How to Tell an Employee They Are Disrespectful

Good relations between employees can have positive effects on morale.

You may not find work frustrating because of your responsibilities, but also because of difficult relations with others in your office. While the majority of your employees may be easy to get along with, others may come to work with a negative attitude and project rude or even disrespectful behavior towards you. In this case, you may not feel comfortable working with this person. Even if you do not consider yourself to be a confrontational person, you can speak to an employee about their disrespectful behavior.

Instructions

1. Ask if you can speak to the employee at a mutually convenient time in private. Do not call an employee out in front of others, as this may worsen the situation. If he asks why you wish to speak to him in front of others, simply say that you want to discuss a private matter with them.

2. Tell the employee that you want to discuss his behavior, the relationship between the two of you or what you've witnessed between him and other employees. He may already be aware that there are problems and be willing to discuss them. If he wants to speak first, allow him to do so and keep an open mind.

3. Discuss her behaviors that you believe are disrespectful. Perhaps she is late to meetings or says rude things at inappropriate times. No matter the case, focus on tangible examples, rather than simply saying, "I feel disrespected by you," as they may not recognize their behavior as being disrespectful.

4. Ask him if there are any specific reasons why they display negative behavior in the office. He may, in fact, feel unsupported by management or co-workers and lash out because of frustration. Do not excuse his behavior, but agree to work to a mutually beneficial agreement to mitigate his behavior.

5. Ask her if she can or is willing to adjust her attitude towards others. You may also note that her behavior is affecting others in the office. Letting your employee know that their behavior is unacceptable and that you will take action if it continues can also help reduce their negative attitude at work.

References

• Office Politics: How to Deal with a Disrespectful Employee; September 2009
• Business Management Daily: Managing a Disrespectful Employee; Marie McIntyre, Ph.D.,; November 2009