What is underperformance?
Underperformance is not the same as serious misconduct, for example, theft or assault. Serious misconduct may warrant instant dismissal and you should always seek advice from your manager and/or HR before taking any action.
Reasons for underperformance
There are many reasons why an employee might perform and/or behave poorly in the workplace. In order to manage underperformance, you need to understand why it is occurring.
Some of the most common reasons for an employee's underperformance include:
- They don't know what is expected of them
If role requirements, behavioural standards and/or workplace policies are unclear (or have not been set), employees may not know what is expected of them. - They are lacking the necessary knowledge and skills
If the requirements of the role exceed the employee's capabilities, the employee may struggle to meet the requirements of the role. - They don't know that they are underperforming
If a manger does not provide adequate performance feedback, the employee may be unaware that they are not meeting the required standards. - They aren't engaged
If an employee is disengaged from their work, their performance will suffer. This could be due to a number of reasons including a lack of interest in the work, excessive workload, poor working conditions etc. - They are dealing with personal issues
If an employee is dealing with personal issues such as family stress, physical and/or mental health issues, problems with drugs or alcohol etc., this can have a severe impact on their performance.
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