101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees: A Manager's Guide to Addressing Performance, Conduct, and Dia Manager's Guide to Addressing Performanc (Paperback, Special)

CONTENTS Preface xi Acknowledgments xv Introduction: The Rules of Engagement 1 PART I: Uncomfortable Workplace Situations 1. Common Managerial and Supervisory Discussions 9 Scenario 1: Mediating Disputes Among Subordinates 9 Scenario 2: Appropriate Responses to Requests to Speak ''Off the Record'' 13 Scenario 3: Promoting a Neophyte into a First-Time Supervisory Role 15 Scenario 4: New Supervisor Syndrome 18 Scenario 5: Inheriting an Employee with Disciplinary Problems 20 Scenario 6: Stopping Attitude Problems in Their Tracks 23 Scenario 7: Advice Before a Holiday Party or an Offsite Event 24 2. Individual Appearance and Uncomfortable Workplace Dilemmas 28 Scenario 8: Bad Hair Days 29 Scenario 9: Inappropriate Dress 32 Scenario 10: Body Piercing and Body Art 33 Scenario 11: Tattoos 34 Scenario 12: Halitosis (Bad Breath) 36 Scenario 13: Body Odor from Lack of Cleanliness 37 Scenario 14: Body Odor from Suspected Medical Reason 39 3. Cultural and Religious Differences 42 Scenario 15: Inappropriate Display of Religious Icons 43 Scenario 16: Supervisor Proselytizes to Subordinates 47 Scenario 17: Offensive Food Preparation and Spicy Smells 49 Scenario 18: Euphemisms like ''Honey,'' ''Sweetie,'' and ''Doll'' 50 Scenario 19: Speaking Foreign Languages in the Workplace 53 Scenario 20: Inappropriate Display of Sexually Explicit Material 55 Scenario 21: Lack of Understanding of Multicultural Differences 58 PART II: Poor Work Habits and Job Performance Concerns 4. Performance Transgressions 63 Scenario 22: Lack of Quality, Detail, or Efficiency 64 Scenario 23: Lack of Quantity or Speed 66 Scenario 24: Substandard Customer Satisfaction 69 Scenario 25: Lack of Sales Production 71 Scenario 26: Failure to Learn New Material During Training 73 Scenario 27: Acts Resulting in a Loss to the Employer 76 Scenario 28: Failure to Follow Through, or ''Dropping the Ball'' 78 5. Policy and Procedure Violations 81 Scenario 29: Failure to Adhere to Safety Rules 82 Scenario 30: Excessive Personal Telephone Calls 84 Scenario 31: Excessive Time Spent on the Internet 86 Scenario 32: Unauthorized Use of Company Equipment and Facilities 89 Scenario 33: Working Unauthorized Overtime 91 Scenario 34: Off-Duty Conduct and Moonlighting 94 6. Excessive Absenteeism and Tardiness 98 Scenario 35: Excessive Unscheduled Absence: ''No Fault'' System 103 Scenario 36: Excessive Unscheduled Absence: ''Excuse-Based'' System 105 Scenario 37: Patterning Excessive, Unscheduled Absence Around Weekends 107 Scenario 38: Rolling Calendar Year Maneuvers 108 Scenario 39: Excessive Tardiness 110 Scenario 40: Exempt Employees Who Choose to Come and Go as They Please 112 7. Lack of Requisite Skills 115 Scenario 41: Inferior Job Knowledge 116 Scenario 42: Lack of Technical Skills 118 Scenario 43: Inadequate Problem-Solving Skills 121 Scenario 44: Substandard Written Expression 123 Scenario 45: Poor Time Management 125 Scenario 46: Lack of Organization and Neatness 128 PART III: Inappropriate Workplace Behavior and Conduct 8. Sexually Offensive Behavior 135 Scenario 47: Foul Language in the Workplace 136 Scenario 48: E-Mail Misuse 139 Scenario 49: Finding Pornography on an Employee's Computer 142 Scenario 50: Bullying 144 Scenario 51: Discriminatory Comments or Racial Epithets 147 Scenario 52: Leering 149 Scenario 53: Sexual Harassment Findings (Reverse Harassment) 152 9. Substandard Communication Skills 156 Scenario 54: Tattletales, Gossipmongers, and Snitches 158 Scenario 55: Whiners and Complainers 161 Scenario 56: Requests for Confidential Conversations from Other Supervisors' Subordinates 163 Scenario 57: Poor Listening Skills 166 Scenario 58: Failure to Communicate Upward 169 Scenario 59: Establishing Effective Staff Meetings 171 10. Personal Style Issues 174 Scenario 60: Suspected Alcoholism or Substance Abuse 1