaningful.
Be sensitive, yet smart. Consult legal advisors and include your human resources department. This will make the conversation with underperforming employee more comfortable for all.
Provide Incentives
An employee falling off track might not be struggling with anything in particular. They might simply be enjoying living life a little too much. After all, who doesn’t love a drink or two after work or on the weekends?
How to motivate an underperforming employee? Offering motivation at work will help your employees focus on what’s important. You could provide small incentives like:
- Gift cards
- Paid leave
- Comp time
- Special events
Or even those who hit deadlines can leave work early on certain days. The earning system helps motivate employees while benefitting your company's performance level.
Compassionate Leave: Help An Employee, Help Your Team
While being professional at work is important, sometimes things happen in life that can consume someone as they grieve or deal with a life consuming situation. In times like these, give your employee the chance to work through their problems by giving them compassionate leave.
Speak to them about what you’ve noticed or what they’ve told you and encourage them to take time for themselves. They can come back rested and hopefully re-charged when they’re ready and perform to the best of their abilities like you know they can.
