Your company just hired someone new. At first, you were looking forward to the extra help. But now that you’ve been working alongside the new hire for a while, you’re noticing problems – whether they’re making too many mistakes or displaying a negative attitude that’s infecting the team. You don’t want to come off as tattling; but, at the same time, this is an issue that can snowball and harm your department or company.
What do you do? Here are 5 tips to help you navigate this tricky situation.
#1: Take a step back.
As one of Miami Lakes’ top employment agencies, Future Force knows that rather than running to your boss or accusing your new co-worker of poor performance, take some time to evaluate the situation. Is the employee in question really performing that badly, or do the two of you have conflicting work styles or personalities? Perhaps the individual reminds you of someone you don’t like, so you have a negative impression of them. The bottom line is that you want to ensure that the other person is truly the problem – and that you’re not simply overreacting.
#2: Talk to another trusted co-worker.
If you’ve examined the situation and still feel like the employee is problematic, then talk to another trusted co-worker. This isn’t a situation where you should be gossiping about the person. Simply ask them if they’ve noticed any issues or had the same kinds of experiences. They might look at you like you’re crazy – or they could be thinking the same thing you are. If it’s the latter, work together to brainstorm ways to address the situation.
#3: Approach your co-worker.
Before escalating the situation to your boss, talk to your co-worker directly. Don’t attack or accuse the person of anything. Instead, be pleasant and agreeable, but also clear. Bring up a few specific examples of problem performance and talk about how it’s impacting you. Then sit back and listen. It could be a case of poor training and onboarding; or perhaps they’re experiencing problems at home that are impacting their work. Whatever the case, truly listen to what they have to say.
#4: Give them time to adjust.
Don’t expect the issue to change overnight. Give your co-worker some time to process the situation and modify their behavior.
#5: Consider whether to talk to your boss.
There’s always some risk with going to your boss with these kinds of workplace issues. After all, your boss hired this person for a reason and you don’t want to be seen as a complainer. However, if you believe there is a serious problem in place – for instance, the employee is not following proper safety protocol and putting others at risk – then it’s up to you to inform your boss know.
Ready for a new job opportunity in the New Year? Call Future Force. As one of Miami Lakes’ top employment agencies, we can connect you with the leading employers – and great jobs in the area. Contact us today to learn more.