The truth about that one toxic employee.

An Activize Blog about what really happens in the workplace and how to make it better.

Often, despite all the training, rule-setting, employee discipline conversations… you’ve got one employee who sabotages your workplace environment.

But she’s one of my longest-standing employees.  Others look to her example. Is it time to cut her loose?

My advice to this client: “Sometimes, giving someone a second chance is like giving them an extra bullet for their gun because they missed you the first time around.”

It only takes one employee to create a toxic environment and potentially burn your business to the ground.

The culture in your organization is an expression of your values. Do you consistently communicate your values to your team? Have you created a company-wide culture of teamwork? Does every employee know they represent you?

According to a popular legend, during a tour of NASA headquarters in 1961, John F. Kennedy encountered a janitor mopping the floors. “Why are you working so late?” Kennedy asked. “Mr. President,” the janitor responded, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.”

Every employee is a key player in your business. Every employee plays a role in your company vision- from C-level down to the janitor. When they fully understand how each interaction represents your business, you will know you’ve got everyone working on your team.  A culture of collaboration supports an environment of growth and expansion.  Therefore, your culture has a direct effect on your bottom line.

That one employee is likely having an outsize negative impact on your firm.

Sometimes, you need to be ruthless.  Although you may be worried about the other employees’ reaction to this firing, it is more likely you’ll gain respect from the remaining staff for taking necessary action.

I’ve been in corporate leadership for over twenty years and advising senior management for many years.

I’ve also been parenting for over a decade now. In my years of experience, I often found the same principles in parenting to apply to business.

I overheard my daughter telling a friend the other day “This will never fly in our house.” The boundaries are so well defined there is no space to challenge it even just one time. Even more, she knows how much it is smothered in love. Core values should never be compromised not in your home nor in your business.

At the same time, your employees need to be excited about their jobs, feeling valued and with a clear understanding of how their individual performance plays a significant role in the company’s success.

Do your employees know the core values of your business? Is it communicated to them regularly so there is no space to challenge it? That’s effective leadership.

First, identify your own values. Steve Jobs said, “Leadership is having a vision and being able to articulate it so that the people around you understand and connect to it thus creating a common vision.” The same holds true with values.  It needs to be communicated clearly to your employees so that it becomes part of the company mission statement. It starts all the way on top and trickles down to the last employee.

I recently had an outrageous customer service experience. I was waiting for a simple lab test and sat in the waiting room awaiting my turn. The technician skipped over my name multiple times and called other patients ahead of me. I was puzzled and pressed for time.  I went to the desk to see what was up.  The technician raised her voice and yelled: “I am here all by myself and will choose to do as I please! Right now, I choose the next patient. Feel free to leave so I can take you off the list.”   Of course, I left.  When I got home, I tracked down the customer service line.  It seems this major diagnostic testing company had invested millions in advanced technical testing. But they seem to have missed one detail—their staff are the front-line to their customers and they’ve handed a rifle to this lab tech.  And the multiplier effect as I told everyone I know about this experience.

One bad apple.  How ironic that their website promoted all those advanced services promising patient satisfaction. All that investment out the window with one employee who just didn’t care.

Protect your investment in your own company by weeding out your bad apple.  Watch out for red flags that can taint your work culture. Be clear and direct with the problem employee.  Use your supportive staff members to help your team get past the dismissal and regroup.  Your company will benefit from the clean break.

Most importantly, so will your bottom line.

Is there a bad apple in your business creating a toxic work environment?

Goldy Blum is the president and chief consultant with the Activize Group