How can you deal with a toxic employee?

Do you have a colleague who makes you or people around you feel uncomfortable? Whether through things they say, do or fail to do, toxic employees can have seriously detrimental effects on a business. In fact, toxic workplace culture is estimated to cost the UK economy £15.7 billion each year.  

It’s easy to waste time and energy getting frustrated about another person’s behaviour. But there are practical steps you can take to manage such a situation – and while not all strategies are guaranteed to work, you could still reach a positive outcome.   

Read five ways to deal with a toxic employee below.   

Have a private discussion 

There will often be a root cause behind bad behaviour. Having an honest discussion in private may help you get to the bottom of things and could flag potential support needs such as mental health counselling.  

In other cases, the employee may simply not realise that their behaviour is problematic until it’s brought to their attention.  

Offer public feedback 

If an employee is acting out in front of others and disrupting your team, it’s important to send a message that their behaviour isn’t okay. This principle applies in meetings, over email and in social situations.  

Keeping public feedback constructive rather than overly firm or negative will increase the chances of turning things around. Suggest a better way of communicating or acting.   

Keep records 

Where possible, it’s smart to keep a record of the employee’s toxic behaviours. Documenting incidents, dates, times, and any relevant communication is crucial, especially if the behavior escalates or involves harassment. Having evidence is important not only when attempting to raise the issue with the employee themselves but also if you decide to take the matter further. For situations involving workplace harassment, consulting a Minneapolis Sexual Harassment Lawyer (or similar experts in your area) can help you understand how to use your records effectively to strengthen your case and protect your rights.

Referring to specific examples will help an employee recognize the behaviors they’re exhibiting and make your case stronger. In cases where toxic behavior crosses into legal violations, having detailed records can be critical when working with legal professionals to address the issue.

Set boundaries 

Boundaries are important for building trust. Setting clear limits for how your employee behaves around others, alone and with you will make sure they know where they stand, as well as giving you the right to call them out when they cross a line. 

Ask the employee whether they understand your expectations and if they’re willing to conform.  

Take firm action if needed 

Unfortunately, some people cannot be changed. If an employee is unable or unwilling to improve their behaviour, it could be that terminating employment is the only option that’s appropriate.  

Try not to fixate on what you could have done differently. Some people simply won’t change – and you shouldn’t hold yourself responsible for their failings.  

Toxic employees are no fun to be around and can end up impacting a business’ bottom line. Taking the steps outlined above could help you tackle the problem constructively.