Introduction

Just as virtually everyone has had some bad bosses over the course of their career, so company owners, managers, and other employees have commonly had an experience with a difficult employee. Bad employees can cause major headaches for their bosses, especially if they are not dealt with in a timely and decisive way. They can also negatively affect the entire workplace, contributing to lowered morale, reduced productivity and higher turnover.

Some bosses feel stymied about what kind of action they can take, particularly in this age of empowered employees, where lawsuits for wrongful termination, harassment, and creating an oppressive workplace environment are all too common. How can you deal with a difficult employee in such an atmosphere? ...

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