2. 1
Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Dear reader,
Thank you for your interest in learning
“Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee.”
Our main intention is to share different
approaches, based on internet research aiming
to improve the working environment and
companies and employees´ achievements.
The author – Roberto Lico
licoreis@licoreis.com.br
3. 2
Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
I – Introduction:
What is a bad apple employee?
A "bad apple" employee typically refers to an
individual within a company or organization who
exhibits negative behavior or performs poorly in
their job.
This term is often used metaphorically, drawing
from the idiom "a few bad apples spoil the
bunch."
4. 3
Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
In the context of the workplace, it suggests that
the presence of one or a few employees with
problematic behavior or poor performance can
have a detrimental impact on the overall work
environment, team morale, and productivity.
A bad apple employee may display various
characteristics, including:
▪ Poor performance:
▪ Failing to meet job expectations,
consistently underperforming, or not
fulfilling assigned tasks.
▪ Negative attitude:
▪ Displaying a consistently pessimistic
or uncooperative attitude, which can
affect team dynamics and morale.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
▪ Lack of accountability:
▪ Avoiding responsibility for mistakes,
blaming others, or refusing to take
ownership of one's actions.
▪ Unethical behavior:
▪ Engaging in activities that violate
company policies or ethical standards,
such as dishonesty, fraud, or
harassment.
▪ Poor interpersonal skills: Struggling to work
effectively with colleagues, clients, or
superiors, leading to communication
breakdowns and conflicts.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
II – Most important behaviors
of a Bad Apple Employee:
Identifying a "bad apple" employee can involve
recognizing various negative behaviors that can
harm the work environment and impact team
dynamics. Here are ten potential behaviors that
may characterize a problematic employee:
Consistent Underperformance:
▪ Failing to meet job expectations and consistently
producing subpar work.
Negative Attitude:
▪ Displaying a consistently pessimistic outlook,
complaining frequently, and undermining team
morale.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Lack of Accountability:
▪ Avoiding responsibility for mistakes, blaming
others, or refusing to admit errors.
Poor Communication:
▪ Engaging in ineffective communication,
creating misunderstandings, and contributing
to conflicts within the team.
Resistance to Change:
▪ Resisting new processes or initiatives and
hindering the team's ability to adapt to
evolving circumstances.
Unethical Behavior:
▪ Engaging in dishonest actions, violating
company policies, or behaving unethically.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Lack of Team Collaboration:
▪ Failing to collaborate with team members,
creating a disruptive and uncooperative work
environment.
Insubordination:
▪ Disregarding authority, refusing to follow
instructions, or openly challenging
management decisions.
Poor Time Management:
▪ Consistently missing deadlines,
procrastinating, and causing delays in project
completion.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Conflict Instigation:
▪ Actively contributing to conflicts within the
team, fostering a negative atmosphere, and
disrupting group cohesion.
Micromanagement:
▪ Constantly interfering in the work of others,
exhibiting control issues, and undermining
team autonomy.
Lack of Initiative:
▪ Demonstrating a lack of motivation,
unwillingness to take on new responsibilities,
and a passive approach to work.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Inability to Adapt:
▪ Struggling to adapt to changes in the work
environment, technology, or processes,
hindering progress.
Poor Attendance:
▪ Consistently arriving late, taking excessive
time off, or displaying a pattern of
absenteeism.
Sabotage or Undermining:
▪ Actively working against the success of
colleagues, spreading rumors, or
undermining team cohesion.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Poor Interpersonal Skills:
▪ Difficulty building positive relationships,
causing tension and conflict within the team.
Failure to Meet Deadlines:
▪ Repeatedly missing project deadlines,
causing delays and negatively impacting team
productivity.
Lack of Professionalism:
▪ Engaging in unprofessional behavior, such as
inappropriate language, attire, or conduct.
Refusal to Accept Feedback:
▪ Being defensive or unresponsive to
constructive criticism, hindering personal and
professional growth.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Gossiping:
▪ Engaging in spreading rumors or gossip,
which can create a toxic and divisive
workplace culture.
Excessive Complaining:
▪ Complaining regularly without offering
solutions, contributing to a negative
atmosphere.
Misuse of Company Resources:
▪ Using company resources for personal gain,
violating company policies, or engaging in
theft.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Lack of Respect for Authority:
▪ Disregarding authority, challenging superiors
openly, and fostering a disrespectful
atmosphere.
Inability to Work in a Team:
▪ Demonstrating an unwillingness or inability
to collaborate effectively with colleagues.
Mood Swings:
▪ Displaying erratic or unpredictable behavior,
negatively impacting team stability and
morale.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Lack of Initiative:
▪ Demonstrating a passive approach to work,
avoiding taking on responsibilities, and
waiting for explicit instructions.
Failure to Learn from Mistakes:
▪ Repeating the same errors without making
efforts to learn, grow, or improve
performance.
Dishonesty:
▪ Engaging in deceitful practices, providing
false information, or being untrustworthy.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Entitlement:
▪ Displaying a sense of entitlement, expecting
special treatment, and refusing to adhere to
company policies.
Inflexibility:
▪ Resisting changes in work processes,
methodologies, or assignments, hindering
progress.
Overstepping Boundaries:
▪ Crossing professional or ethical boundaries,
potentially leading to conflicts or legal issues.
Inability to Prioritize:
▪ Failing to prioritize tasks effectively, resulting
in missed deadlines and incomplete projects.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Inattention to Detail:
▪ Consistently overlooking important details,
leading to errors and quality issues.
Lack of Goal Alignment:
▪ Failing to align personal goals with
organizational objectives, hindering overall
team success.
Neglecting Professional Development:
▪ Ignoring opportunities for training, skill
development, and career advancement.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Lack of Transparency:
▪ Withholding information, creating a culture
of secrecy, and hindering effective
communication.
Undermining Team Spirit:
▪ Actively working against team cohesion,
fostering a competitive or divisive
atmosphere.
Failure to Delegate:
▪ Holding onto tasks and responsibilities,
unwilling to share workload or empower
team members.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Engaging in Office Politics:
▪ Manipulating situations, forming alliances, or
engaging in political maneuvering to the
detriment of the team.
Inability to Handle Stress:
▪ Responding poorly to pressure, exhibiting
emotional instability, and negatively
impacting team dynamics.
Lack of Customer Focus:
▪ Disregarding the needs and concerns of
customers, leading to dissatisfaction and
potential business repercussions.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Inability to Accept Constructive Criticism:
▪ Reacting negatively to feedback, becoming
defensive, and refusing to make necessary
improvements.
Poor Conflict Resolution Skills:
▪ Contributing to conflicts within the team
without attempting to resolve or mediate
issues.
Excessive Absenteeism:
▪ Frequently missing work without valid
reasons, negatively impacting team
productivity and morale.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Overbearing Behavior:
▪ Dominating conversations, projects, or
decision-making processes, hindering
collaboration.
Ignoring Company Policies:
▪ Consistently disregarding established
company rules and policies, creating a
culture of non-compliance.
Overpromising and Underdelivering:
▪ Making commitments that consistently go
unfulfilled, leading to broken trust and
disappointment.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Sabotaging Team Goals:
▪ Actively working against the achievement of
team or departmental goals for personal
reasons.
Failure to learn and Adapt:
▪ Demonstrating an unwillingness to acquire
new skills or adapt to evolving industry
trends.
Inappropriate Social Media Use:
▪ Engaging in unprofessional behavior on social
media platforms that reflects poorly on the
company.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Undermining Leadership:
▪ Subtly or overtly challenging leadership
decisions, creating a divisive atmosphere
within the team.
Creating a Hostile Work Environment:
▪ Engaging in bullying, harassment, or
discriminatory behavior, negatively impacting
workplace culture.
Lack of Empathy:
▪ Disregarding the feelings and needs of
colleagues, creating a cold or unsupportive
work environment.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Excessive Self-Promotion:
▪ Constantly seeking recognition without
contributing significantly to team efforts.
Failure to Complete Assigned Training:
▪ Neglecting mandatory training programs,
potentially compromising skills and
knowledge.
Mismanagement of Resources:
▪ Wasteful use of company resources, such as
budget, equipment, or supplies, without
regard for efficiency.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Passive-Aggressive Behavior:
▪ Expressing negative feelings or resentment
indirectly, making it challenging to address
and resolve issues.
Overreliance on Others:
▪ Consistently relying on colleagues to
complete tasks without contributing one's
fair share of effort.
Lack of Initiative in Self-Improvement:
▪ Failing to actively seek opportunities for
professional growth or skill enhancement.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Disruptive Presence in Meetings:
▪ Consistently derailing meetings, creating
distractions, or contributing to a negative
atmosphere.
Failure to Uphold Confidentiality:
▪ Breaching confidentiality agreements,
potentially jeopardizing sensitive
information.
Inability to Accept Responsibility:
▪ Avoiding accountability for mistakes, even
when evidence points to one's involvement.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Poor Time Management of Others:
▪ Causing delays for colleagues by not meeting
shared deadlines or failing to fulfill
collaborative responsibilities.
Unwillingness to Share Knowledge:
▪ Hoarding information and skills, hindering
the team's overall knowledge and
capabilities.
Excessive Use of Personal Devices:
▪ Distracted use of personal devices during
work hours, negatively impacting
productivity.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Excessive Complacency:
▪ Displaying a lack of motivation or drive to
excel, settling for mediocre performance.
Ignoring Workplace Health and Safety
Guidelines:
▪ Disregarding safety protocols, potentially
putting oneself and others at risk.
Poor Customer Service Skills:
▪ Displaying a lack of courtesy, responsiveness,
or empathy when dealing with clients or
customers.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Inability to Accept Team Feedback:
▪ Reacting negatively to feedback from team
members, hindering collaborative
improvement.
Failure to Adhere to Deadlines:
▪ Consistently missing project or task
deadlines, causing disruptions and impacting
overall efficiency.
Clearly Define Expectations:
▪ Ensure that job roles, responsibilities, and
performance expectations are clearly
communicated and documented.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
III – Strategies to deal with a
Bad Apple Employee:
Provide Constructive Feedback:
▪ Offer specific, constructive feedback on the
problematic behaviors, focusing on
observable actions and their impact.
Establish Open Communication:
▪ Encourage open dialogue to understand the
employee's perspective and reasons behind
their behavior.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Document Incidents:
▪ Keep a record of specific incidents,
performance issues, or inappropriate
behaviors for documentation purposes.
Set Performance Improvement Goals:
▪ Collaboratively establish measurable goals
for improvement with the employee,
outlining the expected changes in behavior.
Offer Training and Development:
▪ Provide opportunities for skill development
or training to address specific performance
gaps or behavioral issues.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Implement a Performance Improvement Plan
(PIP):
▪ If necessary, create a formal Performance
Improvement Plan outlining expectations,
timelines, and consequences for non-
compliance.
Involve Human Resources:
▪ Consult with HR to ensure that all actions and
interventions comply with company policies
and legal requirements.
Seek Mediation or Counseling:
▪ Consider involving a neutral third party, such
as a mediator or counselor, to help facilitate
communication and resolution.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Monitor Progress:
▪ Regularly assess the employee's progress,
providing feedback and guidance along the
way.
Use Positive Reinforcement:
▪ Acknowledge and reinforce positive changes
in behavior through praise and recognition.
Address Team Impact:
▪ Communicate with the rest of the team
transparently about the situation without
violating confidentiality, emphasizing a
commitment to a healthy work environment.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Provide a Final Warning:
▪ If improvement is not observed, issue a final
written warning clearly outlining the
consequences if the behavior persists.
Explore Reassignment or Transfer:
▪ If appropriate, explore the possibility of
reassigning the employee to a different role
or team that better aligns with their skills and
temperament.
Consider Termination:
▪ If all else fails and the employee's behavior
continues to negatively impact the team and
company, termination may be the last resort.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Team Building Activities:
▪ Organize team-building activities to improve
overall team dynamics and encourage
collaboration.
Provide Mentorship:
▪ Assign a mentor or coach to work closely
with the problematic employee to provide
guidance and support.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP):
▪ If personal issues are affecting performance,
offer access to Employee Assistance
Programs for counseling or support.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Peer Review:
▪ Involve colleagues in providing feedback
through a structured peer review process,
fostering a sense of collective responsibility.
Reevaluate Job Fit:
▪ Assess whether the employee is in the right
role, and explore opportunities for
reassignment if a better fit exists elsewhere
in the organization.
Incentives for Improvement:
▪ Offer incentives or rewards for demonstrated
improvement in behavior and performance.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Use Progressive Discipline:
▪ Implement a progressive discipline approach,
starting with verbal warnings and escalating
consequences if necessary.
Encourage Self-Reflection:
▪ Encourage the employee to reflect on their
behavior and its impact on the team,
fostering personal accountability.
Legal Consultation:
▪ Seek legal advice to ensure that actions taken
align with employment laws and regulations,
especially in sensitive cases.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Provide Additional Resources:
▪ Offer additional resources or support, such as
additional training or access to tools, to help
the employee meet expectations.
Reevaluate Management Style:
▪ Assess whether the management style
contributes to the problematic behavior and
consider adjustments if necessary.
Conflict Resolution Training:
▪ Provide training in conflict resolution to the
entire team, fostering better communication
and interpersonal skills.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Flexible Work Arrangements:
▪ Explore flexible work arrangements to
accommodate personal challenges while
maintaining performance standards.
Employee Engagement Initiatives:
▪ Implement initiatives to boost overall
employee engagement, potentially mitigating
negative behavior.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
▪ Facilitate collaboration with employees from
different departments to broaden
perspectives and encourage positive
interactions.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Peer Counseling:
▪ Encourage the employee to participate in
peer counseling or mentoring programs
within the organization.
Establish Clear Consequences:
▪ Clearly communicate the consequences of
continued problematic behavior, ensuring
the employee understands the potential
outcomes.
Rotate Responsibilities:
▪ Consider rotating the employee's
responsibilities to provide a fresh perspective
and potentially address performance issues.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Behavioral Contract:
▪ Develop a behavioral contract outlining
expectations and consequences, with both
the employee and management signatures.
Implement a Probationary Period:
▪ Institute a probationary period during which
the employee must demonstrate sustained
improvement to retain their position.
Encourage Self-Development:
▪ Provide resources and support for the
employee's self-development, such as access
to training courses or workshops.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Team Intervention:
▪ Facilitate a team intervention where team
members collectively address the issues and
work towards resolution.
Involve a Neutral Third Party:
▪ Engage an external mediator or HR specialist
to conduct an impartial investigation and
recommend solutions.
Rotate Leadership Roles:
▪ Rotate leadership roles within the team to
encourage a more collaborative and inclusive
environment.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Employee Surveys:
▪ Use employee surveys to gather anonymous
feedback about team dynamics and identify
areas for improvement.
Encourage Time Management Training:
▪ Recommend time management training to
address issues related to missed deadlines
and poor task prioritization.
Professional Coaching:
▪ Provide access to professional coaching
services to help the employee develop
necessary skills and overcome challenges.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Implement Flexibility:
▪ Introduce flexible work hours or remote work
options to accommodate personal needs
while maintaining productivity.
Social Integration Activities:
▪ Organize social integration activities to
strengthen relationships within the team and
improve overall workplace culture.
Behavioral Assessment:
▪ Consider utilizing behavioral assessments to
gain insights into the employee's strengths,
weaknesses, and preferred work styles.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Encourage Self-Reflection:
▪ Prompt the employee to engage in self-
reflection about their behavior, performance,
and its impact on the team.
Facilitate Team-Building Workshops:
▪ Arrange team-building workshops to enhance
collaboration, communication, and mutual
understanding among team members.
Establish a Mentorship Program:
▪ Pair the problematic employee with a mentor
within the organization who can provide
guidance and support.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Implement a Flextime Schedule:
▪ Introduce flexible work hours to
accommodate the employee's personal
needs, fostering a better work-life balance.
Implement a Recognition Program:
▪ Establish a recognition program that
acknowledges and rewards positive
behaviors and achievements.
Continuous Performance Feedback:
▪ Provide ongoing, real-time feedback to the
employee to address issues promptly and
guide improvement.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Encourage Work-Life Balance:
▪ Promote a healthy work-life balance,
emphasizing the importance of well-being for
both personal and professional growth.
Counseling Services:
▪ Offer access to counseling services for
personal or work-related issues that may be
impacting the employee's behavior.
Create a Supportive Environment:
▪ Foster a culture of support and collaboration
within the team, encouraging open
communication and problem-solving.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Implement a Team Charter:
▪ Develop a team charter that outlines shared
values, goals, and expectations, fostering a
sense of collective responsibility.
Utilize Employee Assistance Programs (EAP):
▪ Promote the use of EAP resources, providing
confidential assistance for personal and
professional challenges.
Encourage Physical Well-being:
▪ Promote physical well-being by providing
resources or incentives for activities that
contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Clarify Consequences of Non-Compliance:
▪ Clearly communicate the potential
consequences of non-compliance with
company policies or behavioral expectations.
Job Rotation:
▪ Explore opportunities for job rotation to
expose the employee to different aspects of
the organization and develop new skills.
Provide Positive Role Models:
▪ Introduce positive role models within the
organization to inspire the employee and
demonstrate desired behaviors.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Encourage Wellness Programs:
▪ Implement wellness programs that focus on
physical and mental well-being, promoting a
healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Implement Conflict Resolution Training:
▪ Provide training in conflict resolution
techniques for the entire team to enhance
interpersonal skills and manage conflicts
effectively.
Establish a Feedback Culture:
▪ Cultivate a culture of regular feedback within
the team, encouraging open communication
and continuous improvement.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Encourage Volunteerism:
▪ Promote volunteer opportunities or
community engagement activities to foster a
sense of social responsibility and teamwork.
Introduce Team-Building Retreats:
▪ Organize team-building retreats or offsite
activities to create a relaxed and
collaborative atmosphere.
Flexible Work Arrangements:
▪ Explore and implement flexible work
arrangements, such as compressed
workweeks or telecommuting, to
accommodate individual needs.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Offer Conflict Mediation Services:
▪ Provide access to professional conflict
mediation services to facilitate resolution in a
neutral and unbiased manner.
Introduce a Peer Recognition Program:
▪ Establish a peer recognition program where
team members can acknowledge and
appreciate each other's contributions.
Encourage Cross-Functional Collaboration:
▪ Facilitate opportunities for collaboration with
colleagues from different departments,
promoting a diverse and inclusive work
environment.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Organize Team-building Challenges:
▪ Create team-building challenges or
competitions that encourage cooperation,
problem-solving, and healthy competition.
Implement a Leadership Development Program:
▪ Enroll the problematic employee in a
leadership development program to enhance
leadership skills and self-awareness.
Explore Sabbatical Opportunities:
▪ Discuss the possibility of taking a sabbatical
to allow the employee time for personal
reflection and rejuvenation.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br
Offer Time Management Workshops:
▪ Provide workshops on time management and
organizational skills to address issues related
to missed deadlines and productivity.
Encourage Skill-sharing Sessions:
▪ Facilitate sessions where team members can
share their skills and expertise, fostering a
collaborative learning environment.
Introduce Employee Resource Groups:
▪ Establish employee resource groups or
affinity groups to create a sense of
community and support within the
organization.
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Strategies to deal with a bad apple employee!
Roberto Lico – licoreis@licoreis.com.br