How to Handle Poor Employee Behavior!

Unfortunately some employees will behave in a disrespectful manner to either their manager or to their peers from time to time. It’s the manager’s job to observe, address and correct disrespectful behavior in the workplace.  The manager has to understand that they're responsible for the behavior that occurs in the workplace. If behaviors consistently occur and become more and more unmanagemeable its really the managers fault. If the manager fails to address the behavior when it first occurs and fails to address the issue when it reoccurs then you teach your staff that the behavior is acceptable and that it will be tolerated.

You cannot be afraid to manage your staffs behaviors.  Take your role seriously and understand that its your job to keep staff in-line and its your job to discipline / terminate when they fail to correct their behavior. Employees will only do what they're allowed to do. It's really that simple. 

So what are examples of disrespectful behavior that you possibly have seen or experienced in the workplace? 

• Bullying
• Ignoring requests
• Eye Rolling
• Dirty Looks (unpleasant expressions)
• Sighing
• Giggling conspiratorially with another coworker
• Conduct, comment or display of behavior that would embarrass, humiliate, demean or belittle a person
• Offensive or inappropriate remarks or gestures
• Offensive or inappropriate jokes, including practical jokes
• Swearing
• Actions that invade privacy or personal property
• Rude comments including sarcasm
• Posters, calendars, cartoons that cause offense
• Spreading Rumors and gossip that could damage a person’s reputation
• Display or distribution of printed or electronic material that would offend
• Verbal abuse including yelling and name-calling
• Shunning, ignoring or isolating an individual
• Abuses of power such as threats, coercion or bullying 

The behavior listed above are unprofessional, disrespectful, immature, non-productive and shouldn't be tolerated in the workplace. These types of behavior can affect the overall work environment because it can cause tension in the workplace. Employees may feel uncomfortable coming to work and/or interacting with certain team members and overall employee productivity will be affected.   

The best tip is to always address poor behavior immediately. Do not wait until later to address poor behavior. Managers should not tolerate behavior that is unacceptable, negative and detrimental to the team. Far too often managers tolerate poor behavior and this tells the employee(s) that their behavior is acceptable. This in turn creates a culture for the company which teaches others that certain behaviors are “ok” causing more people to participate in the same poor behavior.  

You’re the manager. You have the right and duty to correct unacceptable behavior. Correct poor behavior as it occurs with an immediate verbal counsel. If the employee continues to display the same or similar behavior then the manager should have a formal counsel with the employee. The counseling should outline unacceptable behavior in the workplace and the employee should understand that disciplinary action will result if the employee participates in such behavior moving forward.