What should you never tell an employee at work?
Robert Miller
Updated on April 05, 2026
Never tell one employee or a group of employees when one team member is having problems at work. If you need someone to re-train or mentor an employee, simply ask them to help with that specific task. Don’t preface the request with “After two months, Sarah still isn’t picking up the job. She’s struggling.
Can an employer tell me what to do on my own time?
While drug and alcohol testing is not required of most private employers, many of them choose to administer such policies. Most people associate these tests with the pre-employment process, but keep in mind that if your employer screens applicants for controlled-substance use, it probably has a drug-free policy to accompany this practice.
Can an employer dictate who can and can’t?
There is no question that an employer can prohibit making or taking personal telephone calls by employees on the job, almost without any limit. In fact, the making or taking of personal telephone calls during working hours is sometimes referred to as “theft of time,” and considered “cause” for firing by many employers.
What can an employer say when they terminate an employee?
In many cases, if you were fired or terminated from employment, the company can say so. They can also give a reason. For example, if someone was fired for stealing or falsifying a timesheet, the company can explain why the employee was terminated. Depending on state laws, employers may also be able to share general feedback on your performance.
Who is responsible when employees don’t do their job?
While part of the responsibility falls on choices individual employees make, managers need to shoulder part of the blame, too. Managers and the management systems they create are commonly responsible when employees don’t do what you want them to do. Employees want to succeed at work.
What do managers do to help their employees?
Managers play an essential role in helping employees know what they are supposed to do. Managers do this by creating effective management systems. They help employees by developing and using these five critical management systems.
What to do if an employee is difficult to work with?
After all, an employee who is abrasive, unable to get along with others or otherwise difficult to work with can be as disruptive as one who falling short on “hard skills,” like missing deadlines or turning in shoddy work. And so it’s perfectly reasonable to treat these issues just like you would any other performance issue.