Keys To Dealing with Problem Employees

1. Keys To Dealing with Problem Employees By: Pat Adams Assistant Director School Food & Nutrition Services of New Orleans Presented at SNA – July 2005 Adams, P.

2. Introduction • Goal • To unlock the secrets of dealing with problem employees. • Objectives: • Identify problem employees in the school cafeteria • Determine how to resolve the problem using either discipline or positive reinforcement measures • Provide acceptable management tools for use in documentation Adams, P.

3. Who is the Problem Employee? • Newly Hired Employee • Veteran Employee • Loud and Messy Employee • Quiet and Neat Employee • Any Employee Adams, P.

4. Employee Problems • Excessive Absences • Tardy or Leave Early • Argumentative • Work Too Slow or Too Fast • Disruptive • Failure To Follow Policies Adams, P.

5. Identifying The Problem • Performance Related • Inability to follow work/production schedules • Unwillingness to follow directions from management • Policy Related • Attendance • Inappropriate language or behavior • Personal hygiene • Dress code Adams, P.

6. Resolving The Problem • Detailed written policies and procedures • Employee knowledge and understanding and policies and procedures • Management understanding concerns of employees • Consistency by management in problem resolution Adams, P.

7. Disciplinary Action • Should be corrective and improve employee morale • Should be verbal initially • Should include process for written documentation • Should include process for suspension and/or dismissal Adams, P.

8. Tools For Documentation • Employee Journal • Employee Warning Notice • Exit Interview Adams, P.

9. Key Points • Employee Training • Communication • Production Schedules • Patience • Knowledge of Policies • Positive Reinforcements by Management • Respect Adams, P.

10. EMPLOYEE JOURNAL • Employee Name: ________________ • Cafeteria Name: _______________ • Date_______ Event:______________________ • ______________________________________________________________________________ • _____________________________________________________________________ • Action Taken: _____Verbal Warning _______By Whom_____None______Date Given Adams, P.

11. EMPLOYEE WARNING NOTICE • Employee Name ________________________________________ Date of Warning ___/___/___ • School Name ___________________________________________________________________ • Type of Violation • ___Attendance ___Carelessness ___Insubordination • ___Lateness/Early Q ___Failure to Follow Instructions • ___Violation of Safety Rules ___Unsatisfactory Work/Performance • ___Violation of Department ___Other • Policies or Procedures • Previous Warnings • 1st Warning Date: _________By Whom: ______________________ • 2nd Warning Date: _________By Whom: ______________________ • 3rd Warning Date: _________ By Whom: ______________________ Adams, P.

12. EMPLOYEE WARNING NOTICE Manager/Supervisor Statement ________________________________________________________________________________ Employee Statement ____I agree with the above statement ____I disagree with the above statement for these reasons: _________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Action to be Taken: _____________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ I have read this Employee Warning Notice and understand it. _____________________________________ ________________________________ Signature of Employee Signature of Manager/Supervisor __________________________________________________ Witness’s Signature/Date Adams, P.