Some people just never seem to run out of excuses while some people are just downright difficult to deal with: they’re always sick, always late, always argue, always procrastinating, always have an excuse for everything. Too much of that can develop into a nuisance that just gets on your nerves whether you’re a boss or a colleague having to deal with these employee types. But don’t give up. There are some things you can do to help the situation.

Send a memo. Habitual offenders often don’t have a clue about how they might be hurting the business they’re working for. Oftentimes giving them a break gives them the impression that the employer is very understanding and that it’s perfectly okay for them to act the way they do. But you have to draw the line at some point. When it’s in black and white it just might make them realize the inconvenience they’re causing…your last resort would be to report it to HR and put it in their hands.

Fight fire with fire. If a memo doesn’t seem to catch their attention and they still come up with all the excuses in the world, then turn the tables on them. If they’re always late or procrastinating then do the same when they come to you for things they need. Make an excuse for why you can’t help them, tell them you’re too sick to accommodate them or you will do it later. Sometimes a little reverse psychology can’t hurt. Soon enough they may pick up on their faults and realize their mistakes (unless they’re more dense than a box of rocks).

Confront them Sometimes the best way to address problems with employees who are always sick, late, always argue and always procrastinate is to confront them directly. Present them with the problem and show them how their actions negatively affect operations as well as work relations. Tell them the repercussions it brings to both you, them and the company.

Offer Help Once you know what the root of their problem is, try to offer help. If they’re always sick then advise them to take advantage of the health benefits the company offers. If they’re always late offer to be their alarm clock, give them a wake up call or text. Lend a helping hand, maybe that’s all they need to stop being such a pain!

Come to an agreement Ultimatums can be a bit harsh, so instead try to arrive at an agreement. Ask them what they intend to do with the problem and then tell them what consequences they would have to face if they fall short on their promise. Or, ask them what punishment they think would be fair. Put it down in writing, and set a deadline. This way they won’t be able to argue that you’re treating them unfairly.

Dealing with problem employees can really be difficult but it’s just another challenge at work that we’d have to face some time in our daily life. It’s not a completely crippling problem as long as you are firm and fair.

Tags: job, job duties, job skills, job tips, jobs, Personal Branding, professional

This entry was posted on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 9:25 am and is filed under Free Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.