Customer Relationship Management System

How to manage a stubborn employee?

I'm 21 years old. I run a hair saloon & have 5 employees. It has been a year. I find it lately my employees show disrespectness like, talking back to you in a rude way, many non-sense / unnecessary complains, lazy, refuse to do what you told them to, etc. I'm thinking not to keep them anymore, but there won't be subs asap. There're 2 of them who have probs, one of them has a good skill. I've tried to call for a meeting, in a middle of conversation they always have something to defense. In fact one of them show a very bad performance & not productive. I've tried to give chance. But they prefer being lazy than practice. Is this only a seasonal problem? Since this month has less customers than usual. Is that the right reason for them to not well-behaved? or... Is this a common problem in business? How to manage them? I see warning is useless. or it's me too young for them? probably they think they are in need. how to show them that they aren't as important as they think?

Public Comments

1. You probably need to have a method of written reprimands. Disrepect should not be tolerated in the workplace. They have a choice to work there, just as you have a choice to keep them. Make sure you document everything, so that if the time comes that you feel you need to terminate them, you have it all. Don't talk to them each at once, call them out one by one and discuss them individually. An employee handbook would be a very good idea for you, I think. Good luck!
2. Fire the worst one, but make sure you have documentation of all of his/her screw-ups.
3. You sound like an *ASS* as a boss. I think the problem is you, not them. They normally work on what they bring to the company. They make you money, not the other way around. You probably take a split of what they do on every hair cut. I think you dont understand your position. They are sales people and commission employees. They make you money they dont cost you money. Fire away... see where you cash flow is. or do what everybody else does in the industry... treat them they way they should be. Knowing they are the boss, not you.
4. First of all, I would attempt to find replacements, whether it be through putting an ad in the paper, going to a temp agency, whatever. Secondly, as the first person said, a written reprimand may make all the difference. Instead of giving it to them at work, you can even send it to their home address. I think your age may play a part in why they are "disrespectful". In other words, they don't think you have what it takes to be a manager. So it's time to play tough love. Kindly let them know that you will go out and find someone to fill their spot if they don't take their job seriously. If they talk rude to you, it's because you let them. You have to stand up for yourself and your business and let them know that that sort of behavior will not be tolerated. If they are too stubborn to see that, call them in for a face-to-face and tell that that they have one or two weeks to shape up. If you see no improvement during this "probationary" period, then you can cut them. Give them a chance to shape up or they could just turn and say you fired them unfairly and without justification. At least this way you'll have it.
5. Talk to each one that you have a problem with separately. Tell them they must behave in a professional manner in the workplace and to keep all their personal talk out of the workplace when attending to clients, unless asked . Only to talk to you with respect, as you are their boss and I presume you are paying their wages. Then put the worst one on a two week trial period, if she/he doesn't shape up let them go. In return you will respect any genuine complaints they have. Always talk in private..and behave professionally.