How to Manage Difficult Employees in Small Businesses

If You’re Talking About An Employee Every Week, You Have A Problem

By Samantha Newton, Magnenta HR

Here’s a simple test.

Did someone come to mind when you read that headline?

If they did, you’re not alone.

Every week I speak to business owners who are losing sleep over an employee situation.

They’re worried about saying the wrong thing. They’re worried about making the situation worse. And in the meantime, the problem keeps growing.

It might be:

• The employee whose performance isn’t where it should be.
• The employee who’s constantly off sick.
• The employee who’s causing tension in the team.
• The employee everyone talks about, but nobody seems to deal with.

If you’re talking about the same employee every week, you don’t just have an employee problem.

You have a business problem.

And the real cost is rarely their salary.

It’s:

• The management time.
• The impact on the rest of the team.
• The projects that get delayed.
• The customers who notice.
• The good employees who become frustrated.
• The mental load that follows you home at the end of the day.

One business owner recently said to me:

“Sam, I spend more time managing this one person than the rest of the team put together.”

Another told me they dread seeing a particular employee’s name pop up on their phone.

If either of those sounds familiar, you’re probably not dealing with a people issue anymore.

You’re dealing with a business issue.

The problem usually isn’t one major incident.

It’s the constant drip, drip, drip of small issues:

• Missed deadlines.
• Poor attitude.
• Complaints from colleagues.
• Repeated absences.

Nothing serious enough on its own, but together they create frustration across the business.

Most business owners know when something isn’t right.

The challenge isn’t spotting the problem.

The challenge is knowing what to do next.

A simple rule of thumb: if you’ve been discussing the same employee issue for more than a month without progress, it’s usually time to take a different approach.

In my experience, business owners usually wait too long.

Not because they don’t care.

But because they genuinely want to give people a chance.

Unfortunately, by the time they ask for help, they’ve often given ten chances instead of three.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team notices.

• Standards start slipping.
• Frustration builds.
• Good employees begin to disengage.

And all the while, you’re carrying the stress of it.

One of the most common things I hear is:

“I wish I’d dealt with this sooner.”

The reality is that people problems rarely fix themselves.

Not because the employee is necessarily being difficult.

But because nobody has properly addressed the issue.

Whether it’s workplace conflict, repeated absence, underperformance or the early signs of a grievance, dealing with issues early usually creates better outcomes for everyone.

No business owner starts a company because they want to spend their evenings worrying about one member of staff.

Most would rather be focusing on customers, growing the business or simply getting home on time.

Yet that’s exactly what happens when issues are left unresolved.

That doesn’t mean jumping straight into formal action.

Often, the first step is simply addressing the issue directly rather than hoping it improves on its own.

If This Sounds Familiar, Ask Yourself Three Questions

1. Have I actually told them there’s a problem?

Many managers assume an employee knows there’s an issue when nobody has clearly explained it.

2. Have I kept a note of what’s happened?

A simple record of concerns, conversations and agreed actions can make a huge difference later.

3. Am I dealing with the issue or avoiding it?

If you’ve been having the same conversation with yourself for months, you probably already know the answer.

The businesses that handle people problems best aren’t the ones with the biggest HR departments.

They’re the ones that:

• Tackle issues early.
• Have the conversation.
• Set expectations.
• Deal with problems while they’re still manageable.

So, if someone came to mind when you read the headline, don’t ignore it.

People problems rarely become easier with time.

They usually become more expensive.

The sooner you deal with them, the more options you have.

About the Author

Samantha Newton FCIPD is the founder of Magenta HR Consulting, helping businesses resolve difficult employee issues including grievances, disciplinaries, absence management and workplace conflict.

Not sure how serious an employee issue is?

Complete the free Employee Situation Check to understand the level of risk and your next steps:

www.magentahrconsulting.co.uk/employee-situation-check

Website: www.magentahrconsulting.co.uk

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/samanthanewts