Behind Closed Doors

When Feedback Doesn’t Correct the Situation

Start with a verbal warning.

When corrective feedback doesn’t work, most companies enter a formal process with legal ramifications. Talk to your company’s Human Resources department or your corporate lawyer to see how to stay within your corporate guidelines and the law.

When corrective feedback isn’t working, make sure your employee knows the situation is serious. Verbal warnings need to be clear and unambiguous: “This [instance of work] is unacceptable as a deliverable [state specific reasons]. We’ve talked about this issue before. This is a verbal warning that you have to change your work if you want to keep your job.”

Deliver a written warning.

When a verbal warning doesn’t produce change and ...