Let’s have a clear out!

By Stacey Turner, founder and legal director, CG Professional.

Line manager: “That’s it! That’s the last straw with Martin. He’s phoned in sick again. Even when he’s here, he’s useless. I’ve got customer complaints piled high because of him. He’s careless and his attitude stinks!”General manager: “How long’s he been with us now?”Line Manager: “Since he was an apprentice, it’s been about five years now! We’ve given him so many chances!”
Sound familiar?Ask yourself, how many people do you employ that you wish you didn’t? How many people have stayed on the books and under the radar despite not performing? How much are these people costing your business?

All businesses have an element of “dead wood” amongst their workforce. Perhaps due to thinking that it’s better to have someone in post rather than no-one, a lack of effective management or simply not knowing how to tackle the issue.

In this current climate, and with 2018 forecast to be even tougher, businesses simply can’t afford to carry these underperformers.

So, what do you do?

Depending upon your reason for wanting to part ways, there is always a route.

Whether that be through a disciplinary process, relating to conduct or attitude that leads to disciplinary warnings. Or through a performance management programme, used where an employee’s performance is lacking, and you take them through an improvement process leading to dismissal if they don’t improve by a certain date.

The situation may call for a restructure, where you reorganise a team or structure of a department that leads to casualties.

Or directly tackle those not attending work by consistently enforcing a sickness absence process, such as a “three strikes rule” or a “Bradford Factor” approach (a particular formula to calculate unacceptable levels of absences) to impose sanctions.

In some circumstances, you may need to consider a non-conventional ‘off the record’ exit via a Settlement Agreement, which can be a quick and amicable option for parting ways.

Where an employee has less than two years’ service, there are robust solutions with a reduced level of procedure to part ways. So checking employees’ length of service and utilising probationary periods in the early months will help.

Whatever the problem, we can help. We are qualified employment lawyers, and our advice is given with clear actions, leaving you confident to implement it easily and achieve the result you want. We can discuss the issues, agree on a route and guide you through that process step by step. We can even carry out the process on your behalf if you wish.

CG Professional believes in businesses knowing the cost up front, so all our advice is charged at a fixed fee.For a free consultation meeting contact the CG Professional team today: [email protected]

Enjoyed this? Read more from Lancashire Business View

Latest news

1

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

2

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

3

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing Roger Thistlethwaite, managing director NMS Civil Engineering Limited. Paul Fox, CEO Fox Group. John Flood, Executive Director Fox Group

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing

17 Sep 2025

4

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

5

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut Nick Holloway of administrators Interpath

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut

16 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin