Hey Supervisors, Do You Have a Sanjaya on Your Team?

Even if you don’t watch “American Idol,” there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Sanjaya.

And if the name doesn’t ring a bell, here’s a refresher: He’s a 17-year-old mediocre singer who should have been voted off the first week or shortly thereafter. But Howard Stern and the Web site Vote for the Worst have put the word out to vote for Sanjaya. And it’s working. The kid is still on while much worthier opponents have been voted off.

But to us in the working world, is this really anything new? How many times have you seen inept coworkers continue on in their positions, sometimes even getting promoted? How — and why — does this happen?

BusinessWeek may have an answer. “Fear of Firing” (the April 23, 2007, cover story) details how companies refrain from firing people because they’re scared of legal action. According to the piece: “It has never been easier for US workers to go to court and allege that they’ve been sacked unfairly. Over the past 40 years federal, state and local lawmakers have steadily expanded the categories of workers who enjoy special legal protection — a sprawling group that now includes women, minorities, gays, whistleblowers, the disabled, people over 40, employees who have filed workers’ compensation claims, and workers who have been called away for jury duty or military service, among others. Factor in white men who believe that they are bias victims — so-called reverse-discrimination lawsuits — and ‘it’s difficult to find someone who doesn’t have some capacity to claim protected status,’ observes Lisa H. Cassilly, an employment defense attorney at Alston & Bird in Atlanta.”

So what’s a manager to do these days? You need to honestly assess your team and provide appropriate feedback at the appropriate times. If Jane does a poor job, you need to let her know. If she repeatedly performs poorly, you need to document it. Remember: Ignoring the situation — no matter how likeable the employee is — not only affects your team’s productivity but overall morale.

The article goes on to say, “…it’s often the supervisors themselves who bear much of the blame when HR says someone can’t be shown the door. That’s because most fail to give the kind of regular and candid evaluations that will allow a company to prove poor performance if a fired employee hauls them into court. Honest, if harsh, reviews not only offer legal cover, but they’re also critical for organizations intent on developing top talent.”

These resources can help you nurture your employees and prevent your own office Sanjaya phenomenon:

Originally
from The Monster Blog

by Norma

on Apr 17, 2007, 12:18AM

Posted by with no comments.
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