How do I know when or if to let an employee go? My new front desk person interviewed very well but now that she’s been with us for a few months she doesn’t seem to understand the simplest things. She’s begun to accuse us of setting her up to fail. I’m also concerned about her appearance. Now that she’s wearing scrubs, the tattoos up and down her arms are really prominent.
M.K. New Jersey
Dear M.K.
Here is the essential question you should ask about any employee, whether they’ve just started or been with you for years. Knowing what you now know (boy that’s a mouthful), would you re-hire this person? If the answer is no, then you should be asking why she is in your practice. But you also need to ask how much of her job performance is “her” and how much is “you.” Have you provided enough training and support? Do you give her helpful feedback? Are her duties clearly defined? If the answer is a clear yes, then it doesn’t sound like you should invest more time. Another way to determine this is to ask this question: If a million dollars was riding on it, could the employee do her job to your level of satisfaction? If you think she could, then perhaps you have a motivation issue. But if the answer is no, then you probably have a job fit issue.
