Firing Employees: Dealing with the Artful Dodger

Filed in archive Human Resources on June 18, 2007

Me? Yes You!

Feel like you are held hostage by an employee? Feel like they should be fired but struggle with making 'the' decision? You are not alone, I have heard this from many business owners.

The 'artful dodger' has above average people skills, are familiar with your comings and goings, and know how to work around you. You feel a sense of insecurity but feel that you need to make a business decision. No matter how much you think about it, you feel conflicted, and are not sure why. The employee in question does a good job. I have seen cases where their performance is above average job. But you still feel this person is hampering your ability to move forward. Via How do I decide whether an employee should be fired?

I wrote this in 2006 but the theme How do I decide whether an employee should be fired? is just as valid today as in 2006.

I talk about how an employees situation can change and how that can affect their performance as well as dealing with trust issues and creating a 'stop loss' order.