Assignment:
Dealing with Employee Issues
Lately, one of your subordinates has been unusually irritable with several people in your department. You have purposely refrained from taking action because you believe that the parties involved should work out such difficulties. This approach has worked well in similar situations in the past. This morning, however, your subordinate directed some unnecessary remarks to you, and now it is apparent that you must act. Before you have an opportunity to discuss the situation, you hear through the grapevine that the subordinate is having marital difficulties, which obviously could be the source of the problem.
In handling the situation, you feel your best approaches are the following:
1. Mention that you've heard about the marital difficulties and that, although sympathetic, you don't feel that personal problems should influence behavior toward co-workers or job performance.
2. Privately advise other staff members that your subordinate is having some personal problems, and ask for their understanding during this difficult period.
3. Approach the problem by using yourself as an example. Indicate that you sometimes have personal problems and irritations but that you try not to let them affect you on the job. Then suggest that the subordinate exert extra effort to be less abrasive with others.
4. Ask questions and attempt to get a thorough understanding of your subordinate's problem so that you can give appropriate advice.
5. Mention that you have noticed the subordinate's recent irritable behavior, and listen to what the subordinate has to say. Then, in an understanding way, indicate that personal problems should not be allowed to affect job performance.
Other alternatives may be open to you, but assume that these are the only ones you have considered. Without discussion with anyone, decide which of these approaches
you would take. Be prepared to defend your choice.