Q:
What should I do about an employee who just won't talk to me? How can I give this person an opportunity to improve?
A:
Although we focus a great deal in this booklet on supervisory
responsibilities for informing and assisting an employee, the employee
has the primary responsibility for improving his or her performance. An
employee who gives the boss "the silent treatment" and refuses to
accept any assistance runs the risk of failing to improve performance
during the opportunity period and suffering the consequences. You may
want to consider contacting your human resources office and asking if
the agency uses trained mediators or facilitators to break through some
communication problems. Regardless, an employee needs to be told what
the expectations are for his or her performance and the consequences if
these expectations are not met. Be sure to document your efforts to
communicate these expectations and consequences.