Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Part 1 Tough Conversations, Constructive Confrontation, and Holding Employees Accountable 1
1 Addressing Attitude Problems 3
2 Dealing with Excessive Swearing: Putting a Quick End to Bad Habits 6
3 Stopping Bullies in Their Tracks 10
4 Addressing Sexual Harassment 14
5 Culture Shift: Creating a Healthy and Respectful Work Environment 18
6 The Danger of Off-the-Record Conversations 21
7 Mediating Employee Disputes and the Art of Constructive Confrontation 25
8 Dealing with Gossips, Rumormongers, and Snitches 31
9 Addressing Body Odor Problems 36
10 Overcoming Unwillingness to Confront Problems Head- On 43
Part 2 The Critical Nature of Progressive Discipline: Shifting the Power Paradigm Back to Your Company 49
11 What Is Progressive Discipline and How Does It Help Both Companies and Workers? 51
12 Disciplining and Terminating Probationary Workers 57
13 Why Is It So Hard for Leaders to Apply Progressive Discipline? 61
14 Preventing Mistakes When Documenting Discipline 64
15 Avoiding Employee "Pretaliation" Against Unsuspecting Managers and Supervisors 67
18 Documentation Techniques and Strategies: Incident Descriptions, Performance Improvement Plans, and Outcomes and Consequences 72
17 An Alternative to Formal Corrective Action: "Letters of Clarification" 78
18 Decision-Making Leaves and Days of Contemplation: Dramatic Turnarounds Without a Lot of Drama 84
19 Last-Chance Agreements in Conjunction with Final Written Warnings 91
20 Held Hostage by Underperformers: Strategic Group Turnarounds When a Team Is on the Brink of Failure 96
Part 3 Terminations for Cause, Layoffs, and Negotiated Resignations 103
21 Vetting the Record Before Recommending Termination 105
22 Negotiating Separation Packages When No Progressive Discipline Is on File 109
23 Summary Offenses (Immediate Discharge) 115
24 Terminations for Cause Versus Resignations by Mutual Consent 122
25 Can an Employee Rescind a Verbal Resignation? 125
26 If We Can't Terminate Someone, Can We Simply Lay Them Off? 129
27 Healing the Team After a Termination or Downsizing 134
Acknowledgments 140
Index 141
About the Author 147
