You’ve worked in the financial sector for many years and have gained invaluable experience. You’ve always planned to establish your own firm and recently you made this a reality. Everything started out well, but you’ve been having issues with a disruptive employee in the last few weeks.
What’s the best way to go about managing this issue? Here are some tips:
1. Identify the source of the problem
The first step that you may want to take is to identify the root cause of the issue. There is no excuse for an employee becoming disruptive, but they may have a legitimate grievance that needs to be resolved. This is why having an impartial investigative and reporting procedure is so important. A mere breakdown in communication could be the source of the employee’s conduct, and this may be remedied by simply hearing them out.
2. Document everything
As a business owner, it’s vital that you document any official dealings with disruptive workers. This way you can show that you have taken steps to address their grievances, as well as clearly set out your own expectations in terms of their behavior.
3. Follow the letter of the law
In terms of disciplinary procedures, there are rules and regulations that must be followed. By honoring these, you not only reduce the risk of potential litigation, but you’ll be able to get the most out of your workforce. An employee handbook is a crucial document that can summarize all key points in terms of the company ethos, expectations, reporting channels and disciplinary measures.
Managing your own firm is no walk in the park, but with the right legal guidance behind you, you have every chance of being successful.