All-4-HR Blog Spot: GET A HANDLE ON DIFFICULT SITUATION BEFORE ITS TOO LATE?

It’s true there is good and not so good situations in the workplace – in the World of HR especially there is never a Dull Moment! Of course as HR professionals, we want more of the Good! Lol… The way to achieve more of the good is in the way we deal with the bad. In a lot of cases, the thought is if I ignore it, it will go away -- NOT!

Difficult situations are best handled at their onset, as opposed to waiting until a situation is irreparable. It’s best to have those difficult conversations with employees early. Often times one conversation is not enough!

When much needed difficult conversations like:

Body order
Too much perfume
Smoke odors
Moonlighting
Dress code violation
Dealing with absenteeism
Dealing with presenteeism
Dealing with stressed employees and/or depressed employees

Make sure:

These types of conversations are in a private place.
Be prepared for any type of reaction. So have tissue on hand just in case there are tears of anger.
Practice what you say. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes to gauge how you would act of you were in their same situation.
Be brief and to the point without being harsh.
Give the individual time to process and information and respond.
Show sensitivity and compassion. However, be clear on a solution.
Do not make it personal. Focus on the performance issue.
Do not but in when listening to the employee’s concerns.